Deck 2: Getting Started: in the Beginning Is the Lead

Question 1

"News" is based on what people need and want to know and often focuses on an outstanding deviation from the norm, something that generally doesn't ordinarily happen.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Which of the criteria for news is "most important?" Why?

Answer 2

Timeliness, above all, News is what's happening now, not the other day Those criteria are interrelated, however ,The more of them present, the more newsworthy the story.

Question 3

"The importance of each criterion varies somewhat among the different media." How? Explain the differences between print, broadcast' and public relations.

Answer 3

Newspapers, in print publications as well as online, emphasize proximity, impact and prominence They seek to give readers the local news of interest to them, and to ,relay, significant national stories about events, prominent people and public policy ,important, to their lives ,Broadcast, like online journalism,,, values timeliness ,and, the ability to tell a news story quickly Television and radio newscasts also emphasize the aspects of being at the scene, and respond to the values of novelty, human interest and conflict because those values are particularly dramatic and quickly arouse the viewers' or listeners' interest and draw their attention to the broadcast,Public Relations practitioners tend to tell stories that emphasize the values of progress or novelty, or focus on human-interest news As advocates for a company, candidate or cause, they seek to generate positive stories that put their subjects in a good light Public relations stories emphasize the positive things people have accomplished or experienced, providing a balance to the "bad news" told in print and electronic journalism.

Question 4

Print journalism has traditionally been seen as emphasizing bad news. Why does it do that?

Question 5

Why do news values matter?

Question 6

Why, then, is the lead of a story so important?

Question 7

How is the inverted pyramid composed?

Question 8

What is the rationale for the inverted pyramid style of writing?

Question 9

Different newspapers have different average lead lengths, depending on what appeal the newspapers have to readers.

Question 10

The first words of the first sentence of a news story are the most important and should be written in the same natural, plain, straightforward way you would say something.

Question 11

Straightforward leads presenting a brief statement of the most important aspects of the news event are called summary leads because they succinctly summarize newsworthy information. They are the most common leads for news stories.

Question 12

What is an "impersonal who" lead? When and why is it used?

Question 13

Writers should avoid non-news leads that state the obvious or relate the routine, as well as general all-purpose phrases that do not give a clear sense of what happened.

Question 14

What is a "nut 'graph"?

Question 15

While following the AP Stylebook is important, don't be too confined to style, especially regarding addresses, numbers, abbreviations and ages, because that gives your writing a distinctive flair that will make your story stand out, even if there is no byline.

Question 16

In writing an announcement of an upcoming event, the order is:

A) Place, date, time.
B) Date, place, time.
C) Time, date, place.
D) None of the above; newspapers no longer carry announcement listings.

Question 17

While accuracy is important, remember that you're in competition with other media to rapidly report the news. Thus, if you're not sure of something, go with it anyway; it can always be corrected in a subsequent edition of the paper.

Question 18

Use a variety of synonyms to give your writing a literary flavor; don't repeat words when others may be found that have the same meaning.

Question 19

Because time is always at a premium, broadcast leads pack as many facts as possible into the opening paragraph.

Question 20

An effective lead technique in broadcast writing is to use a question lead. People are used to this form because of all the commercials.

Question 21

Differentiate between a single act lead, the umbrella or comprehensive lead, and the chronological narrative lead. (pp. 27-28.)

Question 22

What is a soft lead and why is it used in broadcast news copy?

Question 23

Whenever possible, broadcast leads should begin with names: names make news; go with "who."

Question 24

Don't begin broadcast copy with numbers, figures or facts crucial to the story.

Question 25

Your text concludes the chapter by declaring that creation of a satisfying lead and an effective inverted pyramid story is "a worthwhile effort." Why? What has been accomplished?