[CURRENT AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL ISSUES STUDENT WORKSHEET] SYN MEDIA LEARNING
Watch SYN’s Current Affairs Reporting video tutorial and get some tips on
effective current affairs reporting from SYN’s Panorama presenter Alison
Hickerson. Panorama is SYN's current affairs show, covering news, politics and
culture all from a youth viewpoint.
What are the three sources of information needed to put a story together?
What are the two types of people needed to tell a story? And how do they add
to the story?
syn.org.au/learn
Page 1
[CURRENT AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL ISSUES STUDENT WORKSHEET] SYN MEDIA LEARNING
Why is it important to cite (reference) your interviewees?
What is the rule of thumb for facts in your story?
List some of the types of documents that can be helpful in writing a story?
Why is it important to read as many documents as you can?
syn.org.au/learn
Page 2
[CURRENT AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL ISSUES STUDENT WORKSHEET] SYN MEDIA LEARNING
Now it’s your turn!
In pairs write your own current affairs story about an issue that affects young
people or people in your school or local area.
Brainstorm at least 10 story ideas. Try to think about topics that affect young
people in your community.
Choose your favourite/most interesting story; briefly explain what the story is
about, why this story is important and why you want to cover it.
syn.org.au/learn
Page 3
[CURRENT AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL ISSUES STUDENT WORKSHEET] SYN MEDIA LEARNING
Write a list of questions (at least 5) that will help form the basis of your
research for your story. If you’re having trouble thinking of questions try the
Who, What, When, Where, Why and How format.
Where will you get your information? Make a list of webpages, documents, or
other sources that you think will give you accurate information on your story.
Remember this is just a starting point; you may come across sources of
information as you go.
syn.org.au/learn
Page 4
[CURRENT AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL ISSUES STUDENT WORKSHEET] SYN MEDIA LEARNING
Who would you need to tell the story? Make a list of Victims, people who this
story affects directly and Experts, people who know a lot about the topic? This
can be anyone who you think could bring a personal perspective to the story.
For example if you’re writing a story on new laws on restrictions on P plater
drivers you could get two perspectives, one from an L plate driver and a Politian
who supports the new law.
Now you’re ready to go research your idea and write your script. Remember
Allison’s tips, make sure your information is accurate and don’t forget to cite
your sources/interviewees!
Have a look at John Allen’s ‘Pyramid Journalism’ factsheet for tips on how to
write news and current affairs for ideas on how to structure your story.
syn.org.au/learn
Page 5
[CURRENT AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL ISSUES STUDENT WORKSHEET] SYN MEDIA LEARNING
Pyramid Journalism
Writing Tips from BBC Radio News Executive Editor John Allen
When you write an essay for a school project or devise a presentation for a business
meeting, you assemble all the information, set it out in an orderly manner, link it together
as appropriate, and finally present your conclusion.
You start with the essence of the story, for example, "The price of cotton has fallen by 15
per cent" and then add extra information - what impact will it have on producers, the textile
industry, the national economy, world markets, consumer prices, employment, poverty; was
it unexpected, what is being done about it, is it a short- or long-term change, how are
people reacting to the news, and so on.
If I am very interested in this story, I will read every word you write or pay close attention to
every word you broadcast.
If, though, I really don't care much about it, I can stop reading or listening, having
established what the story is about by reading the top line.
The structure is a pyramid.
The nose of the news item is at
the top, and then additional
information is added according
to its relevance and
newsworthiness.
At the base of the pyramid, the
really avid reader will find
background information on the
state of the cotton industry; the
less interested will have moved
on to read something else.
It's a simple but effective
technique and it relies entirely on
how well focused you are.
You, the journalist, must decide what the top line is, what comes second, third, and so on,
always mindful that you risk losing your audience if you get too bogged down in detail and
offer too much of one kind of information (export figures, say) at the expense of other
aspects of the story.
For more tips visit media helping media
syn.org.au/learn
Page 6