Writing for the Mass Media (9th Edition)

Front Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Sit Down and Write
What Is Good Writing?
Getting Ready to Write
Basic Techniques
Writing for the Mass Media
And Finally ...
Points for Consideration and Discussion
Websites
Exercises
Basic Tools of Writing
Words, Words, Words
Grammar
Sidebar 2.1: Glossary of Grammar Terms
Common Grammar Problems
Punctuation
Spelling
Sidebar 2.2: Spelling Rules
Sidebar 2.3: < 3 ur txt: Texting and Grammar
Writing with Clarity
Points for Consideration and Discussion
Websites
Exercises
Style and the Stylebook
Accuracy
Clarity
Brevity
Journalistic Conventions
Journalistic Style
Sidebar 3.1: Tips on AP Style: Abbreviations
Stylebooks
Sidebar 3.2: Tips on Ap Style: Capitalization
The Associated Press Stylebook
Sidebar 3.3: Tips on AP Style: Numbers
Sidebar 3.4: Tips on AP Style: Punctuation
Sidebar 3.5: Tips on AP Style: Names and Titles
Language Sensitivity
Sidebar 3.6: Tips on AP Style: Time
The Changing Language
Points for Consideration and Discussion
Websites
Exercises
Writing in the Media Environment
Audience
The News Culture
Accuracy
Verification and Attribution
Information, Not Opinion
Simplicity
Clarity, Coherence, and Context
Deadlines
Elements of News
Reporting
Sidebar 4.1: Interviewing Tips
Skepticism
Ethical Behavior
Sidebar 4.2: Writing by Example
Hardware and Software
Conclusion
Points for Consideration and Discussion
Websites
Exercises
Basic News Writing
The Inverted Pyramid
Developing the Story
Transitions
Using Quotations
Characteristics of News Stories
Headlines
Summaries
News Writing in the Near Future
Points for Consideration and Discussion
Websites
Exercises
Writing for Print Journalism
Newspapers and Magazines Today
Types of News Stories
Writing Feature Stories
Long-Form and Literary Journalism
Editing and Rewriting
Books
The Challenge of Writing
Points for Consideration and Discussion
Websites
Exercises
Writing for the Web
Characteristics of the Web
Journalism Expanded and Accelerated
News Websites
Blogging (Web Logs)
Social Media
Mobile Journalism
Demands of the Audience
Reporting for the Web
Writing for the Web
The Future
Points for Consideration and Discussion
Websites
Exercises
Writing for Broadcast Journalism
Sound as a Reporting Tool
Writing to Be Heard
Writing the Audio/Video News Story
Recording Audio
Editing Audio
Ethics of Editing Audio
Television News
Selection of News
Telling the Story with Video
Shooting the Video
Editing Video
Broadcast Copy Preparation
Putting Together a Newscast
The Extended Interview, the Documentary and the Web
Broadcasting in Transition
Points for Consideration and Discussion
Websites
Exercises
Writing and Images
Basic Concepts of Photojournalism
The Threes of Photojournalism
Writing Cutlines
A Word About Accuracy
Photojournalism Ethics
The Audio Slide Show
Sidebar 9.1: Seven Steps to the Audio Slide Show
Using Graphics
Numerical Data in Charts
What a Good Graphic Contains
Building a Chart
Sidebar 9.2: A Primer on Math
Points for Consideration and Discussion
Websites
Exercises
Writing Advertising Copy
A Love–Hate Relationship
The Field of Advertising
Beginning the Process: Needs and Appeals
The Product
The Audience
The Advertising Situation
Copy Platforms
Writing the Ad
Elements of a Print Ad
Writing Advertising for Broadcast
The Tools of Broadcast Advertising
Commercial Formats
Storyboards
Online Advertising
Other Media
Points for Consideration and Discussion
Websites
Exercises
Writing For Public Relations
The Public Relations Process
An Organization’s “Publics”
The Work of the PR Practitioner
Sidebar 11.1: A News Release Checklist
Writing News Releases
Video News Releases
Letters
E-mails
Company Publications
Websites and an Organization’s Online Presence
Oral Presentations
Points for Consideration and Discussion
Websites
Exercises
The Writer and the Law
The First Amendment
Defamation
The Plaintiff’s Case
Affirmative Defenses
Privacy
Copyright and Trademarks
Fair Use
Advertising
Broadcast Regulation
Conclusion
Websites
Getting a Job in the Mass Media
Personal Attributes
Building an Audience
Networking and Landing the First Job
Get Started
Sidebar 13.1: Join Up
Points for Consideration and Discussion
Websites
Appendix A: Copy-Editing Symbols
Appendix B: Grammar And Diagnostic Exams
Appendix C: Problem Words and Phrases
Appendix D: Advertising Copy Sheets
Glossary
Credits
Index