Tips in Crafting Good Stories

Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu

Philippine Information Agency
NEWS
NEWS STRUCTURE

HEADLINE

LEAD

BODY

TAIL/ENDING
LEAD
 WRITING THE LEAD

It is the first paragraph and

the most important which
summarizes the whole story.

It answers the 5Ws and 1H.

 WHAT gives news its substance.
. Timeliness essential to
WHO keeps it real. Stories become dry and dull if they focus every story.
too much on WHAT.
Who’s involved? When events happened
Who’s affected? or will happen.
Who’s going to benefit? How long they lasted or
Who’s getting screwed? will last.
WHO WHAT WHEN

The closer the event, the more

WHERE WHY Finding explanations difficult.
relevant it is for readers.
The WHY is what makes
Many stories require
news meaningful.
supplements.
Important tips

Keep leads short. Those 35 words or

less are preferred.

Usually a single sentence containing

all or some of the 5 W’s.

Focus on the angle of the story.

How NOT to write a lead

1. Don’t make your readers work too hard

Also known as “burying the lead,” this happens when
you take too long to make your point. It’s fine to take a
little creative license, but if readers can’t figure out
relatively quickly what your article is about, they’ll
bounce.
How NOT to write a lead

2. Don’t state the obvious

Don’t tell readers what they already know.

Example:

“The internet provides an immense source of useful

information.”

Really! You don’t say?

How NOT to write a lead

3. Don’t write in the passive voice

Use strong verbs and decided language.

Compare “Dog bites man” to “A man was bitten by a

dog” — the passive voice is timid and bland
How NOT to write a lead

4. Don't use complicated-sounding words

It’s better to use simpler and short words.

A laceration is a cut; a contusion is a bruise; an

abrasion is a scrape.

A news story should be understandable to everyone.

How NOT to write a lead

5. Avoid the use of too many adjectives

There's no need to write "the white-hot blaze" or "the
brutal murder." We know fire is hot and that killing
someone is generally pretty brutal. Those adjectives
are unnecessary.
 How NOT to write a lead

6. Don’t put unfamiliar names in the lead unless

the person is well-known

Tarlac State University President Dr. Myrna Mallari

Communication Arts student Juan Dela Cruz

BODY
 WRITING THE BODY
It contains the details of the
lead and is arranged from the
most important to the least
important.

Preferably one sentence, one

paragraph with generally 25
words per sentence.

Includes quotations (direct

and indirect).
 LQTQ Formula
Transitions hold the story
together and link the paragraphs,
for better understanding for your
readers. Provides organization
and flow.

Direct quotes add a different

tone of voice, inject emotion or
passion, and give credibility to
the story.
Writing direct quotes
Quotes should be linked to the paragraph before them and
should not repeat the transition.
Example:
DPWH Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations and
Build Build Build Chief Implementer Emil Sadain said the widening of Arterial Bypass
Road from two lanes to four will not only provide more convenience to the travelling
public but also faster delivery of local goods of Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley to
Metro Manila.

“The ongoing project is being undertaken in various contract packages, starting off with
the portion in barangay Tiaong in Guiguinto at station 34 + 900 to barangay Bonga
Menor in Bustos at station 47 + 400 awarded to C. M. Pancho Construction Inc,” he
disclosed.  
Writing direct quotes
Attribution should be: Noun then verb.

For Example:

Correct – Public Works and Highways Secretary Roger Mercado  said.

Incorrect – said Public Works and Highways Secretary Roger

Mercado.
Writing transitions

Use transitional words to help with the flow as

needed. Transitional words include after all, also,
finally, in addition, however, moreover.
Writing transitions
Writing transitions

Transitions can also be an indirect quote.

Writing transitions
Transitions can also be an indirect quote.
HEADLINE
 HEADLINE
For English headline, follow:

Who + What (present tense)

For Tagalog headline, follow:

Sino + Ano
RULES IN WRITING A HEADLINE
1. Use present simple tense for past events
RULES IN WRITING A HEADLINE
2. Use infinitives for future events
 RULES IN WRITING A HEADLINE
3. Replace conjunctions with punctuation
RULES IN WRITING A HEADLINE
4. Use figures for numbers
RULES IN WRITING A HEADLINE
5. Provide the source of the quote
 RULES IN WRITING A HEADLINE
6. Don’t use the person’s surname unless
prominent
Important tips

Make the content easy to digest

Prepare for changes

Quotes are essential

CHECKLIST FOR NEWS STORIES
 Are the most important and recent facts first?
 Is the story accurate? Are the sources
identified fully?
 Are the paragraphs short?
 Is the sentence structure varied in the story?
 Is the story easy to read?
 Does your story flow? Did you use the L-Q-T-Q
formula?
 Did you use the active voice?
 PITFALLS TO AVOID
 Editorializing
 Using first and second person
 Poor grammar and spelling
 Paragraphs too long
 Misspelling names
 Trying to use all of the information and quotes
you have.
 Be judicious.
 FACTS VS OPINION

FACTS OPINION

Verifiable Fleeting
Attributable Moldable
Objective Subjective
FACTS VS OPINION
Write. Rewrite. Revise.
Rewrite. Revise. Edit.
Revise. Edit. Rewrite.
TIPS IN CORRECT WORD
USAGE
 EXERCISES
All that I can say is that I tried my ___.

a) best
b) better
c) good
d) more
 EXERCISES
All that I can say is that I tried my ___.

a) best
b) better
c) good
d) more
 EXERCISES
The baby bird was ___ by its
mother.

a) abandon
b) abandoning
c) abandoned
d) abandons
 EXERCISES
The baby bird was ___ by its
mother.

a) abandon
b) abandoning
c) abandoned
d) abandons
 EXERCISES
She said that you have ___
forgiven.
a) is
b) were
c) be
d) been
 EXERCISES
She said that you have ___
forgiven.
a) is
b) were
c) be
d) been
 EXERCISES
___ you been sitting there all day?

a) Were
b) Has
c) Are
d) Have
 EXERCISES
___ you been sitting there all day?

a) Were
b) Has
c) Are
d) Have
 EXERCISES
I've been ___ my birthday all
week!
a) celebration
b) celebrates
c) celebrate
d) celebrating
 EXERCISES
I've been ___ my birthday all
week!
a) celebration
b) celebrates
c) celebrate
d) celebrating
 EXERCISES
Do you still ___ around here?
a) live
b) living
c) lived
d) lives
 EXERCISES
Do you still ___ around here?
a) live
b) living
c) lived
d) lives
 EXERCISES
There were too ___ people on the
train.
a) much
b) so
c) many
d) of
 EXERCISES
There were too ___ people on the
train.
a) much
b) so
c) many
d) of
 EXERCISES
The mouse was ___ by the cat.
a) catches
b) catch
c) caught
d) catching
 EXERCISES
The mouse was ___ by the cat.
a) catches
b) catch
c) caught
d) catching
 EXERCISES
Thanks for making such an
interesting ___.
a) spoke
b) speaking
c) speak
d) speech
 EXERCISES
Thanks for making such an
interesting ___.
a) spoke
b) speaking
c) speak
d) speech
 EXERCISES
I'm going to the conference by ___.
a) no one
b) myself
c) alone
d) me
 EXERCISES
I'm going to the conference by ___.
a) no one
b) myself
c) alone
d) me
 NUMBERS
The numbers 1 – 9 are written in
words while the numbers 10 and
above are written in figures.
Example:
nine students
13 children
 NUMBERS
EXCEPTIONS:
 dates, address: always in figures.
beginning of sentence: always in
words
events: 1st – 9th is allowed
 news headlines
 SPELLING
Look for misspelled words.
Here in the Philippines, American English
is used, not British English.
Ex: color, not colour
If a word has more than one accepted
spelling, the shortest one is preferred.
Ex: judgment, instead of judgement
 CAPITALIZATION
The first letter of the sentence is
always capitalized.
Proper nouns are capitalized,
common nouns are not.
Ex: singer
Regine Velasquez
 CAPITALIZATION
Small letters are usually used for title or
position.

Example:

Mrs. Cecilia Burayag, the principal of

BCIS, delivered the opening remarks.

Capitalized titles: Governor Ebdane

 ABBREVIATIONS
Spell out Dept., gov’t, and other
abbreviations.
The abbreviations Jr. and Sr. are allowed in
names.
A title or position of a person may be
abbreviated if it appears before the name
but not if simply used in the sentence.
 ABBREVIATIONS
Remember:
Engr. Emmanuel Delgado;
Engineer Delgado
Remember:
12 Dimagiba St.
Dimagiba Street
 ACRONYMS
Acronyms are usually written in
capital letters.

Example: DPWH

Check if the letters of the acronym are

in the correct order.
 ACRONYMS
When an acronym appears for the first time
in a news story, it is written after its
meaning and it is enclosed in parentheses.

Ex: University of the Philippines (UP)

 PARAGRAPHS

In news stories, the rule is one

paragraph, one sentence only.
 GRAMMAR
Check for errors in:

Tenses of Verbs
Subject-Verb Agreement
 GRAMMAR
Remember:

he said and not said he;

Aquino said and not said Aquino
 REMINDERS
Delete editorializing words/phrases
for News

Ex: The very beautiful and intelligent

principal…
The cops were right in
arresting…
 REMINDERS
Check for redundancies

Ex: at the back of the rear

advance planning
asked a question
repeat again
LANGUAGE: NEEDLESS COMPLEXITY
Category Example Substitute
nouns utilization use
functionality feature
verbs facilitate cause
finalize end
adjectives aforementioned mentioned
individualized individual
adverbs firstly, secondly, first, second
heretofore previous
LANGUAGE: NEEDLESS COMPLEXITY
(already) existing never (before)
at (the) present (time) none (at all)
(basic) fundamentals now (at this time)
(completely) eliminate period (of time)
(continue to) remain (private) industry
currently (being) (separate) entities
(currently) underway start (out)
(empty) space write (out)
had done (previously) (still) persists
introduced (a new) mix (together)
 LANGUAGE: WEAK VS STRONG
Avoid too many “to be” verbs Avoid excess words, which slow
“is” “was” “were” “has been” “have been” comprehension of the main point

made arrangements for arranged

made the decision decided
made the measurement measured
performed the development of developed
is working as expected works as expected
Basics of Photojournalism
 How to take a good photo

Editorial Value
Technical Value
It has editorial value when
A picture has a technical it tells a story at a glance,
value when it is clear, free when it shows life
from smudges, clear and happening, moment of
not blurred. truth and
significance,
meaning, it has news
value
Editorial Aspect

Camera Shot Angles

Camera angles, and degree of those

angles, can totally change the
meaning of a shot.
Editorial Aspect
Editorial Aspect
Editorial Aspect
Editorial Aspect

Camera shots
There are many ways in which you can frame your subject,
from seeing their entire body to only their eyes. Generally
speaking, we can break this down into three main shot
sizes: Long, Medium, and Close.

Long shots (also commonly called Wide shots) show the

subject from a distance, emphasizing place and location,
while Close shots reveal details of the subject and
highlight emotions of a character. Medium shots fall
somewhere in
between, putting emphasis on the subject while still
showing some of the surrounding environment.
Editorial Aspect

Framing or Cropping the Body

Knowing how to edit your portraits can be quite

difficult when it comes to cropping a photo.
Cropping in an awkward position on your
subject can end up ruining a perfectly good shot.
Editorial Aspect

Rule of Thirds

This is the most frequently used

technique for composing your
photos. In this composition, the
image frame is divided into 9 equal
segments — by two horizontal and
two vertical lines — and the main
subject or focal point is positioned
on or near the intersecting lines.
Editorial Aspect
Tips to take better photographs

Photograph people at
work

In-action or candid photos

have more impact and is
a great way to showcase
an authentic expression of
your subject
Tips to take better photographs

Use a natural frame

This is a technique to use when

you want to draw attention to
something in your photograph.
By framing a scene or a subject,
say with a window or an archway,
you lead the viewer’s eye to the
primary focal point.
Tips to take better photographs

Shoot something besides

the face

The story isn’t always about the

faces of your subjects.
Sometimes, the bodies, hands, or
feet can tell us more about the
moment than the face.
Writing Cutlines/Captions
Writi ng cutlines

Even if a picture is worth a

thousand words, it still needs a
caption to draw readers, provide
context and tell the story. Here
are some tips for writing
effective captions
 How to Write Correct Photo Cutlines

Be specific and concise

While writing the cutline, try to be as

specific as possible. You can include
the name of the event, where it
happened and when it happened.
Try to give readers all the important
information they need in a brief
statement.
A total of 124 agrarian-reform beneficiaries from the province
of Tarlac receive their Certificate of Land Ownership Award from the
Department of Agrarian Reform. (Gabriela Liana S. Barela/PIA 3)
 How to Write Correct Photo Cutlines

Use present tense

The tense used in describing the

photo is important. This is a
requirement, especially for the first
sentence. This is because you are
capturing the moment the photo was
taken hence you need to explain it
Susan Yap (right) takes her oath of office for her third and
final term as Governor of the province of Tarlac. (Gabriela as if it is presently happening.
Liana S. Barela/PIA 3)
 How to Write Correct Photo Cutlines

Identify the main people in

the photo

If your photo includes important

people, identify who they are. If you
know their names, include them
(unless they’ve asked to remain
The provincial government, represented by Governor Susan Yap
anonymous). If you don’t know their
(right), signs a Memorandum of Agreement with National
Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Cultural Center of
names, you might want to put a
the Philippines (CCP), represented by NCCA Chairperson and CCP
President Arsenio Lizaso (left), for a year-long venture to bolster the
description of who they are instead
“Tatak Tarlac” identity. This is in preparation for the 150th Founding
Anniversary of the province in May 2023. (Gabriela Liana S.
(e.g. “protesters of Manila Bay”).
Barela/PIA 3)
 How to Write Correct Photo Cutlines

Don’t state the obvious

Captions should add new

information. Don’t merely repeat
the story headline or summary, and
avoid stating the obvious elements
that are captured in the image. The
caption should add context to the
image, not just duplicate what the
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas North Luzon Regional Office Bank Officer 3 Ethel reader already sees.
Jularbal shares the security features of banknotes in an information drive held
at barangay Cristo Rey in Capas, Tarlac. (Gabriela Liana S. Barela/PIA 3)
 How to Write Correct Photo Cutlines

Match the image mood

If a photo has a serious and sensitive

story behind it, the caption should
reflect the same. Including humor may
not be advisable and may deem you
insensitive. When you find a photo
President Duterte said he is “really amazed” with the new Bataan
you can include some humor, do
Government Center and Business Hub, which is built through so with caution.
public-private partnership. He said the center is one of the few
success stories of PPP in the country. (Mar Jay Delas Alas/PIA 3)
 How to Write Correct Photo Cutlines

Cite the credits

Remember to always include credits

and citations. Every photo should
include the name of the photographer
and/or the organization that owns
the photograph to avoid plagiarism.

Rescue teams from Pampanga’s cities and municipalities demonstrate

their life-saving skills during the First Aid and Basic Life Support
Olympics organized by the provincial government. (Pampanga PIO)
Social Media
Management
# Social Media For Government
# Social Media For Government

1
0
8

Posting Facebook
Videos

- Less than two minutes

- Appealing
- Directly upload to
Facebook
# Social Media For Government

1
1
2
# Social Media For Government

1
1
3
 A FEW REMINDERS
• Go easy on the photo filters.
• Place watermark/logo on photos.
• Consider socmed cards
• Post more videos.
• The shorter, the better.
• Shorten links (bit.ly)
• Make posts feel authentic, not too scripted.
• Social experience
• Create content that gets shared.
Make it simple.
Make it memorable.
Make it inviting to look at.
Make it fun to read.
“Consumers want infotainment, not
information. Information is cheap and
plentiful; information wrapped in a
story, however, is special.”

-Gary Vaynerchuck
DEVELOPING SOCIAL MEDIA
CARDS
Tips in producing social media card
Tips in producing social media card
Tips in producing social media card
Tips in producing social media card
Tips in producing social media card
Tips in producing social media card
Tips in producing social media card
Tips in producing social media card
Tips in producing social media card
Tips in producing social media card
Tips in producing social media card
Tips in producing social media card
Tips in producing social media card
WORKSHOP
Produce a news on a newly inaugurated
project or a recent event in your area. Include
captioned photo and a quote card.
QUESTIONS
?