Check to see if there are deadlines for turning in mock articles, what the editor is looking for in a new staff member, and if there are any meetings you can attend to get more information.
If you’ve been on staff for a while, you may have the freedom to choose your own article topics. But until you know your position, it’s always a good idea to ask for assignments.
Feature stories are the largest articles in a newspaper, and they often go beyond simple facts to the reasons behind something, like why an event happened and what it means for students moving forward. An example of a feature story would be an article about a new scholarship being offered in your state. How it works, who is eligible, and facts about the work that went into making the scholarship program a reality would make a compelling story.
News articles are generally more straight-forward than feature stories or opinion articles. They convey relevant information in an unbiased way.
For example, you could write an editorial about school rules, events or groups on campus, sports, programs, or teaching methods.
If you want to be a regular columnist for your school newspaper, present a plan to your editor for a series of articles that you’d like to work on. For example, you could propose a 4-week series about starting a club or practicing self-care.
For example, you could write an article called “Top 10 Tips to Manage Stress,” “How to Develop Good Study Habits,” or “How to Get in Shape before Tryouts. ”
For example, if you review a new movie that came out, you could write about who would most enjoy the film. Perhaps it would be great for someone who likes action movies but not as enjoyable for someone who prefers comedies.
Talk to your editor, production manager, or faculty advisor for more information.
Who? Find out who was involved, whether that would be students, administrators, or other people in your community. What? Write down exactly what it is that you are writing about. Is it an event, a person, or an idea? Be as specific as possible. Where? Identify where the event took place. Is this a subject that is particular to your school or community, or is it a national subject? When? Make note of important dates and times. Why? Determine the reasons behind the subject. Was there a catalyst? How? Connect the rest of your information together to determine how an event or subject came together.
When contacting a person for an interview, let them know who you are and what topic you’re writing about, and give them an estimate of how much of their time you’ll need. When you finish an interview, take 10 minutes to write down additional notes right away. They’ll be fresh in your mind and you’ll be less likely to forget important details.
Ask if you have someone’s permission to use their name and words in your article, and write down their quote verbatim. You can use anonymous sources, but quotes are more compelling when they can be traced back to a specific individual.
Fact-checking makes you a more trustworthy writer and ensures that you’re taking the time to communicate as truthfully as you can about any particular subject.
Some reporters dictate notes to themselves or write out daily logs about their interviews and research. Figure out what works for you and your lifestyle, and then stick to it.
A lot of times, readers will decide if they want to continue reading an article based off of the first sentence or two.
Sometimes you’ll come up with a great headline before you even write the article, but most often you won’t know exactly what you’re presenting until after you’ve written it. Try waiting until after you’ve written your article to come up with the headline, and then make sure it fits in with the given topic.
People who want to know more about the topic will continue reading past those first 2 paragraphs, but people who just wanted the basic information will get their answers without having to search through the entire article.
For example, instead of saying, “Principal Miller comes from rainy Washington state and had been teaching before becoming a principal for 15 years,” you could say something like, “Principal Miller previously lived in Washington, and she has over 15 years of experience in the educational system. "
Always ask for permission to quote someone when you’re interviewing them.
Being able to proofread your own work is an essential part of being a successful member of the newspaper staff, and the more you work at it, the better you’ll get.
