Class Notes 4-25-11: News Story Criteria

Hard News Criteria

• Should be +/- 600 words.
• The first two sentences should include the "lead" which is just the 5 W's. Who? What? When? Where? Why? Then the story is the writer just expanding off of those topics.
• Keep the writing clean and uncluttered. Give the readers the information that they need.
• Weave the interviews tastefully into the body text.

Soft News Criteria

• Usually +/- 600 words.
• Is not time sensitive. Profiling people, companies, organizations, etc.

Feature

• +/- 1,500 words.
• Takes a step back from the headlines and takes a closer look at the issue at hand.
• Usually very interesting to read.
• Explores the more complex angles of a story more than just the what aspect of it.