You now should be comfortable with posting text on your news blog. The text, of course, is a fundamental component of any blog post, no matter its length.
As discussed previously in class, here are a few tips for quickly improving your writing:
· Identify students by their major and classification. For example, Jane Dough, journalism freshman.
· Always attribute quotes after the first sentence. For example, “It is a beautiful day,” said Jane Dough, journalism freshman. “I plan to spend the entire day outside soaking up the amazing sun.” If you need additional help with forming quotes, there is a handout in the news guide I distributed in class. The guide also is linked on D2L.
· Remember that, in news, each quote is a new paragraph.
· Create transitions between individual sources.
· Remove yourself from your writing. Remember that you are writing news, not commentary.
· Provide addresses for businesses.
· Only use “said.” It’s acceptable to use it many times in every story.
· Write in time, date, place order. For example, the event is at 5 p.m. Thursday in the Oklahoma Memorial Union.
· Don’t use “believe.” Sources believe in church; they “think” everywhere else. However, you don’t know what they think unless you can read their minds. Instead, just use “said” or “said he thinks” if necessary.
· Have an official (living, breathing) source for each story. Websites are supplements, not expert sources.
· Use OU sources. All stories should relate back to students and campus.
· Don’t ask questions, answer them. If you’re tempted to pose a question, write a paraphrase from a source instead.
