Writing:

Writing at Helium

How to write engaging news stories

 

Make your Helium News Stories Appeal to the Masses


photo by Dean Jarvey

Helium.com offers writers an opportunity to join its news community. The community, started in December, enables members to publish multimedia news stories or packages onto Helium. The Helium News Stories may also show up in Google's news service.

Writing stories takes a keen eye for details. Writers must also make sure to cover issues without injecting their own opinions.

Whether you are a Helium news writer or writing regular content that appears on Helium, you can follow these tips to make your stories more engaging.

 

Instructions
Step 1
Choose a Subject for a News Story

 

  • When choosing a subject, make sure it is one that would have broad appeal.
  • Consider trends in the news or events that would be of interest to a lot of people. 
  • Before writing, ask yourself this question. "Who cares?" That should help guide you in  choosing subjects of appeal to your target audience.
  • Take a look at the subject about which you want to write. Consider whether it would impact a large amount of people. More impact equals more potential readers.
Step 2
Stick to the Basics

 

  • Answer six questions: Who, what, when, where, why and how?
  • Focus the news story on the specific topic. Make sure each paragraph expands on the subject by answering those six basic questions.
  • Keep each paragraph short and focus on one idea per paragraph.
  • Determine what is the most important information. Include this information highest in the story.
Step 3
Keep Yourself Out of the News

 

  • A news story should be objective. There is no room for the writer's opinions.
  • Write in the third-person. Avoid writing in the first-person.
  • The word "I" should not appear in the story. For instance, do not start a sentence with "I state" or "I quote."
  • Find objective sources. Do not use your friends and relatives unless they are able to be objective and using them adds to the story, such as if they have an unique viewpoint or are personally affected by the subject of which you are writing.
Step 4
Write tight

 

  • Keep paragraphs short. One to three sentences is preferred.
  • Use only relevant words.
  • Use adjectives sparingly. Show, don't tell. For example, explain how big a new ocean liner is rather than write "a huge ocean liner."
  • When looking over your notes, include only what is relevant. Do not feel as though you have to include every piece of information just because you wrote it in your notes.
Step 5
Credit Sources

 

  • Attribute information to the source.
  • Make sure to attribute all information in a news story.
  • When attributing to a speaker, write "he said" or "she said." Avoid words like "exclaimed," "yelled," "explained" and so on unless they add to the story.
  • When quoting from a note or a press release, use the world "stated" instead of "said."
  • Use credible sources. Include the source's title or whatever information makes the source credible.
  • When using information from other news stories, periodicals or Web sites make sure to attribute the information. Not doing so could lead to accusations of plagiarism. 
  • When using a direct quote, make sure every word in the quote is written as said. When in doubt, paraphrase the quote.
Step 6
Edit the Story
  • Look for any misspellings.
  • Search through the copy for bad grammar such as incomplete sentences.
  • Double check all quotes to make sure they are accurate.
  • Double check spelllings on all names.
  • Make sure all information is relevant to the subject.
  • If any information is incomplete or you are unsure of its accuracy, take it out.
You will Need
A subject that appeals to many readers.
Information that forwards the story and answers the questions: Who, what, when, where, why and how?
Credible sources.
The ability to write tight copy that sticks to the facts.
Objectivity.
Tips & Warnings   
Keep your opinions out of the news story.
Write in the third person.
Make sure to attribute all information.
Double-check all stories for good grammar and spelling.

How to write news stories

by Rachelle de Bretagne
The News Writing community on Helium offers writers their chance at becoming citizen journalists, but it truly offers much more than one may think on first approach. The news stories which appear from the front page news section are written by peopl... More>
by Kathleen Solis
A scientific paper can be a good news and feature story material if one knows how to use it. Some writers, however, are too lazy to dig into facts and just quote whatever is written in the paper. To effectively use a scientific paper for a story, co... More>
by Erich Heinlein
Three central questions must be asked before writing a news story and you think you have completed all your research. How does this story relate or matter to my readers? Why is this story news and last of all have you talked to everybody you can tal... More>
by Terry Marsh
Newsworthy events happen daily, and good journalists develop a knack for sniffing them out. But what one person might consider an interesting story could be of no interest at all to another. Newsworthiness is what determines whether events become re... More>

Comments (1 to 3 of 3)

Nancy Houser
Feb 22, 11 at 06:58 AM
This is excellent and really simplifies things without getting too lost. Thank you very much for the information!
Femi Sobowale
Jun 10, 10 at 03:37 PM
I find this very interesting as well as informative. It is very important that a writer is well grounded in those things mentioned above to be able to write good news stories. Thank you very much indeed.
M. L. Larzelere
Jan 24, 10 at 12:33 AM
This is very helpful. I remember when I took a couple of journalism classes in the early 1970's. This brings back all those skill sets that when used together make for quality writing. Now, only to put them into practice.
Kurt D. Moore
Helium member since Dec 01, 09
Number of Guides: 3
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