Learn The Basics - Sports Writing

SPORTS WRITING

Sports writing or sports journalism is a special form of journalism that deals with sports topics and events.

While there are different approaches in writing a sports story, the typical sports piece, a short game story resembles the structure of a news article, starting with a lead followed by the body of the article.

Learn The Basics - Opinion Writing

OPINION WRITING

KINDS OF OPINION ARTICLES

   · Editorial: a usually brief, regular section reflecting the newspaper’s views on various issues.

   · Column: a regular section reflecting certain columnists views on various issues.

   · Commentary: an irregular section breaking down specific issues; its tone may be formal or informal, and its length may vary.

· News Analysis: similar to a column, it tackles and interprets current news and tries to make sense of them for the public; it may be regular or irregular, depending on newspaper policy

Learn The Basics: Newswriting

NEWS WRITING

· A factual and timely account of an event, idea or discovery

· Reports on any expected or unexpected developments or disruptions from day-to-day life

TYPES OF NEWS

1.      Hard/spot news

2.      Soft news

Learn The Basics: Copyediting and Headline Writing

COPYEDITING AND HEADLINE WRITING

WHAT IS A COPYEDITOR?

• ›  Checks written material, usually as the final step before it is set into type, to correct errors in grammar, spelling, usage and style.
• ›  Keeps an eye out for errors
• ›  Tightens up wordy prose and smoothes out awkward transitions
• ›  Can rewrite the story

Learn the Basics: Feature Writing

FEATURE WRITING

THE FEATURE ARTICLE:

          Unlike news stories, there’s more leeway for creativity in writing feature stories. However, it doesn’t mean that facts and grammar can be sacrificed in the process.

Feature articles appeal to the emotions. They paint stories in the reader’s minds with facts for credibility, but they do so with a different structure, varied orders of presentation, and with the inclusion of opinion and viewpoint.

They may supplement news, entertain, explain, amuse, invoke sympathy or inform. Often an article does several of these.