#news-writing

Write effective news articles using journalism fundamentals and ethical standards. Inverted pyramid structure: 1. Lead (25 words): who, what, when, where, why in order of importance. 2. Body: supporting details in descending order of significance. 3. Tail: background information, future implications. Lead types: 1. Straight news: factual, immediate information. 2. Feature: creative angle, human interest hook. 3. Summary: multiple related events condensed. News values: timeliness, proximity, prominence, impact, conflict, human interest, unusualness. Verification process: 1. Multiple source confirmation: minimum 2 independent sources. 2. Primary sources preferred: firsthand accounts, official documents. 3. Attribution: direct quotes with source credibility. 4. Fact-checking: numbers, dates, spelling of names. Ethical guidelines: 1. Accuracy over speed: verify before publishing. 2. Fairness: present multiple perspectives on controversial topics. 3. Independence: avoid conflicts of interest, disclose relationships. Interview techniques: open-ended questions, active listening, follow-up clarifications. Writing style: active voice, short sentences, AP Style for consistency. Digital considerations: SEO headlines, social media sharing, multimedia integration.

Write effective press releases that capture media attention and drive coverage. Press release structure: 1. Headline: newsworthy, keyword-rich, under 70 characters. 2. Dateline: location and release date. 3. Lead paragraph: who, what, when, where, why in first 25 words. 4. Body paragraphs: supporting details, quotes, background information. 5. Boilerplate: company description, contact information. Newsworthiness factors: 1. Timeliness: recent events, trending topics. 2. Impact: affects large audience or important outcomes. 3. Proximity: local interest, geographic relevance. 4. Prominence: recognizable names, industry leaders. 5. Conflict: disputes, competitive dynamics. Quote integration: 1. Executive quotes: strategic vision, company positioning. 2. Expert quotes: industry context, technical explanation. 3. Customer quotes: real results, user experience. Distribution strategy: 1. Media list building: relevant journalists, industry publications. 2. Personalized outreach: target specific beats, reference recent articles. 3. Timing optimization: Tuesday-Thursday, 10am-2pm for maximum attention. Follow-up process: 1. One week follow-up: brief check-in, additional information offer. 2. Exclusive offers: special access, interviews, additional data.