- Rank and write facts, details and events from the most to least important.
- Keep to the 3rd person – with no 1’s, we’s, you’s unless as part of quotes.
- Keep lead to about 30 words.
- Break up paragraphs with meaningful quotes.
- Vary quoted material by presenting it as direct, indirect, and partial quotations.
Insert factual statements and exposition amid a series of quotes to direct reader to newsworthy points. - On first reference, identify an individual with his or her title and position) and generally write out the full name of an organization.
- Identify students by their year and major.
- Be aware of time. Start with the most contemporary past, current or future date and work backward.
- Put details of greatest importance and interest as near to beginning as possible.
- Have more than one source for major stories.
- Remember, your reader wants news, not history, opinion, flowery writing or chitchat.
- Have a specific order for lists of names’ higher to lesser prizes, seniors to first-years; alphabetical and so on. If extensive, list in a sidebar or separate column with its own heading.
- Vary paragraph lengths. Narrow newspaper columns make paragraphs stretch longer than an equal number of words in books (or in a word document).
- To pass cutoff test, include brief paragraphs at the end that contain valuable by not essential information.
- Be sure to answer all possible questions your readers may have.