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11 BBC Rules for News Writers
How to write news
How to write news. Write news is very difficult. There are many traps. BBC rules for news writers help to write good news article.
1. Know what you want to say
This may seem a statement of the obvious, but items are often broadcast which are not exactly what the writer intended.
2. The key to good writing is simple thoughts simply expressed
Use short sentences and short words. Anything which is confused, complicated, poorly written or capable of being misunderstood risks losing the listener or viewer, and once you have done that, you might just as well not have come to work.
3. Subject-Verb-Object
In broadcasting, the basic sentence structure Subject-Verb-Object works every time. The audience grasps what you are saying straight away. Anything more flamboyant, such as a subordinate clause, is a potential barrier to understanding.
4. Decide what you want to say and get on with saying it
Aim to be simple (not simplistic), fluent and easy on the ear. Your first duty is to your audience, not to your own idea of arresting prose.
5. Do not describe news as good, bad, shocking or horrendous
Tell the story and let the listener decide.
6. Attention to the first sentence
Get a strong active verb in the beginning. Make an impact and keep audience listening.
7. Do not start a news report with a question
The people wants to be informed, not take part in a quiz.
8. Your news shouldn’t begin with “As expected”
If your information was predictable and you have nothing new to say, why should the listener or viewer pay attention?
9. Be positive
Make assertions wherever possible, and try to avoid negatives. It is more direct to say: “The plan failed” than “The plan was not successful”.
10. Use active voice
At its heart, news is about people doing things. Activity is interesting. Where you can, write sentences with subjects that are doing things, and not subjects that are simply receiving actions upon them.
11. Attribution first
You should make clear the source of information. Always say who before you say what they did or said.