Reflection- News in Brief

In a recent session the group was introduced to News in Brief also known as (NIB). These are mini stories/ articles that follow the sane structure as a larger story in the sense that it is the most important information given. A nib is only a short piece many a couple of hundred words or less. for the ‘Your News’ segment of the Hull Daily Mail, I have and will be writing multiple NIB’s for this segment using the methods of the introductions to news stories. News in brief is similar to an introduction for a leading story. Having a word count limit means it is harder to decipher the most important and key information.

When writing a nib, I will still try and use as many of the 5W’s as possible. (who, what, when, where, why) also use the same methods of writing a main story in the sense that you can’t be biased and have to verify that all the content is factually accurate. Also following the correct tone. As the story will be small the sentences are only short and snappy therefore no need for punctuation like commas. In reflection of having an attempt at writing a NIB, I feel slightly better as I now know what is required and the basic structure. This will help to make me a better practitioner of writing these for the supplement.

Learning How to Write Introductions

In a recent session, we learned the basics to what makes a newsworthy story and how we can set the tones for the stories at hand. We also had an introduction into how to write the first couple of paragraphs of a news story. I found this challenging however at the same time enjoyable. This is the type of things I needed to learn to help me to become a sports writer.

The basic rules that are essentially for writing high professional standard introductions for print (Newspapers) are to make sure they are written in the format for that style of newspaper. Making sure the tone is right and matches the type of story that is being written. If it’s a serious story, make sure this is portrayed thoughts the words used. Also making sure it is short, snappy straight to the point by using the 5W, H techniques, I learnt that you don’t often see all of them within an introduction but it is best to get as much in. As I am doing a project that requires me to write for Hull Daily Mail ‘Your News supplement’ I need to use as many of the 5W’s, without giving to much away. This is so that it makes the reader more likely to read on after the first paragraph. Also I will also make sure that all spellings are correct and accurate as this is important and helps to keep that professional standard.  For instance, spellings of places and names. Only using names if the person is well known in the public domain, not otherwise till further down the story.

From having a news editor (Charlotte Richardson) as a client in my last course she was very specific about using the ‘Inverted Pyramid’ this means that the most newsworthy parts of a story should be situated at the top and the more irrelevant information further down the article/story. This means that the reader is more likely to be attracted into reading. Generally, people who read news stories read the first couple of paragraphs so by having the most important information at the top means there not missing out. In the image below it shows the structure that a news story should follow in order for it to be written in the correct way.

At first I found it a bit confusing and difficult to get to grips with it, however, by having these skills will allow me to become a better practitioner of my work and to appear to be of that professional standard. It is also vital to make sure your story is of public interest or something that you believe is important for them to gain knowledge of.

When doing my first news story for the Your news supplement, I found it really difficult in the sense that I promoted certain things and I should have done it in the ways that it didn’t promote. Newspaper stories need to be none biased. You shouldn’t give opinions. This was a really good learning curve for me, this means I will try and make sure I don’t make the same mistake twice.

Introductions of articles

In the last session with Carmen we discussed the importance of a good news article and how the most important information will be situated at the top of the article. As a part of the assessment criteria for this unit we have to write and publish our own NIB’s on what is happening in the patches of Hull we have been allocated. News in briefs are basically an intro of a bigger article. It should be short, snappy and have the (who, what, when, where and why) within it to be a good NIB. I have been asked to find three articles and discuss the introduction structure of the writing. Identifying if the (5 W’s and how) have been used within the opening paragraphs.

The first article I have looked at is a recent publication in the Hull daily mail. It is about a 6-year-old boy that went missing from a local school.

http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Boy-5-goes-missing-Hall-Road-Primary-School-north/story-27939293-detail/story.html

Photo source: Taken from the web page

In the first paragraph it identifies who and what the article was about (a boy that went missing) When was also identified within first couple of sentences (yesterday and an hour later was found) Where was also stated in the first paragraph – went missing from Hall road school and found on Beverly road. How was identified that he cycled away from the school. Why is still unclear within the first couple of paragraphs

The next article I have looked at is on the Mail Online website. It is about a boy that is trapped in a pensioner’s body and weighs 2st.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3263375/The-teenager-trapped-body-PENSIONER-14-year-old-weighs-2st-rare-ageing-disease-slowly-losing-ability-move.html

Photo source: Taken from the web page

In this article I have found some of the 5W’s. Who (Nihal Bitla) what and why (genetic disorder called Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS), where (ho lives on the outskirts of Mumbai, India). Its not clear the when. i personally think this story is captivating so i would definitely read on to find more information out. i believe that the intro is really strong and draws the viewers in.

The last article i found was on the live science website. the article was  about three people who got a nobel prize for new DNA finding.

http://www.livescience.com/52409-nobel-prize-chemistry-2015.html

Photo source: Taken from the web page

In this publication there were some of the 5W’s seen within the first couple of paragraphs but not all of them was found. Who (Three scientists) what (nobel prize) why (found a way cells can repair damaged DNA) when and where was not specified in the first couple of paragraphs.