Journalism or news writing is a prose style used for reporting in newspapers, radio, and television. When writing journalistically, one has to take into account not only one’s audience, but also the tone in which the piece is delivered, as well as the ABCs of news writing: Accuracy, Brevity, and Clarity.
Accuracy
If a story isn’t accurate, it firstly betrays public trust. Public trust is of the utmost importance because the public relies on unbiased news in order to make intelligent choices in the voting booth.
Secondly, inaccurate information could be potentially libelous. Libel is defamation by written or printed words, pictures, or in any other form besides spoken words or gestures. It is a serious offense and could severely affect your career as a journalist.
To make sure you stay accurate, always check and double check any numbers, spellings of names, who said what, and other basic facts of your story. In order to have a good story and in order to be a good reporter, accuracy is key.
Brevity
Get straight to the point. If you can do without words, then cut them out. Your lead should draw your reader in and you should end with an interesting finish. Don’t just finish when you run out of information.
Clarity
Clarity means that you should have all of your facts and have them organized before you start writing. Your story should leave no question unanswered and should avoid jargon (in other words, make the topic accessible for readers of all levels, not just experts).
