Reporting for the media /
Fred Fedler ... [et al.].
- 8th ed.
- New York : Oxford University Press, 2005.
- xvii, 679 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Preface 1. The Basics: Format, Copy Editing, and AP Style Producing Copy News Story Format Copy-editing Symbols The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law Accuracy of Names and Facts The Writing Coach--The Lucky 13 Ways to Become a Good Writer Checklist for Copy Preparation Suggested Readings Useful Web Sites Exercises 2. Grammar and Spelling The Parts of Speech Basic Sentence Structure Active and Passive Voice Agreement Ambiguous Pronouns Plurals and Possessives "That" and "Which" "Who" and "Whom" Misplaced Modifiers Dangling Modifiers Personification Parallel Form "Because" and "Due To" Spelling Grammar and Checklist The Writing Coach--Acronyms Lift Your Writing Suggested Readings Useful Web Sites Exercises 3. Newswriting Style Prewriting Simplify Words, Sentences, and Paragraphs Remain Objective Checklist for Newswriting Style The Writing Coach--Find the Clear Path to Writing Glory Suggested Readings Exercises 4. The Language of News The Effectiveness of Words Be Precise Use Strong Verbs Avoiding Problems in Your Writing Words to Avoid Other Problems to Avoid Checklist for the Language of News The Writing Coach--Become a Power Lifter When Picking Verbs Suggested Readings Exercises 5. Selecting and Reporting the News The Characteristics of News Two Views of 9/11 Types of News Public/Civic Journalism Applying the Principles of News Selection The Concept of Objectivity Details Newspapers Are Reluctant to Publish The Importance of Accuracy Suggested Readings Exercises 6. Basic News Leads The Summary News Lead Sentence Structure in Leads Guidelines for Writing Effective Leads Avoiding Some Common Errors Apply the Guidelines to other Kinds of Leads Checklist for Writing Leads The Writing Coach--Oh Where, Oh Where Does the Time Element Go? Suggested Readings Exercises 7. Alternative Leads Criticisms "Buried" or "Delayed" Leads Multiparagraph Leads Using Quotations Using Questions Suspenseful Leads Descriptive Leads Shockers-Leads With a Twist Ironic Leads Direct-Address Leads Words Used in Unusual Ways Other Unusual Leads The Writing Coach--Too Many Words Can Muddle Writing Exercises 8. The Body of a News Story The Inverted-Pyramid Style The Hourglass Style The Focus Style The Narrative Style Using Transitions Explain the Unfamiliar The Importance of Examples The Use of Description The Use of Humor The Need to Be Fair The Final Step: Edit Your Story Checklist for Writing News Stories The Writing Coach--How to Find the Endings to Stories Suggested Readings Exercises 9. Quotations and Attribution Quotations Blending Quotations Narrative Attribution Guidelines for Capitalizing and Punctuating Quotations Checklists for Quotations and Attribution A Memo From the Editor--Descriptive Writing: Turning a Good Story Into a Great Story Suggested Readings Exercises 10. Interviews Why Am I Interviewing? Whom Should I Interview? When Should I Conduct My Interviews? Where Should I Conduct the Interview? What Questions Should I Ask? How Should I Conduct Interviews Writing the Interview Story The Writing Coach--Figure It: Poetry Can Be in Newspaper Stories Suggested Readings Useful Web Sites Exercises 11. Writing Obituaries Types of Death Reports Jim Nicholson: No. 1 in Obituaries Obituary Writing Considerations Checklists for Reporting and Writing Obituaries Suggested Readings Useful Web Sites Exercises 12. Speeches and Meetings Advance Stories Covering the Speech or Meeting Follow Stories Internet Brings Pornography to Children, Researcher Says Remember Your Readers Adding Color Checklists for Reporting Speeches and Meetings The Writing Coach--Go Beyond the Stick Suggested Readings Useful Web Sites Exercises 13. Specialized Types of Stories Brights Follow-ups Roundups Sidebars Checklists for Writing Specialized Stories A Memo From the Editor--History, Traditions, and Culture: Old Glory and Noodle Suggested Reading Exercises 14. Feature Stories Selecting a Topic and Gathering Information Types of Feature Stories Types of Feature Leads The Body of Feature Story The Ending of Feature Story What does It Take to Be a Top-Notch Writer? Suggested Readings Useful Web Sites Exercises 15. Public Affairs Reporting Crime and Accidents Covering the Search for a Serial Killer Local Government Courts Checklists for Public Affairs Reporting A Note About This Chapter's Exercises The Writing Coach--The "Knows" Have It for Police and Court Reporters Suggested Readings Useful Web Sites Exercises 16. Understanding and Using the Internet A Brief History Journalists and the Internet E-Mail Internet Addresses, Web Sites, or URLs (Universal Resource Locators) Search Engines and Subject Directories Mailing Lists and Newsgroups Ethical Considerations Suggested Readings Useful Web Sites Exercises 17. Advanced Reporting Using Statistics Conducting Informal Polls Using Computers to Get Answers Converging Media Checklist for Using Statistics Checklist for Conducting Informal Polls A Memo From the Editor--Good Writing's Great, but It's Not Enough Suggested Readings Exercises 18. Writing for Broadcast Writing for Your Listener Writing for Your Announcer Leads for Broadcast Services The Body of a Broadcast News Story Updating Broadcast News Stories Guidelines for Copy Preparation Editing Copy Putting Together a Newscast Sources for Broadcast News The Newsroom Environment Checklist for Broadcast News Writing Suggested Readings Useful Web Sites Exercises 19. The News Media and PR Practitioners What is Public Relations? Becoming a Public Relations Practitioner Working With News Media Elements of a News Release Types of News Releases The Journalist's Perspective: Working with Press Releases The No. 1 Problem: Lack of Newsworthiness The No. 2 Problem: Lack of Objectivity Other Problems with News Releases Some Final Guidelines Checklists for PR Practitioners Checklist for Handling News Releases Guest-Column-Transparency Is Paramount Suggested Readings Exercises 20. Communications Law Libel 12 Steps for Avoiding Libel Suits Privacy Newsgathering Bar-Press Guidelines Checklists Suggested Readings Useful Web Sites Exercises 21. Ethics Media Credibility Ethical Decision Making Ethics Issues Codes of Ethics Checklist for improving Media Credibility A Memo From the Editor--Some Thoughts on Plagiarism Suggested Readings Useful Web Sites Exercises 22. Careers A Journalist's Attributes Be the Applicant Who Gets Hired The Industry Needs More Women and Minorities Freelance Writing Checklist for Finding the Right Journalism Job Suggested Readings Useful Web Sites Appendixes A. City Directory B. The Associated Press Stylebook C. Rules for Forming Possessives D. Answer Keys E. Common Writing Errors Credit Lines Index
0195169999 (alk. paper)
2004041579
Reporters and reporting--Problems, exercises, etc.