Reaching Audiences:A Guide to Media Writing

Description

Features

• The writing process is extensively examined, including guidelines for good writing, grammar, punctuation, bias, sources, databases, editing as part of writing, online content, and word usage.
• Chapters on bias and stereotypes (ch.11) and legal and ethical issues (ch.12) assist students in reporting by raising their awareness of these issues.
• A wealth of in-chapter exercises and an accompanying workbook enable students to practice skills immediately after reading about them.
• A full chapter devoted to the role and importance of self-editing (ch.3) demonstrates to students how to evaluate their own writing.
• Grammar and the importance of math skills for students are stressed early in the text (Ch. 2)
• The Internet and its effect on mass communication, including research and ethical considerations is discussed throughout the text. .
• Tips for online writing are provided to prepare students for the different media in which they may work.
• Students are shownhow to gather information through competent research and interviewing with legal and ethical considerations at the forefront.

New to this Edition

• Online content is covered in its own, NEW chapter (ch.7). This chapter discusses the advantages of breaking news online, blogging, blurbs and leads while pointing out to students how producing online content differs from print or broadcast.
• Online editing is enhanced in the editing chapter (Ch. 3), which also includes an historical perspective on electronic media.
• The chapters on public relations and advertising have been condensed into one chapter, Strategic Communication (ch.14).
• Updated examples throughout the book show the difference between print and online leads and stories. New examples also show the complexity and nuances of professional reporting.

Table of Contents

I. THE COMPONENTS OF GOOD WRITING

1. Writing for Today's Audiences

Reaching Audiences

Knowing Audiences

The Writing Process Explained

2. Tools for Writers: Spelling, Grammar, Style, and Math

Spelling in the Computer Age

Grammar To the Rescue

Grammar Problems Up Close

Math for Journalists

Suggested Readings

3. Editing, Editing, Editing

Watching Style

Editing Responsibilities

Editing for Online and Other Formats

Putting the Rules in Practice

4. Guidelines for Good Writing

Watchwords of Writing

Keys to Good Writing

Words

Sentences

Paragraphs-Short Paragraphs

The Way to Clearer Writing

II. CONSTRUCTING THE MESSAGE

5. Getting to the Point

What's the Point?

In the Beginning Comes the Lead

News Elements

News Values

General Rules for Leads

Summary Leads

Other Lead Formats

Writing Leads for Online Media

Choosing a Lead Type

6. Beyond the Lead: Writing the Message

The Inverted Pyramid

Organizing a Story

News Peg and Nut Graph

Other Organizational Styles

Unifying Writing.

7. Producing Online Content

The World Goes Online

Electronic Media Then and Now

What's Different about Online Content

The Components of a News Site

Structuring Messages Online

Challenges and Opportunities

8. Beyond Breaking News

News versus Feature

Obituaries

Speech Stories

III. GATHERING INFORMATION

9. Research and Observation

Getting Started

Government Sources

Online Research

Observation

10. Interviewing, Quotes, and Attribution

Interviewing as a Challenge

Research Before Interviewing

Getting the Interview

Writing the Questions

Conducting an Interview

Selecting and Using Quotes

More on Attribution

11. Recognizing Bias and Stereotypes

The Bias Habit

Considering Specific Groups

Overcoming Bias in Writing

12. Legal and Ethical Issues

Libel

Privacy

Copyright and Plagiarism

Ethics in Gathering Information

IV. OTHER MEDIA

13. Broadcast Media

The Medium Changes the Style

Print versus Broadcast Copy

Leads and Structure

Writing Guidelines

Broadcast Formats

Trends in Broadcast Media

14. Strategic Communication

The Importance of Good Writing.

Public Relations in Practice

Advertising's Role in Strategic Communication

Strategic Communication Online

Appendix A. Keys to Grammar and Style Quizzes

Appendix B. Key to Math Test

Index.