Journalistic Writing versus
“English Class” Writing
Similarities and Differences

Ideas to Keep in Mind
Each has a different audience.
With an English class essay, the writer usually has an audience of one – the teacher.
When writing for media, the writer has a much broader audience
– the entire school or community.
Each has a different purpose
Usually the English essay writer is trying to impress the teacher and get a great mark.
The journalist needs to clearly and often quickly inform, entertain or persuade an audience.

Not all journalistic writing is the same, just as not all “English class” writing is the same, but consider these general guidelines…

Sentence Structure
Journalistic Writing
• Has short, concise sentences
• Has simple, understandable words
• Uses short paragraphs, often one or two sentences
English Class Writing
• Has longer, more complex sentences
• Uses more multisyllable words
• Often has paragraphs of 100 words or more, including a topic sentence and its support

Organization
In News Writing…
• News writing is traditionally arranged in an inverted pyramid
• The first paragraph is the lead – with 5Ws and H
• A summary lead is one sentence
• Additional paragraphs are short and contain less and less important information
In English Class
• Essays traditionally are five paragraphs
• The first paragraph is the introduction and the thesis statement
• Second, third and fourth paragraphs develop using: compare and contrast, definition, classification, etc.
• The final paragraph is the conclusion

Organizational Styles
Newspaper: Inverted
Pyramid
English Class : Five
Paragraph Essay

The use of quotes and information – gathering varies too…

Information Gathering
Media writing uses lots of…
• Primary Sources
 experts
 Spokespersons
 Newsmakers
 People on the streets
• Secondary Sources
 Official records
 Reference materials other media
Essays often require material from…
• Reading a particular work
• Drawing insight and information from previous readings or lectures
• Applying personal experience

Use of Quotes
In News Writing
• The thoughts and ideas of your sources are most important.
• Use full quotes whenever possible
• Introduce news speakers in a complete sentence before the quote.
In English Class
• The author’s thoughts, ideas, and analysis are what is most important.
• Integrating partial quotes from a work is most effective.
• Quotes are used as support for the author’s ideas.

Keep in mind that while that is the case…

All Writing needs ATTRIBUTION
Media writing works attribution into the context
• “The result is dangerous,”
Mr. MacLean said.
• According to Mrs. Teed,
Trimble’s spirit out ranks that of other schools.
This is also necessary when using secondary sources the reporter didn’t interview
Essays use various forms
• MLA
• APA
This could include:
• Footnotes or endnotes
• Parenthetical citations
• Bibliography, work cited or references

It’s not quite that simple, but…
Not every assignment in English class is a five-paragraph essay.
Not every story in the media is a traditional news story. Today’s publications – especially student media – often use news features.
These start with a “softer” lead:
 Anecdote
 Description
 Suspended interest
Organization varies, but generally has:
 An interesting – catching beginning
 An ending that makes it feels “finished”
 Plenty of short, interesting quotes
 Transitions to tie all the parts together

Remember, news and features don’t contain reporter opinion.
While all readers would agree, it’s not a “tragic fire.”
Without a survey or other way to show this, it’s not accurate to say, “everyone owns an iPod.” Who is the source? Who research this?
Even if “Harrison Trimble is better off because they won the award,” the reporter shouldn’t be the one to say it.

What
IS same????
The basic writing process:
 Brainstorm for ideas
 Gather information
 Organize and select appropriate information
 Write the first draft
 Share with a coach
 Use coaching suggestions and insight for second draft
 Tweak as many times as necessary, polish and submit

Good writing is still good writing…
But when students become journalists, they have to remember that they have:


That means leaving some of their “English class” writing behind.