Columbia Scholastic Press Association

Newspaper Reporting & Writing (Section #1)

Sequence description:

This sequence is designed to cover the basics of newspaper reporting and writing for all types of articles – news, features, opinion pieces and so forth. Students, through developing knowledge and skills in interviewing, drafting, revision and copyediting, will acquire a solid foundation in the basics of newspaper reporting and writing in order to apply them as members of their student publications. Students will also learn the qualities of news, the importance of ethics in journalism and the commitment to writing stories with fairness, accuracy and balance.

Sequence assignments:

• Analyze and practice the major forms of journalistic writing
• Brainstorm story ideas
• Communicate effectively through a common vocabulary by learning and using the language of journalism.
• Complete writing and editing assignments by applying knowledge of the writing process: interviewing and gathering facts, revising, editing, and proofreading for newspaper style.
• Learn and write news articles, features, reviews and opinion pieces on deadline
• Learn the importance of accuracy and avoiding bias in reporting.
• Study student and professional publications
• Understand what news is and apply the knowledge to brainstorming and news-gathering

Sequence accomplishments:

Class members will learn:

• how to avoid editorializing and bias in news pieces
• techniques of interviewing
• the ethics of journalism and the regulations governing the student press.
• the format for writing news articles, features, reviews and opinion pieces on deadline
• the importance of journalism in a democratic society.
• the importance of revision and copyediting for newspaper style
• the rights and responsibilities of reporters
• what makes something newsworthy

Sequence Instructor

Bretton Zinger is the instructor for this sequence. He teaches journalism and film study at Chantilly High School in Chantilly, VA, where he also advises The Purple Tide newspaper and Andromeda literary magazine. Zinger also serves as the vice president of the Association of Fairfax Professional Educators.

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