OKLAHOMA NEWSPAPER FOUNDATION
3601 N. LINCOLN BLVD.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73105
(405) 499-0020 ▪ (405) 499-0048 (fax)
1-888-815-2672 (toll-free in OK)
DECEMBER 2010
Break out a quick story form
You’ve seen alternate story forms,
or ASFs, in many newspapers the
past few years and everywhere
online. An ASF is anything that
doesn’t fit the traditional story
format. They lend themselves to
fact-heavy stories, so charts,
boxes, graphic timelines and
breakout boxes are all good ASFs.
Maps and lists can also be ASFs.
Perhaps you’ve wondered how to
incorporate them. Every story,
from a city council meeting to a
play review, has the potential for
an ASF. Start with the basic idea –
a breakout box.
WHY USE A
BREAKOUT BOX?
Readers look for entry points
into blocks of text. Breakout
boxes with small, quick
chunks of information yell
“read me!”
If there’s a continuing story – on a
murder trial or ongoing construction, for example – breakouts are
a good way to include background
information, information that has
to be included in every story, or
teasers to upcoming developments. Boxes should be short, so
make them no longer than three
inches.
What’s next – Use for developing stories, such as city council/
legislative decisions or political
campaigns. Also a great device for
following local sports teams’
seasons and teasing investigative
projects or other stories.
Next Game:
Pro/Con or For/Against – Use to
show major conflicts in a story
quickly.
WHAT WE KNEW
Pull-out quotes or Man-on-thestreet quote boxes – Use to
collect related quotes from lots of
sources on a subject. This form is
good for controversial stories or a
subject with lots of voices, or to
acquaint readers with major
players in an issue. Or just to
highlight the knockout quote from
a source that makes the story
worthy of the front page or a
closer look. Hint: Anything that
starts out “I almost died” is a good
bet for a pull quote.
By the numbers – Pulling
numbers out of a story and putting
them in a box with the important
information about them keeps
readers’ eyes from glazing over.
It can highlight interesting
numbers or just break down
complex information into easy
chunks. Use for numbers-laden
pieces, such as articles on Social
Security or health insurance.
TYPES OF BOXES:
Definition – Use to explain terms
in jargon-heavy pieces. A glossary
helps tell the story on complex
subjects.
Sources: David Arkin,
Gatehouse Media, and poynter.org
WHEN Team A vs. Team B
WHERE Time and date of event
Follow-up:
Frances Choy was accused of
killing her parents when she
was 17.
THE LATEST
A jury is deliberating her fate.
WHAT’S NEXT
She could face up to 30 years in
prison if convicted.
Meeting Glance:
Top 3 decisions at last
night’s council meeting
1 Taxes will go up 3 percent in
2012.
2 Water mains on Main will
close for two hours Dec. 28.
3 A city school’s land buy was
postponed.
By the Numbers:
United Way Campaign
33
Local programs funded by
United Way donations
$1.95 Million goal
$1.75 Million raised to date
10 days remain until Dec. 3
deadline and Victory Celebration.