How to Write News Stories and Use Discourse Markers Effectively
Writing a good news story requires attention to several key elements. Understanding what makes a story newsworthy and presenting the information in a clear and engaging manner are essential skills. In this guide, we will explore the basics of writing news stories, as well as the role of discourse markers in structuring language effectively.
Deciding What the News Is
The first step in writing a news story is to decide what the news is. News is typically driven by its importance, emotion, impact, timeliness, and interest to the reader. The more people involved or affected by an event, the more newsworthy it becomes. For instance, a decision to increase campus parking charges may not seem important at first, but if it affects a large group of students and staff, it becomes significant.
News is also driven by time. What’s considered news today may no longer be relevant tomorrow unless something significant changes. This is why timely reporting is crucial to keep stories current and relevant.
Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How?
Effective news writing answers the fundamental questions of who, what, where, when, why, and how. These details should appear in the headline and the first two paragraphs of the story. For example, a headline could read: "Sanjeev Bhaskar [WHO] presented degree certificates for the first time [WHAT] at this week’s summer graduation ceremonies in Brighton [WHERE] on Wednesday [WHEN]." This gives readers all the essential information upfront.
News First, Background Later
The key to writing an engaging news story is to present the most important information—the "new" bits—first. The background information can follow later. Avoid trying to tease readers into reading the entire article by withholding information. If someone only reads the headline or the first two lines, they should still understand the main point of the story.
Be Objective and Stick to the Facts
In news writing, it’s important to stick to the facts. Opinions should be attributed to named sources, and subjective descriptions should be avoided unless they are directly quoted. For example, instead of writing "The event was a great success," it’s better to say, "Dr. Jones said the event went well: 'It was a great success, and I’m pleased that we’ve seen an increase in applications since it took place.'"
Keep It Simple and Short
News stories should be concise. Ideally, a news article should be between 250 and 400 words long. Keep sentences short, under 25 words, and use simple language. Avoid unnecessary jargon, and remember to explain the story in a way that anyone could understand, even if they don’t have any background knowledge on the topic.
Write a Great Headline
A good headline is essential because many readers only skim the headlines. Research shows that 80% of people read only headlines, so it’s important to make them clear and concise. A headline should summarize the main point of the story in just a few words. It’s often easier to write the headline after the article is finished, focusing on shortening and simplifying your first line.
How to Write a News Story
To write a successful news story, follow these steps:
- Select a Newsworthy Story: Choose an event or development that is timely and relevant to your readers.
- Do Your Research: Gather background information and check existing reports on the topic.
- Focus Your Story: Be clear on the purpose of the story. What do readers need to know? What is the most important point?
- Write and Revise: Organize your ideas, write the story, and then review it for clarity and flow. It’s helpful to read the article out loud to catch any awkward phrasing or errors.
What Is a Discourse Marker?
Discourse markers are words or phrases that guide the listener or reader through the conversation or text. They help organize the information, making it easier to follow. In news writing, discourse markers are essential in showing relationships between ideas, such as adding information, giving reasons, or showing contrast.
Discourse Markers for Addition
Discourse markers like also, too, moreover, and furthermore add information to what has already been stated.
- Too is typically used at the end of a sentence: "James loves chocolate ice cream, and I do too."
- Also is often used before the main verb: "Joanna also likes riding horses."
- Moreover and furthermore are more formal ways to add information, often used to introduce a new point: "His problems with his parents are frustrating. Moreover, there seems to be no easy solution."
Discourse Markers for Cause and Result
Discourse markers for cause and result help explain why something happened or what the outcome is.
- To show the result before the cause, you can use markers like as a result of, because, due to, or thanks to: "As a result of her hard work, she earned a promotion."
- To show the cause before the result, you can use the same markers but reverse the order: "Because of her hard work, she earned a promotion."
So is another common marker used to show cause and result: "I missed the bus, so I’ll be late."
Discourse Markers for Contrasting
Contrasting discourse markers help to present different ideas or viewpoints.
- Simple contrasts can be made using but, however, unlike, or whereas: "I like running, but I don’t enjoy swimming."
- More formal contrasts can use conversely, in contrast, or on the contrary: "The company's sales increased this year. In contrast, its competitors saw a decline."
In more complex comparisons, you can use on the one hand... on the other hand: "On the one hand, the proposal offers great potential. On the other hand, it could be risky."
Conclusion
By following the basic structure of news writing and using discourse markers effectively, you can write clear and engaging news stories. Discourse markers not only help in organizing the content but also ensure that the relationship between ideas is clearly understood. Writing news is about being direct, objective, and concise, while discourse markers provide the tools to make the story flow logically. With practice, these skills will become second nature, allowing you to write news that informs and engages your audience.
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