When you write a news article about the local news and current events you use a different methodology than when you blog or write articles.
I admit, the first time I wrote a news article, the world had not seen many blogs, and COVID was not even conceived of. So, to say that writing news articles today has changed is true.
We see much more personal emotion written in the context of modern news, and given the world-changing events in the past few years, I think it is necessary.
First things first include emotion
Truly, we all have our own opinions and ideas about the world. Researching and writing news article topics that mean something to us personally is inspirational. It promotes stronger relationships with the decent people around us.
After all, we have all watched with horror as COVID ripped so many loved ones from us, people lost their jobs, and income and now we weep with those suffering through war. Emotion is what makes us people, you know? And reporting news events without human emotion comes across as calloused and uncaring.
When any news reporter fails to insert themselves into a situation as a human being without feelings, they cut themselves off from all that God created them to be. And honestly, in today’s online blog culture, many will cut you off or give you a piece of their mind if you report without compassion.
In contrast, though, promoting criminal and destructive behavior in news is detrimental to our culture. Treating a subject who deserves nothing but derision with respect is immoral. Further, following the example of Hunter S. Thompson who wrote about the now-former Hells Angels founder, Sonny Barger is far from solid news reporting. While he may be an interesting subject, it is bad form to even remotely act as if he was a decent person.
This is why we cannot allow a lack of compassion and decency in our news articles. It truly drives a wedge between us and our audience.
Second, how is a news article structured?
Once we process our emotions about our subject, we must outline and look at the structure of our article.
First of all, when you write a news article, you write factual, nonfiction content by reporting or in an investigative manner. While you may tell it in somewhat of a story fashion, you still express yourself without your personal experiences or opinions. You write objectively, but not calloused.
All reporting remains an objective observational point of view. So you must report your experiences, but about what you see, learn, and observe. Next, you write down your learnings in a news article documenting it for your readers who are not there.
It is important to note that there are a few key similarities and differences between writing a newspaper article and writing a blog post or an article.
The Similarities
Writing for a newspaper maintains many similarities to writing for a blog post or other publication. When you write for a publication or blog you maintain some sort of writing structure and follow grammatical rules.
#1 Keep The Structure
No matter what, remember you lead your readers on a word journey and you entice them to follow your lead, right? You keep the main structure to bring them to your understanding as you see it.
Still, you must write an introduction, a middle, and an end. Each section might contain a few paragraphs, especially the middle section, or the main content, but stick to the structure.
#2 Use Good Grammar
Plus, you edit your work using good grammar and spelling. Use the grammar and spell checkers, but again, make sure that the checkers are using the proper word usage.
AI technology did turn your grammar checker into a human, so it really cannot fully comprehend what it reads in your documents.
#3 Write Descriptively
One thing we all strive towards is writing descriptive nonfiction. Sure, tell your facts in a story fashion, but ensure your embellishments don’t turn into fiction.
Include strong adjectives and adverbs and describe what you mean so you hold your readers’ attention.
The Differences
The differences between writing a newspaper article versus writing any other nonfiction piece include utilizing proper verb tense, answering questions, and including sources.
#1 Use Active Tense
When writing in the active tense you create the article as if we, the readers are right there with you. It makes for a strong newspaper article.
For example, if I said, “The winter storm brought many challenges to locals this week.” I am writing in a passive voice.
But, if I said, “The winter storm challenged locals this week.” I am writing in what is called active tense.
The best way to know which one you are using is if you insert a helping verb like are, is, was, were, etc. before your action verb, then you use passive tense. Trust me, it takes work when you undo your writing this way.
#2 Answer Questions Readers Want To Know
So, let’s assume you pick up a newspaper to find out the local news or simply an interesting nonfiction article about a local person. When you read it you want five questions answered about what you read. You just didn’t know it.
All readers want to understand the who, what, where, why, and how of the topic they read in the newspaper. Every time you read a newspaper article you find this information out.
When you write a newspaper article you must include the answers to these questions in your article. Write your topic to answer these questions, and your readers will thank you.
#3 Identifying Sources
Frequently you write articles to inform your readers, but rarely do you find the need to quote a source or a person you gather information from.
Properly listing your sources, whether it comes from a person, an article, or a specific document becomes a necessary part of writing newspaper articles.
Remember when readers read your newspaper article they expect more than content, they expect current events. And, current events do come from an observation or a source, or both.
#4 Use The AP Style
If you don’t know, AP stands for Associated Press. Newspapers use this style guide to edit the newspaper articles they publish.
When you write your newspaper articles, check for AP style errors before you submit your work. Most major news publications expect you to write this way.
Find out more about the AP style at this link. Purchase the book or use the online style guide to assist you in your newspaper article writing.
Finally, write prudently
The purpose of a newspaper article simply remains to inform the readers of current events in their local, state, or national news. Its purpose remains to update its readers.
Yet, you must also realize you influence others with your words. Reporting exact locations of wartime events may cause undue attention to innocent bystanders. Writing news articles responsibly and considering the impact of your words is a must when writing a report. Promoting the inclusion of decent law-abiding morality must be the standard.
On the other hand, taking responsibility for a belligerent hothead who just runs his mouth all of the time, is completely unnecessary. If it is factual and it makes someone angry, then be objective, but tactful. Most people read the news and have an opinion, but what they do with their opinions is their own responsibility.
There will be opinion pieces and personal essays or commentaries both in the news and out in blog land. Yet, it remains our responsibility as writers and journalists to write with solid craft and respect the people we write for.
Respect for our fellow human beings in our work really rules this new age of online journalism.
