For those of us who are just starting out in the world of journalism, writing an article can seem like a daunting task. Luckily, there’s a simple formula that will help you figure out how to write an article in no time!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Understanding the process of journalistic writing can lead to more effective and engaging articles. |
| 2. Journalists utilize various methods to discover compelling and newsworthy stories, such as interviews and research. |
| 3. The key to a standout news article lies in providing accurate, timely, and relevant information to the target audience. |
| 4. Objectivity is a crucial principle in journalism, allowing readers to form their own opinions based on unbiased reporting. |
| 5. Aspiring writers can improve their journalistic skills through consistent practice, reading, seeking feedback, and staying informed about current events. |
Step 1 – Choose An Interesting Topic
Your first step is to choose a topic that you are interested in and that can be written about. This may sound obvious, but many writers don’t think about this step. You should choose a topic that you are passionate about so that you can create an interesting article for your readers.
You also have to make sure that there is enough material available to write about on the topic of your choice.
If there isn’t enough material, then it will not be possible for you to produce a complete article on the subject matter at hand, which can lead to writer’s block and frustration among other things!
Writing articles that truly resonate with your audience is an art. Discover how to captivate readers and keep them engaged in our comprehensive guide on How to Write Articles That Resonate with Your Audience.
Step 2 – Determine What Kind Of Article You’ll Be Writing
In this step, you need to determine what kind of article you’ll be writing. Whether you’re writing a journalistic article or an informative blog post, there’s a general formula for how it should be written.
The most popular and successful articles are usually opinionated and have a distinct point of view that readers can connect with emotionally.
These pieces are also usually written in first person (I), which appeals to the reader by making him or her think that the author knows them personally.
You may want to write an investigative piece that exposes some wrongdoing in society, like corrupt politicians or unsafe food products at grocery stores (and then call out names). Or perhaps you’d like to interview someone famous as long as it’s interesting enough!
Whatever your topic is, make sure it has relevance beyond its entertainment value; otherwise people will lose interest quickly because they won’t see how your message applies directly to their own lives or circumstances.
Step 3 – Write Down 3-5 Ideas For The Topic Sentence
The topic sentence is the most important sentence in your article. It should be a summary of everything that follows it and it should sum up why you wrote this article in the first place.
For example, if your topic sentence is “Easy strategies to help you avoid mistakes on your taxes,” then this would be an interesting topic because people care about their taxes but they also hate paying them!
Uncover the secrets behind crafting news stories that go viral and reach millions of readers. Learn from the pros in our exclusive insights on The Secrets to Writing Great News Stories That Get Read by Millions.
Step 4 – Start With A Lead Sentence
You can start with a hook, or a question.
You can even go for something more creative like starting with a quote.
That’s one way to get the reader intrigued, but you don’t have to think too hard about it if you don’t want to. You can just write an intro that gives them a summary of the story and uses keywords that they’ll be interested in reading more about (more on this later).
Step 5 – Find Some Quotes To Add To Your Story
Quotes are a good way of adding colour and making an article more interesting, but they should be used sparingly. If you use too many quotes, it will start to sound like a speech or interview, which isn’t what you’re trying to achieve here!
If possible, try and get the person who actually did the thing that you’re writing about to say it in their own words (i.e., if someone invented a new kind of dog leash).
This makes your article more personal and authentic for readers; however if this is not possible then find other ways of getting people’s opinions across with quotes instead – so long as they don’t take up too much space!
Becoming a skilled news writer requires following some essential rules. Enhance your news writing prowess with our 13 crucial rules outlined in this resource: 13 Rules That Will Make You a Better News Writer.
Step 6 – Insert Images Into Your Article
To insert an image into your article, you’ll need to click on the “Media” tool in the toolbar at the top of your screen. From there, select “Insert Image.” You’ll then be able to upload and insert an image from your computer’s hard drive.
Once you have uploaded an image, it will appear in a box with blue borders. To move it around within this box, simply click inside it and drag it around with your mouse until you find a spot where it looks good.
If you want to resize an image after uploading and inserting it into your draft post (so that its width or height doesn’t look too large).
Use the tools available at this point: click on “Edit Mode” underlined in red below any embedded media (in this case our embedded video) and then use your cursor arrows to adjust its size;
Alternatively, click on “Scale” underlined in red below any embedded media (in this case our embedded photo) and adjust accordingly using similar methods as above:
If necessary, feel free to crop out extraneous parts of images before inserting them into drafts here at Journify by clicking on “Crop Image” underlined in red below any embedded media (in this case our embedded photo):
Step 7 – A Good Journalist Is Always Skeptical
A good journalist is always skeptical. Before you publish anything, check any facts you are told. Check sources. Check the reliability of the source. Check the source’s reputation and background, especially if they are anonymous or not well-known in your field of journalism.
Consider their motives for providing information to you are they trying to get something else published? Does their side of the story have ulterior motives?
Think about all these things before making decisions about what gets published and how it will be presented so that your audience can make informed decisions based on facts rather than rumors or bias from one side or another
Step 8 – Be Wary Of Bias In Journalism Articles And Stories
The word “bias” is often used in journalism to describe a writer’s opinion and the way this opinion is expressed. There are several reasons why bias can result in a story:
The journalist’s own beliefs: News reporters often have their own opinions on what they are reporting, which can affect the angle and tone of their stories.
For example, if you were writing about climate change, it would be difficult not to include your own thoughts on climate change and whether or not we should do something about it.
If your main goal was to report facts without any bias whatsoever, you wouldn’t write any personal opinions or feelings into your article at all.
But this rarely happens because most people believe that as long as they’re being truthful about what happened in the event being reported on.
Then it’s okay for there to be some room for interpretation in terms of how those events were perceived by both sides involved and therefore how these different points of view would impact decisions made in response (or inaction).
Crafting compelling headlines is crucial for attracting readers. Find out the best and worst ways to create attention-grabbing news headlines in our guide: The Best and Worst Ways to Write a News Headline.
Step 9 – Gather All The Facts And Stick To Them, No Speculation Or Sensationalism Allowed!
Now that you know the basics of how a journalist writes an article, let’s take a look at some other things to keep in mind.
First and foremost: stick to the facts. If something happened and someone said they saw it happen, there is no reason to doubt them and write something else as if it never happened.
Just stick with what people told you; don’t try to embellish or exaggerate (or make things worse than they are).
Don’t speculate either! There are certain types of stories where speculation may be appropriate for example when writing about politics but usually it’s best not to go there unless absolutely necessary because even then you run into potential issues depending on who reads your work and what their political views are might be.
These days with everyone being so easily offended by everything under the sun (or maybe just me?), I’d rather not risk getting sued or having anyone threaten me for being “biased.”
Step 10 – If Your Story, Reporting Or Article Is Based On A Longer Source Or Interview, It’s Best Practice To Cite It At The End Of Your Work
If your story, reporting or article is based on a longer source or interview, it’s best practice to cite it at the end of your work.
This lets readers know where they can find more information if they want to follow up with the original source. It also serves as evidence that you’ve done your research and are not just making things up out of thin air.
Citing sources helps avoid plagiarism (and lawsuits) too! If you don’t cite a source when you use someone else’s words or ideas in your writing, you’re essentially stealing their ideas for yourself.
By citing sources properly, you’re telling readers where they can go and find out more about what was said in the article without having to guess which part came from where and this makes everyone happy because now everyone knows where their information came from!
Step 11 – Proofread Your Work Before Publishing It And Fix Any Mistakes That You Find
Proofreading your work is a crucial step. It’s easy to overlook errors in your writing when you’re focused on the story.
But you must take some time to go over your article and make sure that everything is spelled correctly and grammatically correct, so that the reader won’t be distracted by any errors.
If you’ve written using a computer program or word processing software, there will be a spell checker built into it. You should always use this when writing an article as it will catch simple spelling mistakes like “their” instead of “there”.
Spelling mistakes like this can also be picked up by a grammar checker which will highlight problems such as double negatives (e.g., “I didn’t say nothing”).
If there are still errors remaining after these two checks have been done then alternative ways of finding them include:
Using Google Translate to find out if any words sound wrong in another language (they may sound fine in English but not in another language)
Using an online dictionary such as https://www.dictionary.com/dictionary/#en-en1
Having someone else read through the piece of writing – ask someone who has good English skills and who knows what they’re talking about!
News writing is an invaluable skill, especially for students aspiring to be journalists. Gain valuable insights and practical tips in our guide: Tips for Creating News Stories – A Guide for Students.
Conclusion
We hope you’ve enjoyed this brief introduction to how journalists write articles, and that it has given you some insight into what goes into the process.
Journalistic writing is an art form, with many rules and guidelines that are meant to ensure a certain level of quality in each piece of work.
But as with any profession, there’s no one right way to do things – so don’t feel constrained by our suggestions! If your journalist wants to go against convention and write their article in verse or haiku format instead… well then we’re all for it!
Further Reading
How Journalists Find Stories and Write Articles: A comprehensive exploration of the journalistic process, from story discovery to article composition.
Journalistic Writing: Techniques and Tips: Learn the essential techniques and tips to improve your journalistic writing skills.
Writing and Journalism: Unleashing the Power of Words: An insightful article that delves into the art of writing and its connection to journalism.
FAQs
What is the key to effective journalistic writing?
Effective journalistic writing lies in the ability to convey information concisely, factually, and engagingly, capturing the reader’s interest from the very beginning.
How do journalists discover compelling stories?
Journalists discover compelling stories through various means, including conducting interviews, researching current events, following leads, and being inquisitive about the world around them.
What makes a news article stand out?
A standout news article provides accurate and timely information, offers unique perspectives, and addresses the interests and concerns of its target audience.
Is objectivity essential in journalism?
Objectivity is a fundamental principle in journalism, requiring writers to present information without bias, allowing readers to form their own opinions based on the facts presented.
How can aspiring writers improve their journalistic skills?
Aspiring writers can enhance their journalistic skills by reading extensively, practicing writing regularly, seeking feedback from experienced journalists, and staying up-to-date with current affairs.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.
