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How to write a speech that your audience remembers

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Whether in a work meeting or at an investor panel, you might give a speech at some point. And no matter how excited you are about the opportunity, the experience can be nerve-wracking . 

But feeling butterflies doesn’t mean you can’t give a great speech. With the proper preparation and a clear outline, apprehensive public speakers and natural wordsmiths alike can write and present a compelling message. Here’s how to write a good speech you’ll be proud to deliver.

What is good speech writing?

Good speech writing is the art of crafting words and ideas into a compelling, coherent, and memorable message that resonates with the audience. Here are some key elements of great speech writing:

  • It begins with clearly understanding the speech's purpose and the audience it seeks to engage. 
  • A well-written speech clearly conveys its central message, ensuring that the audience understands and retains the key points. 
  • It is structured thoughtfully, with a captivating opening, a well-organized body, and a conclusion that reinforces the main message. 
  • Good speech writing embraces the power of engaging content, weaving in stories, examples, and relatable anecdotes to connect with the audience on both intellectual and emotional levels. 

Ultimately, it is the combination of these elements, along with the authenticity and delivery of the speaker , that transforms words on a page into a powerful and impactful spoken narrative.

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What makes a good speech?

A great speech includes several key qualities, but three fundamental elements make a speech truly effective:

Clarity and purpose

Remembering the audience, cohesive structure.

While other important factors make a speech a home run, these three elements are essential for writing an effective speech.

The main elements of a good speech

The main elements of a speech typically include:

  • Introduction: The introduction sets the stage for your speech and grabs the audience's attention. It should include a hook or attention-grabbing opening, introduce the topic, and provide an overview of what will be covered.
  • Opening/captivating statement: This is a strong statement that immediately engages the audience and creates curiosity about the speech topics.
  • Thesis statement/central idea: The thesis statement or central idea is a concise statement that summarizes the main point or argument of your speech. It serves as a roadmap for the audience to understand what your speech is about.
  • Body: The body of the speech is where you elaborate on your main points or arguments. Each point is typically supported by evidence, examples, statistics, or anecdotes. The body should be organized logically and coherently, with smooth transitions between the main points.
  • Supporting evidence: This includes facts, data, research findings, expert opinions, or personal stories that support and strengthen your main points. Well-chosen and credible evidence enhances the persuasive power of your speech.
  • Transitions: Transitions are phrases or statements that connect different parts of your speech, guiding the audience from one idea to the next. Effective transitions signal the shifts in topics or ideas and help maintain a smooth flow throughout the speech.
  • Counterarguments and rebuttals (if applicable): If your speech involves addressing opposing viewpoints or counterarguments, you should acknowledge and address them. Presenting counterarguments makes your speech more persuasive and demonstrates critical thinking.
  • Conclusion: The conclusion is the final part of your speech and should bring your message to a satisfying close. Summarize your main points, restate your thesis statement, and leave the audience with a memorable closing thought or call to action.
  • Closing statement: This is the final statement that leaves a lasting impression and reinforces the main message of your speech. It can be a call to action, a thought-provoking question, a powerful quote, or a memorable anecdote.
  • Delivery and presentation: How you deliver your speech is also an essential element to consider. Pay attention to your tone, body language, eye contact , voice modulation, and timing. Practice and rehearse your speech, and try using the 7-38-55 rule to ensure confident and effective delivery.

While the order and emphasis of these elements may vary depending on the type of speech and audience, these elements provide a framework for organizing and delivering a successful speech.

Man-holding-microphone-at-panel-while-talking--how-to-give-a-speech

How to structure a good speech

You know what message you want to transmit, who you’re delivering it to, and even how you want to say it. But you need to know how to start, develop, and close a speech before writing it. 

Think of a speech like an essay. It should have an introduction, conclusion, and body sections in between. This places ideas in a logical order that the audience can better understand and follow them. Learning how to make a speech with an outline gives your storytelling the scaffolding it needs to get its point across.

Here’s a general speech structure to guide your writing process:

  • Explanation 1
  • Explanation 2
  • Explanation 3

How to write a compelling speech opener

Some research shows that engaged audiences pay attention for only 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Other estimates are even lower, citing that people stop listening intently in fewer than 10 minutes . If you make a good first impression at the beginning of your speech, you have a better chance of interesting your audience through the middle when attention spans fade. 

Implementing the INTRO model can help grab and keep your audience’s attention as soon as you start speaking. This acronym stands for interest, need, timing, roadmap, and objectives, and it represents the key points you should hit in an opening. 

Here’s what to include for each of these points: 

  • Interest : Introduce yourself or your topic concisely and speak with confidence . Write a compelling opening statement using relevant data or an anecdote that the audience can relate to.
  • Needs : The audience is listening to you because they have something to learn. If you’re pitching a new app idea to a panel of investors, those potential partners want to discover more about your product and what they can earn from it. Read the room and gently remind them of the purpose of your speech. 
  • Timing : When appropriate, let your audience know how long you’ll speak. This lets listeners set expectations and keep tabs on their own attention span. If a weary audience member knows you’ll talk for 40 minutes, they can better manage their energy as that time goes on. 
  • Routemap : Give a brief overview of the three main points you’ll cover in your speech. If an audience member’s attention starts to drop off and they miss a few sentences, they can more easily get their bearings if they know the general outline of the presentation.
  • Objectives : Tell the audience what you hope to achieve, encouraging them to listen to the end for the payout. 

Writing the middle of a speech

The body of your speech is the most information-dense section. Facts, visual aids, PowerPoints — all this information meets an audience with a waning attention span. Sticking to the speech structure gives your message focus and keeps you from going off track, making everything you say as useful as possible.

Limit the middle of your speech to three points, and support them with no more than three explanations. Following this model organizes your thoughts and prevents you from offering more information than the audience can retain. 

Using this section of the speech to make your presentation interactive can add interest and engage your audience. Try including a video or demonstration to break the monotony. A quick poll or survey also keeps the audience on their toes. 

Wrapping the speech up

To you, restating your points at the end can feel repetitive and dull. You’ve practiced countless times and heard it all before. But repetition aids memory and learning , helping your audience retain what you’ve told them. Use your speech’s conclusion to summarize the main points with a few short sentences.

Try to end on a memorable note, like posing a motivational quote or a thoughtful question the audience can contemplate once they leave. In proposal or pitch-style speeches, consider landing on a call to action (CTA) that invites your audience to take the next step.

People-clapping-after-coworker-gave-a-speech-how-to-give-a-speech

How to write a good speech

If public speaking gives you the jitters, you’re not alone. Roughly 80% of the population feels nervous before giving a speech, and another 10% percent experiences intense anxiety and sometimes even panic. 

The fear of failure can cause procrastination and can cause you to put off your speechwriting process until the last minute. Finding the right words takes time and preparation, and if you’re already feeling nervous, starting from a blank page might seem even harder.

But putting in the effort despite your stress is worth it. Presenting a speech you worked hard on fosters authenticity and connects you to the subject matter, which can help your audience understand your points better. Human connection is all about honesty and vulnerability, and if you want to connect to the people you’re speaking to, they should see that in you.

1. Identify your objectives and target audience

Before diving into the writing process, find healthy coping strategies to help you stop worrying . Then you can define your speech’s purpose, think about your target audience, and start identifying your objectives. Here are some questions to ask yourself and ground your thinking : 

  • What purpose do I want my speech to achieve? 
  • What would it mean to me if I achieved the speech’s purpose?
  • What audience am I writing for? 
  • What do I know about my audience? 
  • What values do I want to transmit? 
  • If the audience remembers one take-home message, what should it be? 
  • What do I want my audience to feel, think, or do after I finish speaking? 
  • What parts of my message could be confusing and require further explanation?

2. Know your audience

Understanding your audience is crucial for tailoring your speech effectively. Consider the demographics of your audience, their interests, and their expectations. For instance, if you're addressing a group of healthcare professionals, you'll want to use medical terminology and data that resonate with them. Conversely, if your audience is a group of young students, you'd adjust your content to be more relatable to their experiences and interests. 

3. Choose a clear message

Your message should be the central idea that you want your audience to take away from your speech. Let's say you're giving a speech on climate change. Your clear message might be something like, "Individual actions can make a significant impact on mitigating climate change." Throughout your speech, all your points and examples should support this central message, reinforcing it for your audience.

4. Structure your speech

Organizing your speech properly keeps your audience engaged and helps them follow your ideas. The introduction should grab your audience's attention and introduce the topic. For example, if you're discussing space exploration, you could start with a fascinating fact about a recent space mission. In the body, you'd present your main points logically, such as the history of space exploration, its scientific significance, and future prospects. Finally, in the conclusion, you'd summarize your key points and reiterate the importance of space exploration in advancing human knowledge.

5. Use engaging content for clarity

Engaging content includes stories, anecdotes, statistics, and examples that illustrate your main points. For instance, if you're giving a speech about the importance of reading, you might share a personal story about how a particular book changed your perspective. You could also include statistics on the benefits of reading, such as improved cognitive abilities and empathy.

6. Maintain clarity and simplicity

It's essential to communicate your ideas clearly. Avoid using overly technical jargon or complex language that might confuse your audience. For example, if you're discussing a medical breakthrough with a non-medical audience, explain complex terms in simple, understandable language.

7. Practice and rehearse

Practice is key to delivering a great speech. Rehearse multiple times to refine your delivery, timing, and tone. Consider using a mirror or recording yourself to observe your body language and gestures. For instance, if you're giving a motivational speech, practice your gestures and expressions to convey enthusiasm and confidence.

8. Consider nonverbal communication

Your body language, tone of voice, and gestures should align with your message . If you're delivering a speech on leadership, maintain strong eye contact to convey authority and connection with your audience. A steady pace and varied tone can also enhance your speech's impact.

9. Engage your audience

Engaging your audience keeps them interested and attentive. Encourage interaction by asking thought-provoking questions or sharing relatable anecdotes. If you're giving a speech on teamwork, ask the audience to recall a time when teamwork led to a successful outcome, fostering engagement and connection.

10. Prepare for Q&A

Anticipate potential questions or objections your audience might have and prepare concise, well-informed responses. If you're delivering a speech on a controversial topic, such as healthcare reform, be ready to address common concerns, like the impact on healthcare costs or access to services, during the Q&A session.

By following these steps and incorporating examples that align with your specific speech topic and purpose, you can craft and deliver a compelling and impactful speech that resonates with your audience.

Woman-at-home-doing-research-in-her-laptop-how-to-give-a-speech

Tools for writing a great speech

There are several helpful tools available for speechwriting, both technological and communication-related. Here are a few examples:

  • Word processing software: Tools like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or other word processors provide a user-friendly environment for writing and editing speeches. They offer features like spell-checking, grammar correction, formatting options, and easy revision tracking.
  • Presentation software: Software such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides is useful when creating visual aids to accompany your speech. These tools allow you to create engaging slideshows with text, images, charts, and videos to enhance your presentation.
  • Speechwriting Templates: Online platforms or software offer pre-designed templates specifically for speechwriting. These templates provide guidance on structuring your speech and may include prompts for different sections like introductions, main points, and conclusions.
  • Rhetorical devices and figures of speech: Rhetorical tools such as metaphors, similes, alliteration, and parallelism can add impact and persuasion to your speech. Resources like books, websites, or academic papers detailing various rhetorical devices can help you incorporate them effectively.
  • Speechwriting apps: Mobile apps designed specifically for speechwriting can be helpful in organizing your thoughts, creating outlines, and composing a speech. These apps often provide features like voice recording, note-taking, and virtual prompts to keep you on track.
  • Grammar and style checkers: Online tools or plugins like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor help improve the clarity and readability of your speech by checking for grammar, spelling, and style errors. They provide suggestions for sentence structure, word choice, and overall tone.
  • Thesaurus and dictionary: Online or offline resources such as thesauruses and dictionaries help expand your vocabulary and find alternative words or phrases to express your ideas more effectively. They can also clarify meanings or provide context for unfamiliar terms.
  • Online speechwriting communities: Joining online forums or communities focused on speechwriting can be beneficial for getting feedback, sharing ideas, and learning from experienced speechwriters. It's an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and improve your public speaking skills through collaboration.

Remember, while these tools can assist in the speechwriting process, it's essential to use them thoughtfully and adapt them to your specific needs and style. The most important aspect of speechwriting remains the creativity, authenticity, and connection with your audience that you bring to your speech.

Man-holding-microphone-while-speaking-in-public-how-to-give-a-speech

5 tips for writing a speech

Behind every great speech is an excellent idea and a speaker who refined it. But a successful speech is about more than the initial words on the page, and there are a few more things you can do to help it land.

Here are five more tips for writing and practicing your speech:

1. Structure first, write second

If you start the writing process before organizing your thoughts, you may have to re-order, cut, and scrap the sentences you worked hard on. Save yourself some time by using a speech structure, like the one above, to order your talking points first. This can also help you identify unclear points or moments that disrupt your flow.

2. Do your homework

Data strengthens your argument with a scientific edge. Research your topic with an eye for attention-grabbing statistics, or look for findings you can use to support each point. If you’re pitching a product or service, pull information from company metrics that demonstrate past or potential successes. 

Audience members will likely have questions, so learn all talking points inside and out. If you tell investors that your product will provide 12% returns, for example, come prepared with projections that support that statement.

3. Sound like yourself

Memorable speakers have distinct voices. Think of Martin Luther King Jr’s urgent, inspiring timbre or Oprah’s empathetic, personal tone . Establish your voice — one that aligns with your personality and values — and stick with it. If you’re a motivational speaker, keep your tone upbeat to inspire your audience . If you’re the CEO of a startup, try sounding assured but approachable. 

4. Practice

As you practice a speech, you become more confident , gain a better handle on the material, and learn the outline so well that unexpected questions are less likely to trip you up. Practice in front of a colleague or friend for honest feedback about what you could change, and speak in front of the mirror to tweak your nonverbal communication and body language .

5. Remember to breathe

When you’re stressed, you breathe more rapidly . It can be challenging to talk normally when you can’t regulate your breath. Before your presentation, try some mindful breathing exercises so that when the day comes, you already have strategies that will calm you down and remain present . This can also help you control your voice and avoid speaking too quickly.

How to ghostwrite a great speech for someone else

Ghostwriting a speech requires a unique set of skills, as you're essentially writing a piece that will be delivered by someone else. Here are some tips on how to effectively ghostwrite a speech:

  • Understand the speaker's voice and style : Begin by thoroughly understanding the speaker's personality, speaking style, and preferences. This includes their tone, humor, and any personal anecdotes they may want to include.
  • Interview the speaker : Have a detailed conversation with the speaker to gather information about their speech's purpose, target audience, key messages, and any specific points they want to emphasize. Ask for personal stories or examples they may want to include.
  • Research thoroughly : Research the topic to ensure you have a strong foundation of knowledge. This helps you craft a well-informed and credible speech.
  • Create an outline : Develop a clear outline that includes the introduction, main points, supporting evidence, and a conclusion. Share this outline with the speaker for their input and approval.
  • Write in the speaker's voice : While crafting the speech, maintain the speaker's voice and style. Use language and phrasing that feel natural to them. If they have a particular way of expressing ideas, incorporate that into the speech.
  • Craft a captivating opening : Begin the speech with a compelling opening that grabs the audience's attention. This could be a relevant quote, an interesting fact, a personal anecdote, or a thought-provoking question.
  • Organize content logically : Ensure the speech flows logically, with each point building on the previous one. Use transitions to guide the audience from one idea to the next smoothly.
  • Incorporate engaging stories and examples : Include anecdotes, stories, and real-life examples that illustrate key points and make the speech relatable and memorable.
  • Edit and revise : Edit the speech carefully for clarity, grammar, and coherence. Ensure the speech is the right length and aligns with the speaker's time constraints.
  • Seek feedback : Share drafts of the speech with the speaker for their feedback and revisions. They may have specific changes or additions they'd like to make.
  • Practice delivery : If possible, work with the speaker on their delivery. Practice the speech together, allowing the speaker to become familiar with the content and your writing style.
  • Maintain confidentiality : As a ghostwriter, it's essential to respect the confidentiality and anonymity of the work. Do not disclose that you wrote the speech unless you have the speaker's permission to do so.
  • Be flexible : Be open to making changes and revisions as per the speaker's preferences. Your goal is to make them look good and effectively convey their message.
  • Meet deadlines : Stick to agreed-upon deadlines for drafts and revisions. Punctuality and reliability are essential in ghostwriting.
  • Provide support : Support the speaker during their preparation and rehearsal process. This can include helping with cue cards, speech notes, or any other materials they need.

Remember that successful ghostwriting is about capturing the essence of the speaker while delivering a well-structured and engaging speech. Collaboration, communication, and adaptability are key to achieving this.

Give your best speech yet

Learn how to make a speech that’ll hold an audience’s attention by structuring your thoughts and practicing frequently. Put the effort into writing and preparing your content, and aim to improve your breathing, eye contact , and body language as you practice. The more you work on your speech, the more confident you’ll become.

The energy you invest in writing an effective speech will help your audience remember and connect to every concept. Remember: some life-changing philosophies have come from good speeches, so give your words a chance to resonate with others. You might even change their thinking.

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Elizabeth Perry

Content Marketing Manager, ACC

6 presentation skills and how to improve them

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TIMES INSIDER

A Reporter Explains His Approach to Writing News and Features

Brooks Barnes, a correspondent who covers Hollywood for The Times, explains how his writing process changes depending on the type of article he is working on.

writing news speech

By Sarah Bahr

Times Insider explains who we are and what we do, and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together.

Brooks Barnes’s head is constantly on a swivel.

As a domestic correspondent covering Hollywood’s leading celebrities, companies and executives for The New York Times, he writes both daily news articles about media companies and long-lead features about subjects such as Walt Disney World’s animatronic robot crew and the Polo Lounge , a Hollywood hot spot that attracts the who’s who of the film industry.

Those two types of articles — news and features — are the yin and yang of journalism. As the name suggests, news articles provide readers with new information about important events, often as they unfold. They can cover nearly any topic, are generally 500 to 1,000 words long and are packed with the need-to-know facts of a given situation. Features, which need not be tied to a specific event, dive deep into a particular topic or person, are usually longer than news articles and often offer more comprehensive context about their subjects.

Every day, The Times publishes both. While many journalists specialize in writing news or feature articles, Mr. Barnes flips between the two.

“I have eight to 10 features on the assembly line at any given time,” Mr. Barnes said, adding that he often has to drop what he’s working on to chase the news and that he focuses on writing features when the news is slow. Generally, he can finish a news article in a couple of hours or less; a major feature can take upward of six months.

For Mr. Barnes, the main difference between a news article and a feature isn’t the word count, the number of interviews involved or how long he spends drafting it: “The writing process changes,” he says.

Interviewing Sources

A news article is all about gathering the essential information and publishing quickly.

He begins working on a news article by making calls to sources, often contacts he has built up over more than 20 years of reporting. He says he jots down his most important questions before he calls a source, even if he’s on a deadline and knows the conversation will only last a few minutes.

For a feature, Mr. Barnes said he will do around 10 interviews, not all of which may appear in the final article. If he’s writing a profile, he aims to spend a few hours with his subject on a Friday or Saturday, when the person is more relaxed and available.

As with news articles, he writes out his interview questions in advance, though he tries not to do too much research before meeting a profile subject for the first time so that he won’t come into the interview with a preconceived idea of what the subject might say.

“You want to report, not interview your thumb,” he said.

Getting Down to Writing

Mr. Barnes never outlines his news or feature articles, but instead works off his notes, which he’ll consult as he’s writing.

He gathers all of his notes from his interviews and research, both typed and handwritten, and inputs the best quotes, facts and figures into a Microsoft Word document. Unlike a news article, a feature may involve several attempts at a compelling first few sentences — known as the lede — and lots of rewriting. “I’ve been known to fixate on a lede for much longer than I should,” he said.

Structurally, a news article is much more straightforward than a feature: In a news article, the most important and timely information appears in the first few sentences, with the remaining facts generally provided in descending order of importance. In a feature, by contrast, the writer often delays the revelation of certain details in order to build suspense.

Landing on the Voice

Another difference, Mr. Barnes said, is the voice that he interjects — or doesn’t — into an article. A news article is usually devoid of personal flavor, while a feature can be saturated with it. He says he sometimes tries to “self-censor” his voice in a news article. In a feature, there is room for more lyrical description; Mr. Barnes is able to dwell on how a subject dresses, talks and reacts to his questions.

Working on Edits

The editing process also differs. With features, it can involve lots of fine-tuning: Ledes may be thrown out and paragraphs rewritten. With a news article, an editor acts more like a safety net than a pruner or a polisher, ensuring that reporters on deadline aren’t overlooking important information or relevant questions, and that they aren’t committing any obvious factual errors.

Enjoying Both Forms

The greatest challenge in writing a news article, in Mr. Barnes’s opinion, is achieving both speed and accuracy on deadline. Features present a different conundrum: A writer must carefully condense hours of interviews and research into a gripping-yet-accurate narrative that doesn’t get bogged down with superfluous information.

Though Mr. Barnes says he enjoys both forms, he’s always had a clear preference.

“I’m a feature writer who’s somehow managed not to get fired as a business reporter for 20 years,” he said.

He added: “I like luxuriating over words and trying different stuff. I could tinker with a story forever.”

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How to write broadcast news stories

  • Writing Style
  • How to write …
  • Analysis of Speech
  • Career Development

How to Write a News Story: Definition, Structure, Types of the News Story

  • by Anastasiya Yakubovska
  • 21.06.2022 12.05.2023
  • How to write ...

The news story refers to the journalistic writing style that is used in the mass media: television, the Internet, newspapers, magazines, and radio.

Table of Contents

  • What Is a News Story 

Features of the News Story

Main functions of news.

  • The Inverted Pyramid Structure 
  • News Story Structure 

According to the method of writing, news stories are:

  • According to the scope, there are the following types of news:
  • According to the sequence:

According to the source ofinformation news stories are:

  • According to the content:
  • Minor forms of news stories:

What Is a News Story

News stories are widely used by the media to inform the audience about current, significant, and interesting events.

A news story is a journalistic presentation of a new event or fact.

Most often this is a short message. 

The news function is to answer the questions: what, where, and when happened.

Create stunning publications, photo collages, infographics, postcards, posters, business cards, or documents in the visual editor Canva . Sign up to Canva Pro and get a free 30-day trial – that’s 1 month free!

The features of the news stories are:

  • reliability of information;
  • minimal details;
  • news stories must be clear and easy to read;
  • attractive to all classes;
  • widely known terms ( exchange, broker, exchange rate, transaction, market );
  • the use of words and figures of speech that are typical for business writing style ( have activities, during the reporting period, take into consideration );
  • noun predominance;
  • sentences are usually complex. 

Example of News Story

News story “March For Our Lives: Tens of thousands rally for stricter US gun laws” (excerpt) :

Thousands of protesters are gathering across the US to call for stricter gun laws in the wake of last month’s mass shooting in Texas . Gun safety group March For Our Lives – founded by survivors of the 2018 Parkland school shooting – said some 450 rallies were planned for Saturday. It said it would not let politicians “sit back” as people continue to die. US President Joe Biden backed the protests, calling on Congress to “pass common sense gun safety legislation”. Nineteen children and two adults were killed in the 24 May shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas. That attack, and another days earlier in Buffalo, New York, in which 10 people were killed, has led to renewed calls for action on gun control in the US. bbc.com

The major function of the news stories , just like other texts related to journalism, is to provide information about some socially significant event. In addition, the news may contain assumptions, hypotheses, forecasts, recommendations, and regulatory and evaluation information.

The purpose of a news story is not only a detailed analysis of an event. The most important thing is to inform the mass addressee about an event that has happened or will only happen in the future. 

If the news needs to be covered in more detail, then the journalist can indicate the sources of information, add quotes and provide statistics.

How to Write A New Story: The Structure and Method of Writing

The inverted pyramid structure.

To write a news story, journalists use the traditional structure that is typical for the journalistic writing style: information is presented in descending order, that is, its value and importance decrease from the beginning of the text to its end. This way of writing news is called the inverted pyramid .

Inverted Pyramid structure in journalism

A news story written using the inverted pyramid structure consists of 4 parts:

  • Headline . The headlines of new stories in the media are most often quite informative – within 10 words. The heading itself usually illustrates the main idea of the news. 

For example:

“ Global markets fall after rough week on Wall Street; yen hits two-decade-low” 

2. Lead . The lead is the first or leading paragraph of the news story, the chapeau or abstract of the article, which outlines the main idea of the text, only the most valuable information.

“ Hong Kong/London (CNN Business)Global markets and US stock futures fell early Monday, indicating a downbeat start to the trading week after a broad sell-off on Wall Street following surprisingly strong US inflation data.”

3. The body of the text . It is a description of the event, details, evidence, photographs, quotes, etc.:

“ The Dow (INDU) plunged 880 points, or 2.5%, on Friday. The S&P 500 (SPX) shed 2.7% and the Nasdaq (NDX) dropped about 3%. The US consumer price index rose by 8.6% in May, raising fears that the Federal Reserve will have to act even more aggressively to try to tame price rises. The shockwaves were felt most acutely in Asia on Monday. Japan’s Nikkei (N225) closed down 3%, and the yen weakened to the lowest level in more than 20 years. The Japanese currency has declined rapidly in recent months because of a strong greenback and ultra-loose Japanese monetary policy. The Japanese central bank and government warned in a rare joint statement on Friday that they are concerned about the sharp falls, suggesting a potential intervention by Tokyo to stem the decline. The yen wasn’t the only Asian currency seeing a steep fall. The Indian rupee fell to an all-time low of 78.2 against the US dollar in early trade. Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSI) fell 3.4% on Monday. Korea’s Kospi fell 3.5%. China’s Shanghai Composite (SHCOMP) was down 0.9%. In Europe, France’s CAC 40 (CAC40) dropped 2.47% in early trade, while Germany’s DAX 30 (DAX) was down 2.3%. The FTSE 100 (UKX) slipped 1.8%, while the pound slipped to $1.22 after new data showed the UK economy contracting for a second consecutive month in April. In the US, Dow futures were down 1.9% at 5.20 am ET. S&P 500 futures were down around 2.3%, while Nasdaq futures were down about 2.9%.

4. Ending . The final part of the news story is additional information, similar, interesting materials, and journalistic assessment. This part is optional. 

“The hangover from Friday’s US CPI data isn’t helped by concern about China walking back some of its economic reopening, or more dire economic data in the UK,” Societe Generale strategist Kit Juckes said in a research note. A number of neighborhoods in Shanghai faced another temporary lockdown at the weekend, as authorities launched mass testing just days after Covid restrictions were eased for most of its 25 million residents. Authorities in Beijing’s largest Chaoyang district announced Thursday the closure of all entertainment venues, just days after allowing their reopening. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/06/12/investing/global-stocks/index.html

News Story Structure

Usually, the journalist tells the reader:

  • About the event – what happened?
  • About time – when?
  • About the place – where?
  • About participants – who?
  • About the circumstances – how?
  • About the source of information – how is it known?
  • About the predicted development of the event – what happens next?

Which of these questions the journalist will answer in the text of the news story and the number of these questions will depend on the amount of information that he has and on the purpose of the news. These questions can be arranged in the most varied order, at the author’s discretion.

Another thing to keep in mind regarding whether the new event needs to be related to others that have already happened before and are widely known to the audience. In this case, the structure of the news story will be more complex, because it is necessary not only to talk about the event but also to connect this fact with the information already available.

How to Write a News Story: Types of News

Before you start writing, you need to decide in which genre you need to write, and what type of news story is suitable specifically for this news event.

So that you can quickly navigate and make the right choice, further in the article we will consider the types of news stories. 

There are two general types of news stories according to structure :

  • Informative or straight news. The aim is to give the facts of the news. 
  • Feature or human interest news story. The aim is to take material of little or no news value and make it interesting for the audience. 
  • Descriptive.
  • Expository.
  • Combination of these types. 

According to the scope , there are the following types of news:

  • Local: news story takes place within the immediate locality. 
  • National: news takes place within a country. 
  • Foreign: the event takes place out of the country. 
  • Dateline: news preceded by date and place of origin or the place when it was written. 

According to the sequence :

  • Anticipated news or announcement. An announcement is a message about upcoming events (for example, about the construction of new buildings).

Such news stories attract the public to visit various cultural events.

The main purpose of the announcement is to give brief but objective information about the time and aspects of the planned event, about its most important prerequisites and stages.

  • Spot news. News that gathered and reported on the spot. The journalist is the eyewitness to the event. Such type of news is reported immediately. 
  • Coverage news. News has been written from the given beat. 
  • Follow-up news. A sequel to the previous news story.
  • Interview story. 
  • Speech story. 
  • Quote story. Information is presented primarily through quotes. These news stories are based almost entirely on an interview or a speech. 
  • Fact story. 
  • Action story. A description of an event that involved a lot of motion. For example, war reports, competitions, and sports games reports. 

According to the content :

  • Science news. 
  • Police reports. 
  • Developmental news. 
  • Sports stories. 
  • Routine stories: celebrations, graduations, election stories reported year in and year out. 

Minor forms of news stories :

  • News brief. It is a short news broadcast. News briefs are a good way to describe events that do not need in-depth treatment. 
  • News bulletin. It aims to give the gist of the news. 
  • Flash news. Flash news is a bulletin that conveys the first word of the event. 
  • News-featurette. It is a short news feature usually used as filler. 

Used sources of information:

  • Types of News Writing. Willard Grosvenor Bleyer.
  • Campus Journalism and School Paper Advising Fourth Edition 1997. Ceciliano J. Cruz.
  • Style Palette. Textbook on Russian language style for foreigners. Authors: Nina Afanasyeva, Tatyana Popova .
  • Literary editing strategies. Authors: Zueva T. A., Ivanova E. N.
  • Russian language and speech culture. Authors: Tatyana Balykhina, Mikhail Rybakov, Marina Lysyakova.
  • Image: freepik.com

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How to Write a News Script for TV News

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Be Sure to Write for the Ear

Avoid the passive voice, use present tense wherever possible, write stories for people, befriend action verbs, be careful with numbers, sell the story, move the story forward, different parts of a script.

  • Mercer University

Writing a TV news script is a lot harder than you might think. Even those skilled in journalism struggle if they have to turn a story meant to be read into a tight script that needs to be heard. However, you can perfect your TV news writing style if you learn the basics.

Always read your script out loud in a conversational tone so you can judge if an audience will be able to understand it. Unlike a newspaper story, your broadcast audience only gets one chance to understand your story.

Also, beware of words that sound alike but mean different things. For instance, words like cite" might be confused with "site" or "sight" and should be avoided . You may have noticed when listening to a newscast that short sentences are easier to digest than long-winded sentences. Just be sure to make your sentences sound lively and interesting—as opposed to flat and monotone.

Passive voice writing jumbles up the usual sequence of subject, verb, object in active voice writing. This sounds like a lesson from English class, but it really makes a critical difference in broadcast news writing .

An active voice helps distinguish between verbs and subjects. For example, an active sentence would be, "The burglar fired the gun," as opposed to a passive sentence such as, "The gun was fired by the burglar." You can see in the passive sentence that viewers have to wait until the end of the line to know who did what.

TV news is timely as opposed to print news writing that relates a bigger story, putting facts and information into context. In other words, a 6 p.m. newscast must sound fresh and "of the moment." You need to bring the viewer into the news piece as it's unfolding.

For example, let's look at a mayor's news conference that you covered at 2 p.m. that afternoon to appear on the nightly news. You might want to write, "Mayor Johnson held a news conference earlier today."

However, if you shift the focus of the sentence to the subject of the news conference, you end up putting the sentence in the present tense. This gives it more immediacy and makes it sound less stale. For example, "Mayor Johnson says he intends to slash local taxes by 20 percent. Johnson made the announcement at a news conference."

That example above works because it starts out in the present tense and creates the hook, then shifts to past tense.

It's easy to get mired in what your writing and forget who you're writing for—the people watching your newscast. Viewers need to feel your stories are directed at them, or else they'll turn away. When writing, it's a good idea to pretend that someone is sitting across from you. Direct the story to them.

Let's say your local department of transportation announces plans to overhaul several major thoroughfares in need of repair. Don't just present the institutional information the DOT provided you with. Transform the information into something of consequence for the viewers at home.

For example, you can say, "Your drive to work or school will soon be smoother, thanks to a big project by the DOT to fill in potholes and uneven streets suffering from wear and tear." This way you've telling viewers how an upcoming project will change their lives—for the better.

In news writing, verbs are your best friend. Verbs are the part of speech that adds life and verve to your stories.

For instance. Instead of saying, "Residents are requesting information." Say something like, "Residents want to know." That slight change makes the information more compelling.

If you can, always avoid words like "is, are, was, and were." All of these dilute the impact of the action. "

Numbers are hard to absorb, especially if there are a lot of them. Try to make your point with a number or two, then move on.

"The company's profit was $10,470,000, then fell to $5,695,469 a year later," is just too much information. "The company's profit was about 10 and-a-half million dollars, then fell to about half that the following year." The last example gives the viewer the information without having to listen to every last digit.

In most cities, there may be only one or two local newspapers but several TV stations all vying for an audience. That means a news writer has to be a salesperson and sell the product as something superior to the competition.

"When the school board said there wasn't any money for classroom computers, we decided to dig for answers." A line like that demonstrates that the news team is aggressive, and is taking action to get to the truth. The viewer likes this story because he or she feels someone is championing for them. It personalizes it and brings it home—even if a viewer doesn't have children.

If you can combat the perception that all newscasts are the same by leading the segment with, "We have an NBC exclusive of Kim Kardashian with the woman she got pardoned from prison," viewers will flock to your TV station because you've set yourself apart.

A good TV news story ends telling the audience what will happen next.

"The school board will take a vote on whether to cut teachers' pay at its next meeting a week from today" doesn't leave the audience hanging and, it forces viewers to tune in next week.

If you wrap-up the segment with, "We will be at that meeting and tell you the outcome of the vote," your viewers know your news team is on top of the story.

Let's look at five steps you can take to break down a TV News script. A good example is Pope Benedict's retirement announcement because it was a historic event—no matter what religion you practice. If the story looks at footage of people responding to the Pope's retirement in St. Petersburg Square, you could write the script as follows:

  • The first line informs the audience about the main point of the story. If you only had one line to tell your story, it would be, "Pilgrims began arriving at St. Peter’s Square on Monday, February 11, following an announcement by Pope Benedict that he's resigning at the end of the month."
  • Provide a line or two of background information that adds context to your first line. For example, "The 85-year-old German-born pontiff said he is no longer strong enough to fulfill the duties of his office, becoming the first pope since the Middle Ages to take such a step."
  • Next, go back to the pictures being broadcast and what's happening in your story as the news of the Pope's retirement spreads. You could say, "Thousands of people from all over began arriving at St. Peter’s Square."
  • Next, expand on the scene by saying, "People of all religions prayed for the pope and wished him well.
  • Last, wrap-up the story with concrete information. For example, "The Vatican's spokesman said the pope would step down at 1900 GMT on February 28."

Video may seem like the sexy part of a newscast, but it's the crisp news writing that brings it to life and brings in a bigger audience.

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How to Write a News Article

Last Updated: January 13, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Gerald Posner . Gerald Posner is an Author & Journalist based in Miami, Florida. With over 35 years of experience, he specializes in investigative journalism, nonfiction books, and editorials. He holds a law degree from UC College of the Law, San Francisco, and a BA in Political Science from the University of California-Berkeley. He’s the author of thirteen books, including several New York Times bestsellers, the winner of the Florida Book Award for General Nonfiction, and has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History. He was also shortlisted for the Best Business Book of 2020 by the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 2,344,329 times.

Writing a news article is different from writing other articles or informative pieces because news articles present information in a specific way. It's important to be able to convey all the relevant information in a limited word count and give the facts to your target audience concisely. Knowing how to write a news article can help a career in journalism , develop your writing skills and help you convey information clearly and concisely.

Things You Should Know

  • Outline your article with all the facts and interview quotes you’ve gathered. Decide what your point of view on the topic is before you start writing.
  • Your first sentence is the most important one—craft an attention-getter that clearly states the most important information.
  • Proofread for accurate information, consistent style and tone, and proper formatting.

Sample Articles

writing news speech

Planning Your Article

Step 1 Research your topic.

  • If you’ve ever written a research paper you understand the work that goes into learning about your topic. The first phase of writing a news article or editorial is pretty similar.
  • Who - who was involved?
  • What - what happened?
  • Where - where did it happen?
  • Why - why did it happen?
  • When - when did it happen?
  • How - how did it happen?

Step 2 Compile all your facts.

  • 1) those that need to be included in the article.
  • 2) those that are interesting but not vital.
  • 3) those that are related but not important to the purpose of the article.
  • This fact list will help prevent you from leaving out any relevant information about the topic or story, and will also help you write a clean, succinct article.
  • Be as specific as possible when writing down all of these facts. You can always trim down unnecessary information later, but it’s easier to cut down than it is to have to beef up an article.
  • It’s okay at this point to have holes in your information – if you don’t have a pertinent fact, write down the question and highlight it so you won’t forget to find it out
  • Now that you have your facts, if your editor has not already assigned the type of article, decide what kind of article you’re writing. Ask yourself whether this is an opinion article, an unbiased and straightforward relaying of information, or something in between. [2] X Research source

Step 3 Create an article outline.

  • If you’ve ever heard the term “burying the lead”, that is in reference to the structure of your article. [4] X Research source The “lead” is the first sentence of the article – the one you “lead” with. Not "burying the lead" simply means that you should not make your readers read several paragraphs before they get to the point of your article.
  • Whatever forum you’re writing for, be it print or for the web, a lot of readers don’t make it to the end of the article. When writing a news article, you should focus on giving your readers what they want as soon as possible.
  • Write above the fold. The fold comes from newspapers where there’s a crease because the page gets folded in half. If you look at a newspaper all the top stories are placed above the fold. The same goes for writing online. The virtual fold is the bottom of your screen before you have to scroll down. Put the best information at the top to engage your readers and encourage them to keep reading.

Step 4 Know your audience.

  • Ask yourself the “5 W's” again, but this time in relation to your audience.
  • Questions like what is the average age you are writing for, where is this audience, local or national, why is this audience reading your article, and what does your audience want out of your article will inform you on how to write.
  • Once you know who you are writing for you can format an outline that will get the best information to the right audience as quickly as possible.

Step 5 Find an angle.

  • Even if you are covering a popular story or topic that others are writing about, look for an angle that will make this one yours.
  • Do you have a personal experience that relates to your topic? Maybe you know someone who is an expert that you can interview .

Step 6 Interview people.

  • People usually like to talk about personal experiences, especially if it will be featured somewhere, like your news article. Reach out through a phone call, email, or even social media and ask someone if you can interview them.
  • When you do interview people you need to follow a few rules: identify yourself as a reporter. Keep an open mind . Stay objective. While you are encouraged to ask questions and listen to anecdotes, you are not there to judge.
  • Record and write down important information from the interview, and be transparent with what you are doing and why you are doing this interview.

Writing Your News Article

Step 1 Start with the lead.

  • Your lead should be one sentence and should simply, but completely, state the topic of the article.
  • Remember when you had to write essays for school? Your lead is like your thesis statement.
  • Let your readers know what your news article is about, why it’s important, and what the rest of the article will contain.

Step 2 Give all the important details.

  • These details are important, because they are the focal point of the article that fully informs the reader.
  • If you are writing an opinion piece , this is where you will state what your opinion is as well.

Step 3 Follow up main facts with additional information.

  • This additional information helps round out the article and can help you transition to new points as you move along.
  • If you have an opinion, this is where you will identify the opposing views and the people who hold them.
  • A good news article will outline facts and information. A great news article will allow readers to engage on an emotional level.
  • To engage your readers, you should provide enough information that anyone reading your news article can make an informed opinion, even if it contrasts with yours.
  • This also applies to a news article where you the author don’t state your opinion but present it as an unbiased piece of information. Your readers should still be able to learn enough about your topic to form an opinion.

Step 4 Conclude your article.

  • Make sure your news article is complete and finished by giving it a good concluding sentence. This is often a restatement of the leading statement (thesis) or a statement indicating potential future developments relating to the article topic.
  • Read other news articles for ideas on how to best accomplish this. Or, watch news stations or shows. See how a news anchor will wrap up a story and sign off, then try to emulate that.

Proofing Your Article

Step 1 Check facts before publishing.

  • Be sure to double check all the facts in your news article before you submit it, including names, dates, and contact information or addresses. Writing accurately is one of the best ways to establish yourself as a competent news article writer.

Step 2 Ensure you have followed your outline and have been consistent with style.

  • If your news article is meant to convey direct facts, not the opinions of its writer, ensure you’ve kept your writing unbiased and objective. Avoid any language that is overly positive or negative or statements that could be construed as support or criticism.
  • If your article is meant to be more in the style of interpretive journalism then check to make sure that you have given deep enough explanations of the larger story and offered multiple viewpoints throughout.

Step 3 Follow the AP Style for formatting and citing sources.

  • When quoting someone, write down exactly what was said inside quotations and immediately cite the reference with the person’s proper title. Formal titles should be capitalized and appear before a person’s name. Ex: “Mayor John Smith”.
  • Always write out numbers one through nine, but use numerals for numbers 10 and up.
  • When writing a news article, be sure to only include one space after a period, not two. [12] X Research source

Step 4 Have your editor read your article.

  • You shouldn’t submit any news article for publication without first letting someone take a look at it. An extra pair of eyes can double check your facts and the information to ensure that what you have written is accurate.
  • If you are writing a news article for school or your own personal website, then have a friend take a look at it and give you notes. Sometimes you may get notes that you want to defend or don’t agree with it. But these should be listened to. Remember, with so many news articles getting published every minute you need to ensure that your widest possible audience can easily digest the information you have provided.

Expert Q&A

Gerald Posner

  • Start with research and ask the “5. Asking these questions will help you create an outline and a narrative to your article. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Interview people, and remember to be polite and honest about what you are writing. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Put the most important information at the beginning of your article. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

writing news speech

You Might Also Like

Write a Newspaper Column

Expert Interview

writing news speech

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about writing an article, check out our in-depth interview with Gerald Posner .

  • ↑ https://libguides.mit.edu/select-topic
  • ↑ https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/writing-resources/different-genres/news-writing-fundamentals
  • ↑ https://libguides.southernct.edu/journalism/howtowrite
  • ↑ https://spcollege.libguides.com/c.php?g=254319&p=1695313
  • ↑ https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/cm360
  • ↑ https://mediahelpingmedia.org/basics/how-to-find-and-develop-important-news-angles/
  • ↑ https://www.northwestern.edu/brand/editorial-guidelines/newswriting-guidelines/
  • ↑ https://tacomacc.libguides.com/c.php?g=599051&p=4147190
  • ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/journalism_and_journalistic_writing/ap_style.html
  • ↑ https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/punctuation/space-after-period
  • ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/

About This Article

Gerald Posner

To write a news article, open with a strong leading sentence that states what the article is about and why it’s important. Try to answer the questions who, what, where, when, and why as early in the article as possible. Once you’ve given the reader the most important facts, you can include any additional information to help round out the article, such as opposing views or contact information. Finish with a strong concluding sentence, such as an invitation to learn more or a statement indicating future developments. For tips on researching your article, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Speech Writing

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  • Updated on  
  • Jan 16, 2024

Speech Writing

The power of good, inspiring, motivating, and thought-provoking speeches can never be overlooked. If we retrospect, a good speech has not only won people’s hearts but also has been a verbal tool to conquer nations. For centuries, many leaders have used this instrument to charm audiences with their powerful speeches. Apart from vocalizing your speech perfectly, the words you choose in a speech carry immense weight, and practising speech writing begins with our school life. Speech writing is an important part of the English syllabus for Class 12th, Class 11th, and Class 8th to 10th. This blog brings you the Speech Writing format, samples, examples, tips, and tricks!

writing news speech

This Blog Includes:

What is speech writing, speech in english language writing, how do you begin an english-language speech, introduction, how to write a speech, speech writing samples, example of a great speech, english speech topics, practice time.

Must Read: Story Writing Format for Class 9 & 10

Speech writing is the art of using proper grammar and expression to convey a thought or message to a reader. Speech writing isn’t all that distinct from other types of narrative writing. However, students should be aware of certain distinct punctuation and writing style techniques. While writing the ideal speech might be challenging, sticking to the appropriate speech writing structure will ensure that you never fall short.

“There are three things to aim at in public speaking: first, to get into your subject, then to get your subject into yourself, and lastly, to get your subject into the heart of your audience.”- Alexander Gregg

The English language includes eight parts of speech i.e. nouns , pronouns , verbs , adjectives 410 , adverbs , prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections.

  • Noun- A noun is a word that describes anything, such as an animal, a person, a place, or an emotion. Nouns are the building blocks for most sentences.
  • Pronoun – Pronouns are words that can be used in place of nouns. They are used so that we don’t have to repeat words. This makes our writing and speaking much more natural.
  • Verb – A verb is a term that implies activity or ‘doing.’ These are very vital for your children’s grammar studies, as a sentence cannot be complete without a verb.
  • Adjective – An adjective is a term that describes something. An adjective is frequently used before a noun to add extra information or description.
  • Prepositions- A preposition is a term that expresses the location or timing of something in relation to something else.
  • Conjunction- Because every language has its own set of conjunctions, English conjunctions differ from those found in other languages. They’re typically used as a connecting word between two statements, concepts, or ideas.
  • Interjections- Interjections are words that are used to describe a strong emotion or a sudden feeling.

Relevant Read: Speech on the Importance of English

The way you start your English speech can set the tone for the remainder of it. This semester, there are a variety of options for you to begin presentations in your classes. For example, try some of these engaging speech in English language starters.

  • Rhetorical questions : A rhetorical question is a figure of speech that uses a question to convey a point rather than asking for a response. The answer to a rhetorical question may be clear, yet the questioner asks it to emphasize the point. Rhetorical questions may be a good method for students to start their English speeches. This method of introducing your material might be appealing to the viewers and encourage them to consider how they personally relate to your issue.
  • Statistics: When making an instructive or persuasive speech in an English class, statistics can help to strengthen the speaker’s authority and understanding of the subject. To get your point over quickly and create an emotional response, try using an unexpected statistic or fact that will resonate with the audience.
  • Set up an imaginary scene: Create an imaginary situation in your audience’s thoughts if you want to persuade them to agree with you with your speech. This method of starting your speech assists each member of the audience in visualizing a fantastic scenario that you wish to see come true.

Relevant Read: Reported Speech Rules With Exercises

Format of Speech Writing

Here is the format of Speech Writing:

  • Introduction : Greet the audience, tell them about yourself and further introduce the topic.
  • Body : Present the topic in an elaborate way, explaining its key features, pros and cons, if any and the like.
  • Conclusion : Summary of your speech, wrap up the topic and leave your audience with a compelling reminder to think about!

Let’s further understand each element of the format of Speech Writing in further detail:

After the greetings, the Introduction has to be attention-getting. Quickly get people’s attention. The goal of a speech is to engage the audience and persuade them to think or act in your favour. The introduction must effectively include: 

  • A brief preview of your topic. 
  • Define the outlines of your speech. (For example, I’ll be talking about…First..Second…Third)
  • Begin with a story, quote, fact, joke, or observation in the room. It shouldn’t be longer than 3-4 lines. (For Example: “Mahatma Gandhi said once…”, or “This topic reminds me of an incident/story…”)

This part is also important because that’s when your audience decides if the speech is worth their time. Keep your introduction factual, interesting, and convincing.

It is the most important part of any speech. You should provide a number of reasons and arguments to convince the audience to agree with you.

Handling objections is an important aspect of speech composition. There is no time for questions or concerns since a speech is a monologue. Any concerns that may occur during the speech will be addressed by a powerful speech. As a result, you’ll be able to respond to questions as they come in from the crowd. To make speech simpler you can prepare a flow chart of the details in a systematic way.

For example: If your speech is about waste management; distribute information and arrange it according to subparagraphs for your reference. It could include:

  • What is Waste Management?
  • Major techniques used to manage waste
  • Advantages of Waste Management  
  • Importance of Waste Management 

The conclusion should be something that the audience takes with them. It could be a reminder, a collective call to action, a summary of your speech, or a story. For example: “It is upon us to choose the fate of our home, the earth by choosing to begin waste management at our personal spaces.”

After concluding, add a few lines of gratitude to the audience for their time.

For example: “Thank you for being a wonderful audience and lending me your time. Hope this speech gave you something to take away.”

speech writing format

Practice Your Speech Writing with these English Speech topics for students !

A good speech is well-timed, informative, and thought-provoking. Here are the tips for writing a good school speech:

Speech Sandwich of Public Speaking

The introduction and conclusion must be crisp. People psychologically follow the primacy effect (tendency to remember the first part of the list/speech) and recency effect (tendency to recall the last part of the list/speech). 

Use Concrete Facts

Make sure you thoroughly research your topic. Including facts appeals to the audience and makes your speech stronger. How much waste is managed? Give names of organisations and provide numerical data in one line.

Use Rhetorical Strategies and Humour

Include one or two open-ended or thought-provoking questions.  For Example: “Would we want our future generation to face trouble due to global warming?” Also, make good use of humour and convenient jokes that engages your audience and keeps them listening.

Check Out: Message Writing

Know your Audience and Plan Accordingly

This is essential before writing your speech. To whom is it directed? The categorised audience on the basis of –

  • Knowledge of the Topic (familiar or unfamiliar)

Use the information to formulate the speech accordingly, use information that they will understand, and a sentence that they can retain.

Timing Yourself is Important

An important aspect of your speech is to time yourself.  Don’t write a speech that exceeds your word limit. Here’s how can decide the right timing for your speech writing:

  • A one-minute speech roughly requires around 130-150 words
  • A two-minute speech requires roughly around 250-300 words

Recommended Read: Letter Writing

Speech Writing Examples

Here are some examples to help you understand how to write a good speech. Read these to prepare for your next speech:

Write a speech to be delivered in the school assembly as Rahul/ Rubaina of Delhi Public School emphasises the importance of cleanliness, implying that the level of cleanliness represents the character of its residents. (150-200 words)

“Cleanliness is next to godliness,” said the great John Wesley. Hello, respected principal, instructors, and good friends. Today, I, Rahul/Rubaina, stand in front of you all to emphasise the significance of cleanliness.

Cleanliness is the condition or attribute of being or remaining clean. Everyone must learn about cleaning, hygiene, sanitation, and the different diseases that are produced by unsanitary circumstances. It is essential for physical well-being and the maintenance of a healthy atmosphere at home and at school. A filthy atmosphere invites a large number of mosquitos to grow and spread dangerous diseases. On the other side, poor personal cleanliness causes a variety of skin disorders as well as lowered immunity.

Habits formed at a young age become ingrained in one’s personality. Even if we teach our children to wash their hands before and after meals, brush their teeth and bathe on a regular basis, we are unconcerned about keeping public places clean. On October 2, 2014, the Indian Prime Minister began the “Swachh Bharat” programme to offer sanitation amenities to every family, including toilets, solid and liquid waste disposal systems, village cleanliness, and safe and appropriate drinking water supplies. Teachers and children in schools are actively participating in the ‘Clean India Campaign’ with zeal and excitement.

Good health ensures a healthy mind, which leads to better overall productivity, higher living standards, and economic development. It will improve India’s international standing. As a result, a clean environment is a green environment with fewer illnesses. Thus, cleanliness is defined as a symbol of mental purity.

Thank you very much.

Relevant Read: Speech on Corruption

You are Sahil/Sanya, the school’s Head Girl/Head Boy. You are greatly troubled by the increasing instances of aggressive behaviour among your students. You decide to speak about it during the morning assembly. Create a speech about “School Discipline.” (150 – 200 words)

INDISCIPLINE IN SCHOOLS,

It has been reported that the frequency of fights and incidences of bullying in our school has increased dramatically in the previous several months. Good morning to everyone present. Today, I, Sahil/Sanya, your head boy/girl, am here to shed light on the serious topic of “Increased Indiscipline in Schools.”

It has come to light that instructor disobedience, bullying, confrontations with students, truancy, and insults are becoming more widespread. Furthermore, there have been reports of parents noticing a shift in their children’s attitudes. As a result, many children are suffering emotionally, psychologically, and physically. The impact of this mindset on children at a young age is devastating and irreversible.

Not to mention the harm done to the school’s property. Theft of chalk, scribbling on desks, walls and lavatory doors, destruction of CCTV cameras and so forth. We are merely depriving ourselves of the comforts granted to us by doing so.

Following numerous meetings, it was determined that the main reasons for the problem were a lack of sufficient guidance, excessive use of social media, and peer pressure. The council is working to make things better. Everyone is required to take life skills classes. Counselling, motivating, and instilling friendly ideals will be part of the curriculum. Seminars for parents and students will be held on a regular basis.

A counsellor is being made available to help you all discuss your sentiments, grudges, and personal problems. We are doing everything we can and expect you to do the same.

So, let us work together to create an environment in which we encourage, motivate, assist, and be nice to one another because we are good and civilised humans capable of a great deal of love.

Relevant Read: How to Write a Speech on Discipline?

The current increase in incidences of violent student misbehaviour is cause for alarm for everyone. Students who learn how to manage their anger can help to alleviate the situation. Write a 150-200-word speech about the topic to be delivered at the school’s morning assembly. (10)

HOW TO CONTROL ANGER

Honourable Principal, Respected Teachers, and Dear Friends, I’d like to share a few “Ways to Manage Anger” with you today.

The growing intolerance among the younger generation, which is resulting in violence against teachers, is cause for severe concern. The guru-shishya parampara is losing its lustre. Aggressive behaviour in students can be provoked by a variety of factors, including self-defence, stressful circumstance, over-stimulation, or a lack of adult supervision.

It has become imperative to address the situation. Life skills workshops will be included in the curriculum. Teachers should be trained to deal with such stubborn and confrontational behaviours. Meditation and deep breathing are very beneficial and should be practised every morning. Students should be taught to count to ten before reacting angrily. Sessions on anger control and its importance must also be held.

Remember that Anger is one letter away from danger. It becomes much more crucial to be able to control one’s rage. It’s never too late to start, as a wise man once said.

“Every minute you stay angry, you lose sixty seconds of peace of mind.”

Relevant Read: English Speech Topics for Students

Martin Luther King Jr’s ‘I Have A Dream’ is one of his most famous speeches. Its impact has lasted through generations. The speech is written by utilising the techniques above. Here are some examples:

“still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination” – emotive Language

“In a sense, we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check” – personalising the speech

“to stand up for freedom together” – a call to action.

Importantly, this is an example of how the listener comes first while drafting a speech. The language chosen appeals to a specific sort of audience and was widely utilised in 1963 when the speech was delivered.

  • The Best Day of My Life
  • Social Media: Bane or Boon?
  • Pros and Cons of Online Learning
  • Benefits of Yoga
  • If I had a Superpower
  • I wish I were ______
  • Environment Conservation
  • Women Should Rule the World!
  • The Best Lesson I Have Learned
  • Paperbacks vs E-books
  • How to Tackle a Bad Habit?
  • My Favorite Pastime/Hobby
  • Understanding Feminism
  • Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): Is it real or not?
  • Importance of Reading
  • Importance of Books in Our Life
  • My Favorite Fictional Character
  • Introverts vs Extroverts
  • Lessons to Learn from Sports
  • Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Also Read: How to Ace IELTS Writing Section?

Ans. Speech writing is the process of communicating a notion or message to a reader by employing proper punctuation and expression. Speech writing is similar to other types of narrative writing. However, students should be aware of some different punctuation and writing structure techniques.

Ans. Before beginning with the speech, choose an important topic. Create an outline; rehearse your speech, and adjust the outline based on comments from the rehearsal. This five-step strategy for speech planning serves as the foundation for both lessons and learning activities.

Ans. Writing down a speech is vital since it helps you better comprehend the issue, organises your thoughts, prevents errors in your speech, allows you to get more comfortable with it, and improves its overall quality.

Speech writing and public speaking are effective and influential. Hope this blog helped you know the various tips for writing the speech people would want to hear. If you need help in making the right career choices at any phase of your academic and professional journey, our Leverage Edu experts are here to guide you. Sign up for a free session now!

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Writing news reports

Newswise values.

This lesson focuses on  all  of the  NewsWise values .

Learning objective

To inform and engage an audience (first draft).

Learning outcomes

Write a first draft of a news report, using the structural and language features of news reports.

Explain how a news report meets the four NewsWise values.

Evaluate a peer’s news report, providing feedback on the language and structural features used.

Starter/baseline assessment

Pupils spend five minutes reviewing their pyramid plan, to remind themselves of the order of information in their reports, while also referring to their original news report plans for detailed information.

As a class, recap the structural and language features of news reporting. How will you begin your news report? Which information will you include in the middle section? How many quotes will you include? How will you end your report? What do you need to remember about using paragraphs in news reports?

Learning activity

Pupils write the first draft of their news reports, using the planning sheets which they created in previous lessons.

Give pupils deadlines throughout the session to replicate the newsroom experience. You may wish to split the sections of the report into separate tasks with a deadline for each one, eg: 5W introduction; quotes and reported speech from interviews; additional research on the topic; final paragraph.

Refer back to the class News report toolkit, as well as the Model news reports and News reporting language word banks from lesson 11 to support pupils to write in an authentic news report style and structure.

See Creating a newsroom for further ideas on how to create a newsroom in your classroom.

Note: pupils do not need to add ‘page furniture’ at this point - this happens in  lesson 15 .

Pupils share their news reports with a partner, providing feedback to each other based upon the following questions: which language features have they included in their news report? Have they begun their news report with a 5 W introduction? Have they included  interesting  information? Have they started a new paragraph for every new point? Is the news report  balanced ? Do you think it is a  truthful  and  fair  report? Why?

Questions for assessment

What is the purpose of your news report? 

Who is your audience? 

What do you need to include in your news report? 

How will you make sure that your news report is truthful, fair, balanced and interesting?

Core knowledge and skills

In this lesson, pupils write the first draft of their news reports (without the ‘page furniture’). 

Conduct the lesson as a writing lesson, in line with your usual practice. Remind pupils of the structural and language features of news reporting by referring to your class’s ‘news report toolkit’.

Use success criteria to remind pupils of the key features of a news report, including: inverted pyramid structure - beginning with the most important information, moving on to additional interesting details and quotes, finishing with what might happen next/similar stories that have happened before/a really good quote that sums up the story; 5 Ws introduction, starting with Who or What, not When; short paragraphs; concise, formal language; written in the third person and past tense; reported and direct speech; relative clauses.

Lesson plan pdf

Creating a newsroom in your classroom

News report toolkit

Inverted pyramid structure

5 W introductions

Model news reports

News reporting language

Curriculum links

Selecting appropriate form, grammar, vocabulary and punctuation; using paragraphs to structure ideas; building cohesion     

Reviewing and editing writing

Peer-editing   

Finished NewsWise?

Next lesson

Lesson 14: Subediting news reports

Previous lesson

Lesson 12: Recognising news report language

All lessons

All the NewsWise lesson plans

10 News Writing Exercises for Journalism Students

Test your ability to produce well written news stories on deadline

  • Writing Essays
  • Writing Research Papers
  • English Grammar
  • M.S., Journalism, Columbia University
  • B.A., Journalism, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Looking for a way to hone your news writing skills ? Try these news writing exercises. Each provides a set of facts or a scenario, and it's up to you to produce a story from it. You'll have to fill in the blanks with imaginary but logical information that you compile. To get the maximum benefit, force yourself to do these on a tight deadline:

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It's 10:30 p.m. You're on the night shift at the Centerville Gazette and hear some chatter on the police scanner about a car crash out on Highway 32, a road that runs through a rural area of town. It sounds like a big crash, so you head to the scene.

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You're on the night shift again at the Centerville Gazette. You phone the cops to see if anything's going on. Lt. Jane Ortlieb of the Centerville Police Department tells you there was a shooting tonight at the Fandango Bar & Grill on Wilson Street in the Grungeville section of the city.

Shooting Follow-Up No. 1

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You're back at the Centerville Gazette on the day after the shooting outside the Fandango Bar & Grill on Wilson Street in the Grungeville section of town. You phone the cops to see if they have anything new on the case. Lt. Jane Ortlieb tells you that early this morning they arrested an ex-con named Frederick Johnson, 32, in connection with the shooting.

Shooting Follow-Up No. 2

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It's the day after police arrested Frederick Johnson in connection with the shooting death of Peter Wickham outside the Fandango Bar & Grill. You call Lt. Jane Ortlieb of the Centerville Police Department. She tells you that cops are having a perp walk today to take Johnson to the Centerville District Courthouse for his arraignment. She says to be outside the courthouse at 10 a.m. sharp.

It's Tuesday morning at the Centerville Gazette. Making your usual phone checks, you get word from the fire department about a house fire early this morning. Deputy Fire Marshal Larry Johnson tells you the blaze was in a row house in the Cedar Glen section of the city.

School Board Meeting

You’re covering a 7 p.m. meeting of the Centerville School Board. The meeting is being held in the auditorium of Centerville High School. The board begins with a discussion of ongoing cleanup at McKinley Elementary School, which experienced water damage during heavy rains and flooding  two weeks ago in the city’s Parksburg section, near the Root River.

Plane Crash

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It’s 9:30 p.m. You're on the night shift at the Centerville Gazette. You hear some chatter on the police scanner and call the cops. Lt. Jack Feldman says he’s not sure what’s happening but he thinks a plane crashed near Centerville Airport, a small facility used mostly by private pilots flying single-engine craft. Your editor tells you to get over there as fast as you can.

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You're on the day shift at the Centerville Gazette. The city editor gives you some information on a teacher who has died and tells you to bang out an obit. Here's the information: Evelyn Jackson, a retired teacher, died yesterday at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home, where she had lived for the past five years. She was 79 and died of natural causes. Jackson had worked for 43 years as an English teacher at Centerville High School before retiring in her late 60s. She taught classes in composition, ​ American literature , and poetry.

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The Centerville Chamber of Commerce is holding its monthly luncheon at the Hotel Luxe. An audience of about 100, mostly local ​businessmen and women, is in attendance. The guest speaker today is Alex Weddell, CEO of Weddell Widgets, a local, family-owned manufacturing firm and one of the city’s largest employers.

Soccer Game

Photo and Co/Getty Images

You're a sportswriter for the Centerville Gazette. You’re covering a soccer game between the Centerville Community College Eagles and the Ipswich Community College Spartans. The game is for the state conference title.

  • 7 Copy-Editing Exercises for Journalism Students
  • Here's How to Cover a Journalism Beat Effectively
  • How to Avoid Burying the Lede of Your News Story
  • Learn to Write News Stories
  • 10 Important Steps for Producing a Quality News Story
  • The Assassination of President William McKinley
  • 15 News Writing Rules for Beginning Journalism Students
  • Proofreading for Errors in Verb Tense
  • How to Write Feature Stories
  • Six Tips for Writing News Stories That Will Grab a Reader
  • 5 Common Misconceptions About Black Lives Matter
  • Objectivity and Fairness in Journalism
  • Writing a Compelling, Informative News Lede
  • Avoid the Common Mistakes That Beginning Reporters Make
  • Theodore Roosevelt and the New York Police Department
  • Lucy Parsons: Labor Radical and Anarchist, IWW Founder
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Introduction, Awards, and Recognitions
  • Table of Contents with Critical Media Literacy Connections
  • Updates & Latest Additions
  • Learning Pathway: Racial Justice and Black Lives Matter
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  • Learning Pathway: Student Rights in School and Society
  • Learning Pathway: Elections 2024, 2022, & 2020
  • Learning Pathway: Current Events
  • Learning Pathway: Critical Media Literacy
  • Teacher-Designed Learning Plans
  • Topic 1. The Philosophical Foundations of the United States Political System
  • 1.1. The Government of Ancient Athens
  • 1.2. The Government of the Roman Republic
  • 1.3. Enlightenment Thinkers and Democratic Government
  • 1.4. British Influences on American Government
  • 1.5. Native American Influences on U.S. Government
  • Topic 2. The Development of the United States Government
  • 2.1. The Revolutionary Era and the Declaration of Independence
  • 2.2. The Articles of Confederation
  • 2.3. The Constitutional Convention
  • 2.4. Debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists
  • 2.5. Articles of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights
  • Topic 3. Institutions of United States Government
  • 3.1. Branches of the Government and the Separation of Powers
  • 3.2. Checks and Balances Between the Branches of Government
  • 3.3. The Roles of the Congress, the President, and the Courts
  • 3.4. Elections and Nominations
  • 3.5. The Role of Political Parties
  • Topic 4. The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens
  • 4.1. Becoming a Citizen
  • 4.2. Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens and Non-Citizens
  • 4.3. Civic, Political, and Private Life
  • 4.4. Fundamental Principles and Values of American Political and Civic Life
  • 4.5. Voting and Citizen Participation in the Political Process
  • 4.6. Election Information
  • 4.7. Leadership and the Qualities of Political Leaders
  • 4.8. Cooperation Between Individuals and Elected Leaders
  • 4.9. Public Service as a Career
  • 4.10. Liberty in Conflict with Equality or Authority
  • 4.11. Political Courage and Those Who Affirmed or Denied Democratic Ideals
  • 4.12. The Role of Political Protest
  • 4.13. Public and Private Interest Groups, PACs, and Labor Unions
  • Topic 5. The Constitution, Amendments, and Supreme Court Decisions
  • 5.1. The Necessary and Proper Clause
  • 5.2. Amendments to the Constitution
  • 5.3. Constitutional Issues Related to the Civil War, Federal Power, and Individual Civil Rights
  • 5.4. Civil Rights and Equal Protection for Race, Gender, and Disability
  • 5.5. Marbury v. Madison and the Principle of Judicial Review
  • 5.6. Significant Supreme Court Decisions
  • Topic 6. The Structure of Massachusetts State and Local Government
  • 6.1. Functions of State and National Government
  • 6.2. United States and Massachusetts Constitutions
  • 6.3. Enumerated and Implied Powers
  • 6.4. Core Documents: The Protection of Individual Rights
  • 6.5. 10th Amendment to the Constitution
  • 6.6. Additional Provisions of the Massachusetts Constitution
  • 6.7. Responsibilities of Federal, State and Local Government
  • 6.8. Leadership Structure of the Massachusetts Government
  • 6.9. Tax-Supported Facilities and Services
  • 6.10. Components of Local Government
  • Topic 7. Freedom of the Press and News/Media Literacy
  • 7.1. Freedom of the Press
  • 7.2. Competing Information in a Free Press
  • 7.3. Writing the News: Different Formats and Their Functions
  • 7.4. Digital News and Social Media
  • 7.5. Evaluating Print and Online Media
  • 7.6. Analyzing Editorials, Editorial Cartoons, or Op-Ed Commentaries
  • Index of Terms
  • Translations

Writing the News: Different Formats and Their Functions

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writing news speech

Standard 7.3: Writing the News: Different Formats and Their Functions

Explain the different functions of news articles, editorials, editorial cartoons, and “op-ed” commentaries. (Massachusetts Curriculum Framework for History and Social Studies) [8.T7.3]

Launch_of_Apollo

FOCUS QUESTION: What are the Functions of Different Types of Newspaper Writing?

News articles report what is happening as clearly and objectively as possible, without bias or opinion. In reporting the news, the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics demands that reporters: 

  • Seek truth and report it
  • Minimize harm
  • Act independently
  • Be accountable and transparent

Editorials, Editorial Cartoons, and Op-Ed Commentaries are forums where writers may freely express their viewpoints and advocate for desired changes and specific courses of action. In this way, these are forms of persuasive writing. Topic 4/Standard 6 in this book has more about the uses of persuasion, propaganda, and language in political settings. 

Photographs can be both efforts to objectively present the news and at the same time become ways to influence how viewers understand people and events.

Press Conferences are opportunities for individuals and representatives of organizations to answer questions from the press and present their perspectives on issues and events.

Sports Writing  is an integral part of the media, but the experiences for women and men sports journalists are dramatically different.

Reading and Writing the News in our Bookcase for Young Writers has material on the history of newspapers, picture books about newspapers, and digital resources for reading and writing the news.

As students learn about these different forms of news writing, they can compose their own stories and commentaries about local and national matters of importance to them

Modules for This Standard Include:

  • MEDIA LITERACY CONNECTIONS: News Photographs & Newspaper Design
  • TEACHER-DESIGNED LEARNING PLAN: Composing Broadsides
  • UNCOVER: Pioneering Women Cartoonists and Animators: Jackie Ormes, Dale Messick and More
  • MEDIA LITERACY CONNECTIONS: How Reporters Report Events

1. INVESTIGATE: News Articles, Editorials, Editorial cartoons, Op-Ed Commentaries, Photographs, Press Conferences, and Sports Writing

Reporters of the news  are obligated to maintain journalistic integrity at all times. They are not supposed to take sides or show bias in written or verbal reporting. They are expected to apply those principles as they write news articles, editorials, editorial cartoons, Op-Ed commentaries, take news photographs, and participate in press conferences.

You can find resources for Reading and Writing the News in Chapter 6 of our Bookcase for Young Writers.

News Articles and the Inverted Pyramid

News articles follow an Inverted Pyramid format. The lead, or main points of the article—the who, what, when, where, why and how of a story—are placed at the top or beginning of the article.  Additional information follows the lead and less important, but still relevant information, comes after that. The lead information gets the most words since many people read the lead and then skim the rest of the article.

7_3pyramid.jpeg

Editorials are written by the editors of a newspaper or media outlet to express the opinion of that organization about a topic. Horace Greeley is credited with starting the “Editorial Page” at his New York Tribune newspaper in the 1840s, and so began the practice of separating unbiased news from clearly stated opinions as part of news writing ( A Short History of Opinion Writing , Stony Brook University).

Editorial or Political Cartoons

Editorial cartoons (also known as political cartoons) are visual images drawn to express opinions about people, events, and policies. They make use of satire and parody to communicate ideas and evoke emotional responses from readers.

There are differences between a cartoon and a comic. A “cartoon usually consists of a single drawing, often accompanied by a line of text, either in the form of a caption underneath the drawing, or a speech bubble.” A comic, by contrast, “comprises a series of drawings, often in boxes, or as we like to call them, ‘panels,’ which form a narrative” (Finck, 2019, p. 27).

Boss_Tweed

An exhibit from the Library of Congress noted how political or editorial cartoons are “no laughing matter.”  They are “pictures with a point” ( It's No Laughing Matter: Political Cartoons/Pictures with a Point , Library of Congress).  Washington Post cartoonist Ann Telnaes stated: “The job of the editorial cartoonist is to expose the hypocrisies and abuses of power by politicians and powerful institutions in our society” ( Editorial Cartooning, Then and Now , Medium.com, August 7, 2017).

Benjamin Franklin published the first political cartoon, “Join, or Die” in the Pennsylvania Gazette, May 9, 1754. Thomas Nast used cartoons to expose corruption, greed, and injustice in Gilded Age American society in the late 19th century. Launched in 1970 and still being drawn today in newspapers and online, Doonesbury by Gary Trudeau provides political satire and social commentary in a comic strip format. In 1975, Doonesbury was the first politically-themed daily comic strip to win a Pulitzer Prize. Editorial and political cartoons are widely viewed online, especially in the form of Internet memes that offer commentary and amusement to digital age readers.

Commentators including Communication professor Jennifer Grygiel contend that memes are the new form of political cartoons . Do you think that this is an accurate claim? Compare the history of political cartoons outlined above with your own knowledge of memes to support your argument. What are the different perspectives?

Op-Ed Commentaries

Op-Ed Commentaries (Op-Ed means "opposite the editorial page") are written essays of around 700 words found on, or opposite, the editorial page of newspapers and other news publications. They are opportunities for politicians, experts, and ordinary citizens to express their views on issues of importance.

Unlike news articles, which are intended to report the news in an objective and unbiased way, Op-Ed commentaries are opinion pieces. Writers express their ideas and viewpoints, and their names are clearly identified so everyone knows who is the author of each essay. The goal of opinion writing, declared editors at The New York Times for Kids , "is to challenge readers to think about things differently" (The Opinion Issue, December 31, 2023, p. 2).

The modern Op-Ed page began in 1970 when the New York Times newspaper asked writers from outside the field of journalism to contribute essays on a range of topics ( The Op-Ed Page's Back Pages , Slate , September 27, 2010). Since then, Op-Ed pages have become a forum for a wide expression of perspectives and viewpoints.

News Photographs

Photographs are a fundamental part of newspapers today. We would be taken back and much confused to view a newspaper page without photographs and other images including charts, graphs, sketches, and advertisements, rendered in black and white or color. Look at the front page and then the interior pages of a major daily newspaper (in print or online) and note how many photographs are connected to the stories of the day.

The first photograph published in a US newspaper was on March 4, 1880. Prior to then, sketch artists created visual representations of news events. The New York Illustrated News began the practice of regularly featuring photographs in the newspaper in 1919 (Library of Congress: An Illustrated Guide/Prints and Photographs ).

From that time, photography has changed how people receive the news from newspapers. The 1930s to the 1970s have been called a "golden age" of photojournalism . Publications like the New York Daily News, Life, and Sports Illustrated achieved enormous circulations. Women became leaders in the photojournalist field: Margaret Bourke -White was a war reporter; Frances Benjamin Johnson took photos all over the United States; Dorothea Lange documented the Great Depression; the site Trailblazers of Light tells the hidden histories of the pioneering women of photojournalism. Also check out  "What Is The Role of a War Correspondent?" later in this topic.

For an engaging student writing about photographs idea, check out A Year of Picture Prompts: Over 160 Images to Inspire Writing from the New York Times.

Press Conferences

A press conference is a meeting where news reporters get to ask public figures and political leaders (including the President of the United States) questions about major topics and issues. In theory, press conferences are opportunities for everyone in the country to learn important information because reporters ask tough questions and political leaders answer them openly and honestly. In fact, as Harold Holzer (2020) points out in the study of The Presidents vs. The Press , there has always been from the nation's founding "unavoidable tensions between chief executives and the journalists who cover them."

President George W. Bush responds to questions during his final press conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House

The first Presidential press conference was held by Woodrow Wilson in 1913. Calvin Coolidge averaged about 74 press conferences annually during his Presidency, although these were informal, off-the-record conversations and reporters could not use the information without the President's permission.

Every President since has met with the press in this conference format, although the meetings continued to be "off the record" (Presidents could not be quoted directly) until the Eisenhower Presidency. In March 1933, Eleanor Roosevelt was the first First Lady to hold a formal press conference. President Eisenhower held the first televised press conference on January 19, 1955.

John F. Kennedy transformed the Presidential Press Conference into a media event; you can watch the video of Kennedy's first televised press conference here .

Franklin D. Roosevelt held the most press conferences (881; twice a week during the New Deal and World War II); Richard Nixon the fewest (39) (quoted from Presidential Press Conferences , The American Presidency Project).

Donald Trump changed the news conference format dramatically, often turning meetings with the press into political campaign-style attacks on reporters, "fake news," and political opponents. He regularly answered only the questions he wanted to answer while walking from the White House to a waiting helicopter; this "chopper talk" -- in Stephen Colbert's satirical term, since it does not have a formal question and answer format -- enabled the President to tightly control the information he wanted to convey to the public ( Politico , August 28, 2019).

Presidents are not the only ones who participate in press conferences. Public officials at every level of government are expected to answer questions from the news media. Corporate executives, sports figures and many other news makers also hold press conferences. All of these gatherings are essential to providing free and open information to every member of a democratic society, but only when reporters ask meaningful questions and public officials answer them in meaningful ways.

Sports Writing/Sports Journalism

Sports writing is the field of journalism that focuses on sports, athletes, professional and amateur leagues, and other sports-related issues ( Sports Writing as a Form of Creative Nonfiction ). Sports writing in the U.S. began in the 1820s, with coverage of horse racing and boxing included in specialized sports magazines. As newspapers expanded in the 19th century, the so-called “penny press,” editors and readers began demanding sports content. In 1895, William Randolph Hearst introduced the first separate sports section in his newspaper, The New York Journal  ( History of Sports Journalism: Part 1 ).

Throughout the 20th century, sports writing emerged as a central part of print newspapers and magazines (the famous magazine Sports Illustrated began in 1954). Reporters and columnists followed professional teams, often traveling with them from city to city, writing game stories and human interest pieces about players and their achievements.

Earl Warren, the former Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, is reported to have said that he always read the sports pages of the newspaper first because “the sport section records people’s accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man’s failures.” Warren’s comment speaks to the compelling place that sports have in American culture, daily life, and media. Millions of people follow high school sports, college teams, and professional leagues in print and online media. 

Importantly, as the blogger SportsMediaGuy points out, Earl Warren’s quote can be read as if the sports and sports pages were an escape room where only positive things happen and the inequalities and inequities of society never intrude. Nothing can be further from everyday reality. Sports mirror society as a whole, and issues of class, race, gender, economics, and health are present on playing fields, in locker rooms, and throughout sports arenas.

The history of women sportswriters is a striking example of how the inequalities of society manifest themselves in sports media. Women have been writing about sports for a long time, however, not many people know the history. Sadie Kneller Miller was the first known woman to cover sports when she reported on the Baltimore Orioles in the 1890s, but "with stigma still attached to women in sports, Miller bylined her articles using only her initials, S.K.M., to conceal her gender" ( Archives of Maryland - Sadie Kneller Miller, para. 3 ). 

Between 1905 and 1910, Ina Eloise Young began writing about baseball for the local Trinidad, Colorado newspaper before moving on to the Denver Post where she became a “sporting editor” in 1908, covering the town’s minor league team and the 1908 World Series ( Our Lady Reporter’: Introducing Women Baseball Writers, 1900-30 ). New Orleans-based Jill Jackson became one of the few female sports reporters on television and radio in the 1940s ( Jill Jackson: Pioneering in the Press Box ). Phyllis George, the 1971 Miss America pageant winner, joined CBS as a sportscaster on the television show The NFL Today in 1975.

The histories of women writing about sports revealed the tensions of sexism and gender discrimination. Many of the early female sports reporters encountered various levels of threatening and harmful treatment upon entering the locker room. Some were physically assaulted. Others were sexually abused or challenged by the players in sexually inappropriate ways ( Women in Sports Journalism , p.iv).

You can read more in Lady in the Locker Room by Susan Fornoff who spent the majority of the 1980s covering the Oakland Athletics baseball team and listen to a 2021 podcast in which Julie DiCaro discusses her new book, Sidelined: Sports, Culture and Being a Woman in America .

Women today continue to face widespread gender discrimination in what is still a male-dominated sports media. In 2019, 14% of all sports reporters are women and women’s sports only account for about 4% of sports media.

Media Literacy Connections: News Photographs & Newspaper Design

Photographs in print newspapers and online news sites convey powerful messages to readers and viewers, but they are not to be viewed uncritically.

Every photo represents a moment frozen in time. What happened before and after the photo was taken? What else was happening outside the view of the camera? Why did the photographer take the photo from a certain angle and perspective? Why did a newspaper editor choose to publish one image and not another?

The meaning of a news photograph depends on multiple levels of context as well as how each of us interpret its meaning. 

The following activities will provide you with an opportunity to act as a critical viewer of newspaper photographs and as a member of a newspaper design team who must decide what photographs to incorporate in a class newspaper.

  • Activity 1: Analyze Newspaper Photographs
  • Activity 2: Design a Class Newspaper with Photos and Images

writing news speech

Suggested Learning Activities

  • What differences to you see in the topics and sports that women reporters and columnists cover and write about?
  • What differences to you see in their roles and the roles of male reporters?
  • Compose a Broadside About a Historical or Contemporary Issue  
  • A broadside is a strongly worded informational poster that spreads criticisms of people or policies impacting a group or community. It contains statements attacking a political opponent or political idea, usually displayed on single large sheets of paper, one side only, and is designed to have an immediate emotional impact on readers .   

Broadside that says workers and women; women are wage earners. They must help support the family. In shops and factories. We can help these conditions? Giving women the vote.

Teacher-Designed Learning Plan: Composing Broadsides

History teacher Erich Leaper has students construct broadsides as a learning activity when teaching Op-Ed Commentaries. During colonial times, proponents of the American Revolution posted broadsides expressing their opposition to British colonial acts and policies. Broadsides were the social media and Op-Ed commentaries of the time. 

Steps to follow: 

  • Begin by asking students to list actions or activities that are likely to upset you.
  • Students in groups select one of five options: the Tea Act, Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Intolerable Acts, Quartering Act, and the Townshend Act.
  • The teacher writes a broadside as a model for the students. Erich wrote his about the Sugar Act, entitling it "Wah! They Can't Take Away My Candy!"
  • Researching and analyzing one of the acts, each group writes and draws a broadside expressing opposition to and outrage about the unfairness of the law.
  • 1) An engaging title (like "Taxing Tea? Not for Me!" or "Call Them What They Are-- Intolerable " or "Stamp Out Injustice"
  • 2) Summary of its claim in kid-friendly language;
  • 3) A thesis statement of the group's viewpoint; and
  • 4) At least 3 statements of outrage or opposition.
  • Groups display their broadside posters around the classroom or in a virtual gallery.
  • In their groups, students view all of the other broadsides and discuss how they would rate the Acts on an oppressiveness scale —ranging from most oppressive to least oppressive to the colonists.  
  • The assessment for the activity happens as each student chooses the top three most oppressive acts and explain her/his choices in writing.

Resources for writing colonial broadsides:

  • Colonial Broadsides: A Student Created Play , Edsitement (NEH.gov)
  • Printed Broadsides in the British American Colonies, 1700-1760 , National Humanities Center 
  • Broadsides and Their Music in Colonial America , Colonial Society of Massachusetts 

Online Resources for Newspapers

  • Writing a Newspaper Article , Scholastic (grades 3-8) 
  • Newspaper Article Format , Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
  • A Good Lead Is Everything--Here's How to Write One , NPR Training
  • Writing an Editorial , Alan Weintraut, Annandale (Virginia) High School
  • Guidelines for Editorials , Santa Barbara City College
  • Analyzing Political Cartoons (French Revolution Example) | Social Studies Samurai
  • Chappatte stated: "Political cartoons were born with democracy, and they are challenged when freedom is challenged.”
  • Suprani stated: "Dictators Hate Cartoons."
  • Editorial Cartoons: An Introduction , The Ohio State University Department of History
  • Editorial Cartoons: An Introduction , Teaching Tolerance Magazine
  • Cartoon America , Library of Congress
  • The Evolution of Political Cartoons through a Changing Media Landscape
  • The First 150 Years of the American Political Cartoon , Historical Society of Pennsylvania
  • Cartoons for the Classroom , Association of American Editorial Cartoonists
  • It's No Laughing Matter:  Political Cartoons/Pictures with a Point , Library of Congress
  • People of color were largely excluded from the photographic record.

2. UNCOVER : Pioneering Women Cartoonists and Animators: Jackie Ormes, Dale Messick, and More

The pioneering work of women cartoonists and animators is part of the overlooked and largely unknown history of technology and media in the mid-20th century.

Zelda “Jackie” Ormes is considered to be the first African American woman cartoonist. In comic strips that ran in Black-owned newspapers across the country in the 1940s and 1950s, she created memorable independent women characters, including Torchy Brown and Patty-Jo ‘n’ Ginger. Her characters were intelligent, forceful women and their stories addressed salient issues of racism and discrimination in African American life. In 1947, a Patty-Jo doll was the first African American doll based on a comic character; there was also a popular Torchy Brown doll.

Google honored Jackie Ormes with a Google Doodle slideshow  and short biography on September 1, 2020.

Jackie_Ormes

Dale Messick , a pioneering female cartoonist, debuted the comic strip, Brenda Starr, Reporter on June 30, 1940. The comic ran for more than 60 years in hundreds of newspapers nationwide. Throughout its history, the creative team for the comic strip were all women, including the writers and artists who continued the strip after Messick retired in 1980. Based on the character, style, and beauty of Hollywood actress Rita Haywood, Brenda Starr was determined and empowered, lived a life of adventure and intrigue, and always got the news story she was investigating.

Joye Hummel was the first woman hired to write Wonder Woman comics - she wrote every episode between 1945 and 1947, but the writing credit went to "Charles Moulton," a pen name for William Moulton Marston , the inventor of the lie-detector test and the creator and first writer of the comic series. Hummel passed away in 2021 at age 97. A whole series of women (including birth-control pioneer Margaret Sanger's niece) were responsible for the development of the comic, noted historian Jill Lepore in her book, The Secret History of Wonder Woman (2015), which documented the evolution of the character from a strong feminist into a more male-like superhero.

Women also contributed immensely to cartoon animation and the development of animated films. Lillian Friedman Astor , who animated characters including Betty Boop and Popeye, is considered the first American woman studio animator -- all of her animation work was uncredited.

Watch an interview featuring Lillian Friedman Astor below. Retta Scott who worked on the movie Bambi  and later produced Fantasia and Dumbo , was the first woman to receive screen credit as an animator on a Disney film.

To learn more, check out 7 Women Who Shaped Animated Films (and Childhoods) , Medium (August 8, 2019).

writing news speech

Suggested Learning Activity

Assess the Historical Impact of Jackie Ormes, Dale Messick and Other Women Cartoonists and Animators

  • Jackie Ormes to Enter Will Eisner Comic Hall of Fame , Comic Book Legal Defense Fund 
  • The Woman Whose 1940s Comics Starred Chic, Socially Aware Black Women ,VICE
  • Farewell Brenda Starr: 70-Year-Old Reporter Faces Her Final Deadline , The Washington Post (December 9, 2010)
  • She Changed the Comics: Pre-Code and Golden Age , Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
  • Brenda Starr, Reporter , America Comes Alive!

State Your View:   Why is it difficult for women to enter and succeed in professions where there are mostly men?

  • FYI: The Animation Guild, the union for animation artists, writers and technicians, has reported that only 25% of its members are women .

3. ENGAGE: How Are War Correspondents and War Photographers Essential to a Free Press?

War Correspondents  and War Photographers have one of the most important and most dangerous roles in the news media. They travel to war zones, often right into the middle of actual fighting, to tell the rest of us what is happening to soldiers and civilians. Without their written reports and dramatic photos, the public would not know the extent of military activities or the severity of humanitarian crises. 

Typing in the War

War correspondence has a fascinating history. The Roman general Julius Caesar was the first war correspondent. His short, engagingly written accounts of military victories made him a national hero and propelled his rise to power (Welch, 1998). As a young man in the years between 1895 and 1900, Winston Churchill reported on wars in Cuba, India, the Sudan, and South Africa (Read, 2015).

Thomas Morris Chester,  the only Black war correspondent for a major newspaper at the time of the Civil War, reported on the activities of African American troops during the final year of the war in Virginia for the Philadelphia Press ( Blackett , 1991). He had been a recruiter for the 54th Massachusetts regiment - the first unit of African American soldiers in the North during the Civil War.

Women Reporting on War

Women war correspondents and photographers have played essential roles documenting 20th century wars.

America's first female war correspondent was Nellie Bly who covered World War I from the front lines for five years for the New York Evening Journal .

Peggy Hull Deuell was the first American woman war correspondent accredited by the U.S. government. Between 1916 and the end of World War II, she sent dispatches from battlefields in Mexico, Europe and Asia.

For 28 years, Martha Gellhorn covered fighting in the Spanish Civil War, World War II, Vietnam, the Middle East and Central America.

Combat photojournalist  Dickey Chapelle was the first American female war photographer killed in action in World War II.

Catherine Leroy was the only non-military photographer to make a combat jump into Vietnam with the Sky Soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. You can read more about Catherine Leroy, Frances Fitzgerald, and Kate Webb during the Vietnam War in the book You Don't Belong Here: How Three Women Rewrote the Story of War by Elizabeth Becker (Public Affairs, 2021).

Lee Miller went from being a magazine cover model in the 1920s to a famous woman photographer with her own studio to an embedded war photographer with the U.S. military during World War II. Her story is told in the 2023 feature film Lee staring Kate Winslet.

At the end of August, 1939, British journalist Clare Hollingworth was the first to report the German invasion of Poland that began World War II, what has been called "probably the greatest scoop of modern times" (as cited in Fox, 2017 , para. 6). It was her first week on the job (Garrett, 2016). In her book The Correspondents , reporter Judith Mackrell (2021) profiles the experiences of six women writers on the front lines during World War II: Martha Gellhorn, Clare Hollingworth, Lee Miller, Helen Kirkpatrick, Virginia Cowles, and Sigrid Schultz. These women faced the dangers of war and the bias of sexism, often having to hitchhike to the battlefield to get the story in defiance of rules against women in combat zones. You can go here to learn more about the pioneering women of photojournalism (CNN, March 8, 2023).

Danger and Death

War correspondents and photojournalists face and sometimes met death. Ernie Pyle , who won a Pulitzer Prize for his stories about ordinary soldiers during World War II, was killed by Japanese machine-gun fire in 1945. Marie Colvin , who covered wars in Chechnya, Sri Lanka, and the Middle East was killed by the Syrian government shelling in 2012. When asked why she covered wars, Marie Colvin said, “what I write about is humanity in extremis, pushed the unendurable, and that it is important to tell people what really happens in wars—declared and undeclared” (quoted in Schleier, 2018, para. 8 ). 

How did the lives and deaths of these two reporters and their commitment to informing others about war reflect the role and importance of a free press in a democratic society?

Media Literacy Connections: How Reporters Report Events

Print and television news reporters make multiple decisions about how they report the events they are covering, including who to interview, which perspective to present, which camera angles to use for capturing footage, and which audio to record. These decisions structure how viewers think about the causes and consequences of events.

Hong Kong protest Admiralty Centre

In one notable historical example, historian Rick Perlstein (2020) described how, during the beginning of the Iran Hostage Crisis in 1979, ABC News vaulted to the top of the TV news show ratings with its late night broadcasts of " America Held Hostage: The Crisis in Iran"  (the show that would soon be renamed  Nightline ). The network focused on showing images of a burning American flag, embassy employees in blindfolds, Uncle Sam hanged in effigy, and increasingly more people watched the broadcast. Perlstein (2020) noted, "the images slotted effortlessly into the long-gathering narrative of American malaise, humiliation, and failed leadership" (p. 649) - themes Ronald Reagan would capitalize on during his successful 1980 Presidential campaign.

In the following activities, you will examine reporters' differences in coverage of the 2016 Hong Kong Protests and then you will act as a reporter and create or remix the news. 

  • Activity 1: Evaluate How Reporters Covered the 2016 Hong Kong Protests
  • Activity 2: Report an Event From a Different Perspective
  • Describe the life of Marie Colvin, Ernie Pyle, Dickey Chapelle or another war journalist or photographer and highlight their time spent covering war (see the online resources section below for related information). 
  • How do the lives and jobs of modern war correspondents compare and contrast to those in different historical time periods (i.e. American Revolution, the World War II, Vietnam War).
  • Design a Public Service Announcement (PSA) video or podcast to convince politicians to provide war correspondents with mental health care support and services once they return from reporting in a war zone.
  • Report on the Legal and Policy Frameworks Guiding the United States' Use of Military Force and Related National Security Operations (2018)
  • What do you and people in general know about these engagements?  How are war correspondents covering these wars?

Online Resources for War Correspondents and Photojournalists

  • War Correspondents Official Site on Amazon
  • PODCAST: The Failings of War Photography , Anastasia Taylor-Lind
  • BOOK: In Extremis: The Life and Death of War Correspondent Marie Colvin . Lindsey Hilsum (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2019)
  • A New Biography of Marie Colvin, Eyewitness to War , NPR (November 4, 2018)
  • Dickey Chapelle Biography
  • The Brilliant Photos of the First American Female War Photographer Killed in Action
  • Inside the Daring Life of a Forgotten Female War Photographer , National Geographic
  • 6 Female Journalists of the World War II Era, Literary Ladies Guide
  • Edith Wharton: War Correspondent , EDSITEment 
  • CNN's Interactive "Free Press: What's at Stake" -  Media Martyrs: Among Those Who Died While Working as Journalists in the Past 15 Years
  • Marguerite Higgins Hits Red Beach - She was the only woman who received a Pulitzer Prize for covering the Korean War in 1951.
  • BOOK: The Women Who Wrote the War . Nancy Caldwell Sorel. New York: Arcade, 1999.
  • Ernie Pyle: Wartime Columns , Indiana University 
  • Obituary: Ernie Pyle is Killed on Ie Island; Foe Fired When All Seemed Safe , The New York Times (April 19, 1945)

Standard 7.3 Conclusion

INVESTIGATE looked at news articles, editorials, political cartoons, Op-Ed commentaries, news photographs, and press conferences as formats where writers and artists report the news and also present their opinions and perspectives on events.   ENGAGE explored the roles of war correspondents, using the historical experiences of Marie Colvin (writing 1979 to 2012) and Ernie Pyle (writing 1925 to 1945) as examples. UNCOVER told the stories of two important feminist comic strips drawn by pioneering women cartoonists, Jackie Ormes (writing 1930 to 1956) and Dale Messick (writing 1940 to 1980).

This content is provided to you freely by EdTech Books.

Access it online or download it at https://edtechbooks.org/democracy/writing_the_news .

Learn ESL

News Broadcast Script Sample for Students | News Casting From Introduction to Conclusion

Writing a news script can be hard for some people because it is not as easy as it may seem. This may seem just to update your audience about what is happening where and when. However, it is not just that. It requires the News scriptwriter to have enough information and structure the script in a formal and informative way. Thus, if you are searching for a news broadcast script sample for students, read the article below.

writing news speech

Recommended to Read: Newscasting Script for The Introduction

News Broadcast Script Sample for Students

Anchor 1: Good evening! It is me ______ (name of the first anchor).

Anchor 2: And it is me _______ (name of the second anchor) and you are watching ______ (name of the news channel). Let us have a glance at the headlines first.

News Headlines

Anchor 1: The capital of Afghanistan is in danger of falling to the Taliban.

Anchor 2: New York the city of light is once again going to be quarantined.

Anchor 1: American computer-animated musical comedy film is releasing soon.

Anchor 2: Australia wins the ICC’S Men T20 World Cup. That is for the headlines. News with details will be shared after a short commercial break. Stay tuned!

Also Read: Step-by-Step Guide to Write a News Script

Anchor 1: Welcome back!

writing news speech

International News

Anchor 1: The capital of Afghanistan is in danger of falling into the hands of the Taliban. For further detail, we have our reporter ______ (name of the reporter) from Kabul. ______ (name of the reporter), kindly update our viewers.

Reporter 1: Kabul is the capital and an important city of Afghanistan for different reasons. After the American forces left the land of Afghanistan, the Taliban took over different cities of Afghanistan. And now it seems that sooner or later the Taliban is going to take over Kabul too.

No matter how hard the Afghan soldiers fight against the Taliban, they seem to be unstoppable and determined. So, they have already taken over the majority of the territory. Let us what the locals have to say about the current situation. I have ____ (name of any local) with me. Sr, can you please tell us about the situation you are facing currently in Afghanistan?

Local: We are just waiting for the Taliban to arrive and we do not expect the government will be able to protect us and our families.

Reporter 1: It is indeed heartbreaking to see how everything is falling apart. This is me _____ (name of the reporter) from Kabul, Afghanistan.

Anchor 2: Thank you, _______ (name of the reporter). Moving onto the national news.

National News

writing news speech

Anchor 2: At yesterday’s meeting between the health minister ____ (name of the health minister) and the Prime Minister ______ (name of the PM), it was decided that New York the city of light should soon be quarantined as the number of cases has increased drastically in the last week.

For further details, we have our reporter _______ (name of the reporter) with us. _____ (name of the reporter), kindly tell us more about the meeting and the decisions that the PM and health minister had to make.

Reporter 2: It was decided a week earlier that New York would start following the normal routine along with precautions. After a week, it will be decided whether or not to impose a lockdown in New York which will depend on the number of covid 19 cases. Since last week, the number of Covid 19 cases has drastically increased, and the PM and the health minister decided to once again quarantine New York.

The decision was taken at the PM House where parliamentary leaders of the political parties were also invited. In conclusion, it was decided that the government offices will be closed from next week while those who have not yet gotten their vaccination done will not get their salaries after 31st November.

Moreover, the government has decided that all the markets and malls in the province shall remain closed until the situation gets better. However, the pharmacies and the export industry shall remain open. It is me ______ (name of the reporter) with cameraman _____ (name of the cameraman), New York.

Anchor 1: Thank you for updating us, _____ (name of the reporter).

Related: How to Write a Summary of a Newspaper

Breaking News

writing news speech

Anchor 1: Viewers, we have got breaking news. Two workers have been killed at the site anonymously in Lahore. For detailed information, we have our reporter ____ (name of the reporter) with us.

_______ (name of the reporter), can you hear me?

Reporter 3: Yes, I can.

Anchor 1: Kindly tell us more about the incident.

Reporter 3: Early morning, when everybody at the site arrived, they found the dead bodies of two workers at a corner in the construction site. Until now nobody knows the whole scene of how they got there and what may have happened. So, the police are investigating at the site.

This is me _____ (name of the reporter) with cameraman _____ (name of the cameraman), Lahore.

Anchor 2: Thank you, ____ (name of the reporter). It is time for a short commercial break. Stay with us!

Anchor 2: Welcome back!

Entertainment News

Anchor 2: Vivo, the computer-animated musical comedy film, has earned all the attention of the public after its first trailer release. For further details, we have our reporter _____ (name of the reporter) with us. _____ (name of the reporter) kindly update our viewer.

Reporter 3: Vivo is a 2022 computer-animated musical comedy film by Sony Pictures Animation. The film is directed by Brandon Jeffords and it is based on the original idea by Peter Jack. The songs are written by Lin Maranda who is also voicing various characters in the film. The Vivo is Sony Pictures Animation’s first musical film.

It will be released on 24 December 2023 in theaters and on Netflix, and it is going to be released on 26 December 2022. After watching the first trailer, the public seemed to be very excited and looked forward to more clips from the film.

It is me _____ (name of the reporter) with cameraman ____ (name of the cameraman).

Sports News

writing news speech

Anchor 1: Australia wins the ICC’s Men T20 World Cup. For further details, we have our reporter _____ (name of the reporter). _____ (name of the reporter), kindly update our viewers.

Reporter 4: The semi-final of the T20 Men’s World Cup was held on November 10 between England and New Zealand in Abu Dhabi. And New Zealand won the semi-final over England. While on November 11, Australia played against Pakistan and made its way to the final.

Next, the final was held on 14 November in Dubai and Australia won the T20 world cup. This is me _____ (name of the reporter) with cameraman ____ (name of the cameraman).

Anchor 1: Thank you _____ (name of the reporter). It is time for a short break. Stay with us!

Comparing Script on Sports Day at School

Weather news.

writing news speech

Anchor 2: It is time for weather news . We have our reporter ______ (name of the reporter) at the studio. _________ (name of the reporter), kindly update our viewers about the weather.

Reporter 4: The weather in different cities of the country seems to be twin these days. Quetta’s weather is 6°C and mostly cloudy. Lahore too is 7°C and cloudy. People in New York are enjoying rain showers today at 12°C. However, New York is sunny at 15°C.

It is me _____ (name of the reporter) for weather news. Now back to the studio.

Anchor 1: That is it for today. For further information, you can check our website at www.xyz.com. Till next time, take care!

Recommended: Weather Forecast Report Sample Script in English

You may want to read more about:

  • Best News Casting Script for Reporters
  • Newscasting Opening and Closing Script Lines – Newspaper Script – Headline Writing
  • English Vocabularies and Phrases Related to Newscasting & Media
  • Newscasting Script for The Introduction
  • Basic Steps of News Writing | How to Produce Quality News Story

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Politics of language: jason stanley on speech as ‘hustle’.

Jason Stanley

Jason Stanley (Portrait by Mara Lavitt)

Since the publication of his 2018 bestseller, “How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them,” Yale’s Jason Stanley has become a familiar presence on radio and television news broadcasts. The Jacob Urowsky Professor of Philosophy in Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Stanley is often called upon to explain the ways in which political language is being weaponized, especially when it seems to be for authoritarian ends.

“ There are very few philosophers in the media — people are usually historians or economists or psychologists,” Stanley said. “But I think philosophy has something to add.”

Stanley’s new book, “ The Politics of Language ” (Princeton University Press), which he co-authored with David Beaver, a professor of linguistics and philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin, argues that all speech is imbued with meanings that go well beyond what is being plainly said. Words evoke certain emotions and images in listeners depending on their historical associations. And those associations can be manipulated by politicians and spinmeisters for persuasive and possibly deceptive purposes.

A scholarly work eight years in the writing, “The Politics of Language” lays the intellectual foundation for this particular framing of speech practices, and then applies that framework to analyze harmful speech types such as slurs, “dog whistles,” and genocidal messaging.

Stanley spoke to Yale News about sneaky speech, the political power of plausible deniability, and his new teaching appointment in Ukraine.  

The primary focus of your book is a type of speech you call “hustle.” What is hustle?

Jason Stanley: Hustle is when you intend and give one message, but wrapped inside that message, as it were, is a sort of secret, other message that is not straightforward to your audience — and sometimes, not even straightforward to you. Straight talk is when everything’s transparent. You know what I intend, I know what you intend, and that’s all that’s going on. Hustle is everything else.

In linguistics, we assume transparency. The model of communication we assume is, “I want salt,” and you say, “I have salt,” and I say, “Good, can I have your salt?” But actually, communication isn’t like that at all, right? We always come out of conversations wondering what was really meant. A central novel move in our book, especially for the formal areas of linguistics and philosophy of language in which we work, is that we base our analysis of speech on speech practices  and use these practices to elucidate speech that is not transparent. A lot of hustle is based on the properties of the speech practices in which words are embedded — their histories of use. I think that everyone outside of the disciplines of linguistics and analytic philosophy of language is aware that we hustle, and many people outside of these disciplines recognize the importance of speech practices. But we are trying to ground these facts in a detailed and foundational way.

My 2015 book, “ How Propaganda Works ,” was an attempt to use the standard tools of philosophy of language and linguistics to model propaganda. These tools just didn’t work. They also don’t work for more ordinary phenomena, such as slurs. That led me to enlist the support of the great linguist David Beaver to come up with new foundations for the theory of meaning that would be adequate to this task. To do so, we had to bridge multiple disciplines.

Stanley: Speech can be used in devious ways, and there are tests you can use to show this. One test is plausible deniability. If I say, “I met Sally at the mathematics conference,” I cannot add, “and I never met Sally.” That’s an obvious contradiction. Now, suppose that a politician says, “There is rampant corruption in inner cities.” The politician is engaging in racist messaging, using a dog whistle — in this case, the term “inner cities.” They are suggesting that the voting practices of Black voters are corrupted. But they can deny, without obvious contradiction, that they intended to convey a racist message. The tools of our disciplines have a hard time explaining this.

Another example is emotion. Some expressions are associated with negative emotions, like disgust. Politicians even try to imbue certain words with disgust. The scholar Moira Weigel has argued that this is going on now with the term “Marxist .” Other words encourage violence towards things described that way, such as describing immigrants as “vermin.” Ordinary tools in our discipline are not adequate to explain these phenomena, which is why you haven’t seen many analytic philosophers of language or linguists on TV in the past few years. If you recognize the embeddedness of speech in living practices, you can easily explain all of this.

This non-transparency of speech practices makes all speech “political” then?  

Stanley: Each word is part of a speech practice and has a history. And when you use a given word, you’re evoking that history in peoples’ minds. If you use the word “professor,” a whole bunch of images come to mind. And they’re involuntary. If you use the word “doggy,” one set of images comes to mind. If you use the word “canine,” those same images don’t come to mind. Words have these histories and the words we use consciously and unconsciously evoke those histories. So when we speak one way, rather than another, we’re evoking different histories. It’s a fiction to think we can speak without a history. In much theorizing in our disciplines we have employed this fiction as an idealization, and it has shielded from us a lot of the interest of speech.

Politicians use language very deliberately to evoke certain images. How does repetition of language function in political speak and propaganda?

Stanley: It sort of embeds the propaganda in your head. If Republicans keep repeating CRT [for critical race theory] or DEI [for diversity, equity, and inclusion], and they associate them with a kind of negative feeling, then after a while, the listeners don’t even think about what they mean. They just know they don’t like them. The content becomes irrelevant. Consider how Trump adds those adjectives before nouns, like “crooked Hillary” or “little Marco Rubio.” It’s a very effective thing, right? Or take pro-life versus pro-choice. Who’s against life? Who’s against choice? That’s a different way of coding.

One of your chapters focuses on “harmful speech,” including a discussion of genocidal speech. You offer as a prime example Russia’s justification for its invasion of Ukraine. Would you talk about that?

Stanley: It’s impossible to deny that Russia is appealing to genocidal narratives. When you represent other people as an existential threat to you, that you need to eradicate them or you will be eradicated, that’s genocidal and has been genocidal since the time of Cleon. Putin says Ukrainian identity is fake, and that all it means is “anti-Russia.” There’s no other content to Ukrainian identity other than, “we hate Russians.” And so you must extinguish Ukrainian identity.

What’s distinct about what’s happening in the Ukraine war is that the Russians think the Ukrainians really are Russian but have adopted this anti-Russian identity and a fake language.

You have a close connection with Ukraine, don’t you?

Stanley: I was there in August teaching a two-week course on colonialism and fascism to 300 Ukrainians. And I just accepted a permanent visiting position in Kyiv, so I’ll be going back this summer for two weeks. I’m an anti-fascist, and that is a very clear case of a fascist country attacking a democracy, so I felt I had to be involved. I’m donating my salary to Come Back Alive, an organization that purchases equipment for the Ukrainian armed forces.

Is the timing of this book especially meaningful given all that’s happening politically in the world?

Stanley: Liberal democracy involves this idea that we’re trading arguments to figure out the best outcome for all of us. But that’s not what’s going on in politics now. To understand this authoritarian moment here and across the world, this attack on democracy, it’s also a linguistic attack. It’s emphasizing the uses of speech that are sneaky, that are hustle.

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South Carolina bans inmates from in-person interviews. A lawsuit wants to change that

FILE - A guard tower stands above the Lee Correctional Institution, a maximum security prison in Bishopville, S.C. A South Carolina prison policy banning inmates from speaking to reporters in person or having their writings directly published violates the First Amendment free speech rights of prisoners, a civil rights organization said in a federal lawsuit Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford, File)

FILE - A guard tower stands above the Lee Correctional Institution, a maximum security prison in Bishopville, S.C. A South Carolina prison policy banning inmates from speaking to reporters in person or having their writings directly published violates the First Amendment free speech rights of prisoners, a civil rights organization said in a federal lawsuit Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford, File)

FILE - Inmates work on making uniforms at Lee Correctional Institution on, April 10, 2019, in Bishopville, S.C A South Carolina prison policy banning inmates from speaking to reporters in person or having their writings directly published violates the First Amendment free speech rights of prisoners, a civil rights organization said in a federal lawsuit Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard, File)

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina prison policy banning inmates from speaking to reporters in person or having their writings directly published violates the First Amendment free speech rights of prisoners, a civil rights organization said in a federal lawsuit Thursday.

While prisons across the county place some restrictions on in-person media interviews with inmates — such as when they take place, how long they can last and whether an inmate has to initiate the interview request — the South Carolina Department of Corrections blanket ban stands out, the American Civil Liberties Union said in a statement.

“It operates to insulate SCDC from real public accountability and to suppress the public’s knowledge about the violence committed against prisoners — wrongs that are committed in the public’s own name,” said Allen Chaney, legal director for the ACLU of South Carolina.

A spokeswoman for the state’s prisons said the policy in place for decades protects the rights of the victims of the crimes that sent the inmates to prison in the first place, and helps prison employees maintain strict control over inmate communications which, without limits, can threaten security and safety.

This combo photo shows Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, left, in Greenwood, S.C., and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump in Conway, S.C., on Feb. 10, 2024. (AP Photo, File)

“This doesn’t mean that inmates are completely cut off from the outside world, as there are usually controlled methods of communication, such as monitored phone calls or written correspondence, that allow inmates access to the media while minimizing security risks,” Corrections Department spokeswoman Chrysti Shain said in a statement.

The ACLU’s lawsuit also targets the prisons ban that prohibits inmates from directly publishing their own words, though they can be quoted in part or summarized in a publication.

The civil rights organization said Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous Letter from Birmingham Jail justifying civil disobedience against unjust laws or the four New Testament books of the Bible written when the Apostle Paul was imprisoned in Rome nearly 2,000 years ago couldn’t be published under the South Carolina rules.

The lawsuit mentions two inmates being represented by the ACLU who want to tell their stories in person or firsthand, but can’t. One is a transgender woman who killed her mother when she was 13, was diagnosed behind bars with gender dysphoria and is suing the state prison system over denial of care.

The second is death row inmate Marion Bowman, convicted of killing a woman and burning her body in a car trunk. Bowman wants to tell his story as he prepares to ask the governor for clemency, the ACLU said.

“A blog post... about how great a loss it would be if South Carolina kills Marion Bowman is no substitute for the public hearing Marion’s own voice, his own laugh, his own anguish,” the ACLU’s lawsuit said.

The civil rights group plans to ask a federal judge to immediately suspend the ban until the lawsuit can be fully heard.

South Carolina prison officials said earlier lawsuits over inmate’s free speech rights have made it to the U.S. Supreme Court, which found restrictions are OK if they aren’t based on the content of the speech and if all avenues of communications aren’t cut off.

South Carolina inmates can write to anyone, including reporters, and inmates that can’t afford stamps or stationary can get them, Shain said.

She also said The Post and Courier newspaper in Charleston wrote to more than 400 inmates and got letters back from at least 100 as it reported on a 2018 prison riot at the Lee Correctional Institution, where seven inmates were killed.

Inmates can also approve reporters to be on their telephone lists as long as their own words aren’t recorded and rebroadcast. The Associated Press interviewed one of two inmates who killed four fellow prisoners in 2017 in this way.

Alex Murdaugh, the former lawyer serving two life sentences for killing his wife and son got in trouble because his recorded phone call with his lawyer was played as part of a documentary.

Officials do allow cameras inside prisons for tours or specific programs and have allowed interviews with inmates during those visits, but only if faces are not shown and just first names are used.

JEFFREY COLLINS

Trump world considers having the former president deliver the official GOP State of the Union response

Donald Trump speaks during a press conference

WASHINGTON — Aides and allies close to former President Trump have discussed the former president giving the official Republican response to President Joe Biden’s March 7 State of the Union address, according to five people familiar with the talks.

Two of the sources said that Trump himself has discussed it, but both said he is leaning against the high-profile gig. 

The decision on who will deliver the response rests with Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

A source familiar with the planning of the State of the Union address said there has been no outreach by the Trump campaign to those planning the GOP rebuttal.

Johnson and McConnell’s offices declined to comment. 

“There are no plans at this time” for him to deliver the Republican response, one senior Trump aide said on the condition of anonymity because discussions on the topic have been private. 

There’s no question the slot would solidify the public impression that Trump has locked down his party’s nomination. And it would give the former president valuable prime-time network coverage of a live speech that has been harder for him to come by in his third bid for the Oval Office. 

But the risks are significant, and could outweigh the potential benefits.

“It just didn’t make any sense to me, and that’s what I told him,” said one Republican lawmaker. “I genuinely got the sense there was not a lot of interest there to begin with.”

Nothing smacks of Washington politics more than the official out-of-power party response to the State of the Union. That’s at odds with Trump’s message that, as much as he understands the nature of politics in the nation’s capital, he is not a creature of what he calls “The Swamp.”

Moreover, it has been hard for past speakers to match the pomp and energy of the State of the Union, where the president ascends the rostrum in the front of the House chamber and addresses lawmakers in both parties, Cabinet officials and members of the Supreme Court about the status of the nation. If Trump wants to go head-to-head with Biden, he could hardly pick turf that’s more of a home game for the sitting president.

“When was the last time a rebuttal went well?” a former Trump White House official said, pointing to the stumbles by then-Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal in 2009 and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. , in 2013 as cautionary tales. “There’s a long history of these things being flops.”

As governor of South Carolina in 2016, Nikki Haley raised eyebrows in her own party by attacking the “angriest voices” in the GOP — a dig at Trump, in particular — during her turn as the Republican counterpoint to then-President Barack Obama. Haley would go on to serve as Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, but she has failed to gain traction in her bid to take the nomination from him this year.

But at least one Trump ally on Capitol Hill said she would love to see Trump deliver the GOP response.

“Of course President Trump should do it,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., told NBC News on Thursday, though she added that she hasn’t heard about any such plans.

Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller, the only member of the president’s team to speak on the record about the topic, said there’s no substance to chatter about Trump becoming the first former president to deliver an official response.

“This is complete bulls---, and proves the fake news will literally run anything based on their own imaginations,” Miller said.

Last year, Trump recorded a video response to Biden’s speech, issuing attacks on the president and his party in what he called “ the real state of the union .” 

The force of Trump’s dominance in the Republican primary will be on full display in Washington the night before the State of the Union, when more than 100 GOP lawmakers will co-host a fundraising event. An invitation to the gala lists Donald Trump Jr. as the featured guest, and it’s not clear yet whether the elder Trump will appear in person.

writing news speech

Kristen Welker is the moderator of "Meet the Press".

writing news speech

Jonathan Allen is a senior national politics reporter for NBC News, based in Washington.

writing news speech

Carol E. Lee is the Washington managing editor.

Matt Dixon is a senior national politics reporter for NBC News, based in Florida.

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Michael Glennon sits in a library

“The remedy for falsehoods is more speech, not enforced silence,” says Michael Glennon, professor of constitutional and international law at The Fletcher School. Photo: Pierre Chiha

An Argument for Free Speech, the “Lifeblood of Democracy”

A Fletcher professor makes the case against censorship in a provocative new book

Free speech is the heart of democracy. But who decides what speech should be free?

Michael Glennon , professor of constitutional and international law at The Fletcher School, has been troubled by a growing trend to censor speech, from college campuses to social media to the halls of government itself. In a provocative new book, Free Speech and Turbulent Freedom: The Dangerous Allure of Censorship in the Digital Era , he argues that such bans—while often well-meaning—are almost always counterproductive, creating more problems than they solve.

The book’s sweeping argument runs from 19th-century Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., who set the foundations of First Amendment law, all the way to the most recent social media controversies.

Glennon spoke with Tufts Now about the importance of free speech and why he believes a “marketplace of ideas” is the best antidote to tyranny.

In your introduction, you describe the change you’ve observed in students over the last few years when it comes to free speech. How did that inspire you to write this book?

Students’ attitudes toward free speech have changed dramatically. Nationwide, over half of college students believe that schools shouldn’t allow a speaker on campus who has previously expressed ideas they intensely dislike, and over 30 percent believe it’s acceptable to drown out speakers to prevent them from speaking.

Many of these students think that suppressing free speech is somehow necessary to preserve democracy. I wrote the book to suggest that this view is profoundly and dangerously mistaken.

Freedom of speech is the lifeblood of democracy. They both rest on the same premise: that people are able to sort out for themselves what’s true and what’s false, and that it’s for individuals, not the government, to judge what’s in their own best interests.

“Censorship inevitably backfires... Censorship alienates the public, generates distrust, fosters social division, and sparks political instability.” Michael Glennon Share on Twitter

You devote the first part of the book to Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. and his journey into skepticism about universal morality. To whom is that relevant today?

Many of today’s students have a keen thirst for social justice, which I admire. When Holmes was their age, he shared that thirst, dropping out of college to enlist in the Union Army in a war against slavery, in which he was nearly killed several times.

He became very skeptical of people who believe they have unique access to universal, absolute truth, who view their adversaries as evil incarnate. That, he believed, leads ultimately to violence.

All of us today need to approach public debate with a bit of humility, recognizing that none of us is infallible and that rigid moral certitude leads down a dangerous path.

You argue that government censorship is wrong and even counterproductive. What are some of the reasons?

We know from centuries of experience, in many countries, that censorship inevitably backfires. It discredits the censors, who are seen as patronizing elites. It demeans listeners who are told they can’t handle the truth. It makes martyrs and heroes out of the censored and drives their speech underground where it’s harder to rebut.

Suffragettes, civil rights leaders, and LGBTQ+ activists all have relied on free speech to get their messages out. Censorship alienates the public, generates distrust, fosters social division, and sparks political instability.

It’s not that some speech isn’t harmful—it’s that trying to suppress it causes greater harm.

Many people would probably be surprised to learn that hate speech such as marching with Nazi paraphernalia or burning a cross at a demonstration deriding Black and Jewish people is protected under the First Amendment. Why is it protected?

Not all hateful speech is protected. Incitement to violence, fighting words, defamation, and true threats are all often hateful yet that speech is not protected. But other hateful speech is protected, for several reasons.

Hatred is a viewpoint. It’s for the individual to think and feel as he or she wishes; it’s only when the individual crosses the line between thought and action to incite violence or defame or threaten someone that the state can intervene.

Hate speech laws are also invariably vague and overbroad, leading to arbitrary and abusive enforcement. In the real world, speech rarely gets punished because it hurts dominant majorities. It gets punished because it hurts disadvantaged minorities.

Many Americans feel it is OK to ban clearly false information online, but you argue that would be a bad idea. Why?

The ultimate problem with banning falsehoods is that to do so you’d need an official Ministry of Truth, which could come up with an endless list of officially banned falsehoods. Not only would that list inevitably be self-serving, but it could be wrong.

Even when it comes to clear falsehoods, there are reasons to leave them up. [Former President Donald] Trump claimed, for example, that the size of the crowd at his inauguration was larger than [former President Barack] Obama’s, which was indisputably false. But the statement had the effect of calling into question not only Trump’s veracity but also his mental soundness, which is important for voters to assess.

You say after Trump’s participation in the January 6 uprising, social media platforms banned him for the wrong reasons. What do you mean?

They were wrong to apply a norm of international human rights law in banning him—a supposed prohibition against “glorifying violence.” That’s a vague, overly broad standard that can pick up everything from praising Medal of Honor winners to producing Top Gun .

We’re dealing here with an American president speaking from the White House to the American people, so I say the proper standard should have been the U.S. First Amendment and whether Trump intended to incite imminent violence and whether that violence was likely. Under that test, I think it’s a close case.

What was wrong with the way the government tried to curb “misinformation” about COVID-19?

Justice Louis Brandeis [who served on the Supreme Court from 1916 to 1939] said that the fitting remedy for evil counsels is good ones.

If someone counsels drinking bleach to cure COVID, the remedy is not to suppress it—it’s to point out why that’s wrong. But over and over, the government’s remedy for speech it didn’t like was to strongarm social media platforms to take it down.

The government wouldn’t have lost so much credibility if it had only said, “This is our best guess based on available evidence.” Instead, it spoke ex cathedra on masks, lockdowns, school closings, vaccine efficacy, infection rates, myocarditis, social distancing, you name it—claims that often turned out to be untenable—and then it bullied the platforms to censor prominent experts who took issue with its misinformation.

Many commentators are worried about disinformation and AI-generated “deep fakes” affecting the outcome of the 2024 election. What’s the best remedy for that?

The remedy for falsehoods is more speech, not enforced silence. If someone thinks a social media post contains altered imagery or audio, the initial solution is simply to say that and let the marketplace of ideas sort it out.  

Obviously counter-speech isn’t always the answer: You still run into eleventh-hour deep fakes that there’s no time to rebut. People do have privacy rights and interference with elections undercuts democracy.

The trick is to write legislation that catches malign fakery but doesn’t also pick up satire and humor that is obviously bogus. That’s not easy. Well-intended but sloppy laws often trigger serious unintended consequences.

Michael Glennon in his office in 2014

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COMMENTS

  1. How to Write a Good Speech: 10 Steps and Tips

    September 7, 2023 - 27 min read Share this article Jump to section What is good speech writing? What makes a good speech? The main elements of a good speech How to structure a good speech How to write a good speech Tools for writing a great speech 5 tips for writing a speech How to ghostwrite a great speech for someone else

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  3. Writing the Speech/News Conference Story

    This presentation helps journalism students organize a speech or news conference story. It was created by Professor Linda Austin to help her introductory reporting and journalism ethics students at the National Management College in Yangon, Burma.

  4. How to write broadcast news stories

    Keep it simple: Allot a sentence to each idea. Be clear and concise, stick to the story and don't try too hard to be "clever." Too much detail can become irrelevant and make the story lose focus. Avoid most multiple-syllable words, words that are tough to pronounce and long, convoluted sentences. "Treasure small words," Dillon says.

  5. Here's How to Write a Perfect Speech

    1 Tips to write (and live) by Let's start with the 30,000 foot, big-picture view. These are the tenets that will guide you in your speech writing process (and pretty much anything else you want to write). Know the purpose: What are you trying to accomplish with your speech? Educate, inspire, entertain, argue a point?

  6. How to Write a News Article

    Write with Grammarly What is a news article? A news article is a writing format that provides concise and factual information to a reader. News stories typically report on current affairs that are noteworthy—including legislation, announcements, education, discoveries or research, election results, public health, sports, and the arts.

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    1. Stay consistent with news values. The first thing you should do before starting a piece of news writing is consider how the topic fits in with the 6 key news values. These values help journalists determine how newsworthy a story is, as well as which information should be included in the lede and article as a whole.

  8. How to Write a News Story: Structure and Example

    21.06.2022 How to write ... The news story refers to the journalistic writing style that is used in the mass media: television, the Internet, newspapers, magazines, and radio. Table of Contents What Is a News Story Features of the News Story Example of News Story Main Functions of News How to Write A New Story: The Structure and Method of Writing

  9. Journalism Education: How To Cover Speeches

    Research the topic and speaker. Ask the organizers for a speaker's bio or look him up on the Web ahead of time. Get background info on the topic, look at articles previously written on it. And see if you can either get a copy of the speech ahead of time or at least talk to the speaker in advance to get a feel for what the speech will cover.

  10. Tips for Writing a News Script for TV News

    Updated on 12/23/18 Writing a TV news script is a lot harder than you might think. Even those skilled in journalism struggle if they have to turn a story meant to be read into a tight script that needs to be heard. However, you can perfect your TV news writing style if you learn the basics. Be Sure to Write for the Ear

  11. How to Write a News Article: 14 Steps (with Pictures)

    1 Research your topic. To begin writing a news article, you need to research the topic you will be writing about extensively. In order to have a credible, well written, well-structured article, you have to know the topic well. If you've ever written a research paper you understand the work that goes into learning about your topic.

  12. The Best Way for a Reporter to Cover a Speech

    Write Background Copy Ahead of Time. Having done your pre-speech reporting, you can bang out some background copy for your story even before the speech begins. This is especially helpful if you'll be writing on a tight deadline. Background material, which typically goes at the bottom of your story, includes the kind of information you ...

  13. How to Write a News Story on a Speech

    1 Do your homework Before you go to cover the speech, you must do your homework. Try to accumulate as much information as you can about the topic of the speech and the person who is going to deliver it. You should go through the background of the speaker and the reason for the speech.

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    2.06K subscribers Subscribe Subscribed 5.2K views 3 years ago A speech news is a fact news story that focuses on what was said by a person in authority. Although it may not have a direct...

  15. How to Write an Effective News Article

    Use the active voice —not passive voice —when possible, and write in clear, short, direct sentences. In a news article, you should use the inverted pyramid format—putting the most critical information in the early paragraphs and following with supporting information. This ensures that the reader sees the important details first.

  16. Speech Writing Format, Samples, Examples

    Speech writing is the art of using proper grammar and expression to convey a thought or message to a reader. Speech writing isn't all that distinct from other types of narrative writing. However, students should be aware of certain distinct punctuation and writing style techniques.

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    Lesson 13 Writing news reports Journalist training school background: Reporters should aim to write news reports that are truthful, fair, balanced and interesting. They must use the evidence that they have collected during interviews and within their research. They also have to meet their deadline! Download this lesson plan NewsWise values

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    This publication on news writing television and radio is the fourth of a five-part series on news media writing. This series also covers an introduction to news media writing, news writing for print, grammar and punctuation, and interviews for news stories. Minor revision by Ricky Telg and Lisa Lundy. Published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication. 4pp.

  19. Newscasting Opening and Closing Script Lines

    Opening 01. Good evening, and welcome to the news hour on………………news. I'm [Your Name], bringing you the latest updates from around the world. In a world inundated with information, we strive to sift through the noise to bring you the most relevant and reliable news. Stay tuned for the top stories that matter. Opening 02.

  20. 10 News Writing Exercises for Journalism Students

    Shooting Follow-Up No. 1. Hill Street Studios/Getty Images. You're back at the Centerville Gazette on the day after the shooting outside the Fandango Bar & Grill on Wilson Street in the Grungeville section of town. You phone the cops to see if they have anything new on the case. Lt. Jane Ortlieb tells you that early this morning they arrested ...

  21. Writing the News: Different Formats and Their Functions

    Newspapers include multiple forms of writing, including news coverage articles, editorials and editorial cartoons, sports writing, Op-Ed commentaries, and photographs. Each type of writing has a specific style and serves a particular function. Activities explore the work of Jackie Ormes, Dale Messick and other pioneering women cartoonists and animators and examine the roles of war ...

  22. News Broadcast Script Sample for students

    Anchor 1: Good evening! It is me ______ (name of the first anchor). Anchor 2: And it is me _______ (name of the second anchor) and you are watching ______ (name of the news channel). Let us have a glance at the headlines first. News Headlines Anchor 1: The capital of Afghanistan is in danger of falling to the Taliban.

  23. Politics of Language: Jason Stanley on speech as 'hustle'

    A scholarly work eight years in the writing, "The Politics of Language" lays the intellectual foundation for this particular framing of speech practices, and then applies that framework to analyze harmful speech types such as slurs, "dog whistles," and genocidal messaging. ... Stanley spoke to Yale News about sneaky speech, the ...

  24. South Carolina bans inmates from in-person ...

    2 of 2 | . FILE - Inmates work on making uniforms at Lee Correctional Institution on, April 10, 2019, in Bishopville, S.C A South Carolina prison policy banning inmates from speaking to reporters in person or having their writings directly published violates the First Amendment free speech rights of prisoners, a civil rights organization said in a federal lawsuit Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024.

  25. As Biden's memory issues draw attention, neurologists weigh in

    Feb. 10, 2024, 9:33 AM PST. By Akshay Syal, M.D. and Ghael Fobes. Since a report released on Thursday by special counsel Robert Hur described President Joe Biden as an "elderly man with a poor ...

  26. Trump world considers having the former president deliver ...

    Aides and allies close to Trump have discussed the former president giving the official Republican response to President Joe Biden's March 7 State of the Union address, according to five people ...

  27. An Argument for Free Speech, the "Lifeblood of Democracy"

    The book's sweeping argument runs from 19th-century Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., who set the foundations of First Amendment law, all the way to the most recent social media controversies. Glennon spoke with Tufts Now about the importance of free speech and why he believes a "marketplace of ideas" is the best antidote ...

  28. OpenAI introduces AI model that turns text into video

    Feb 15 (Reuters) - Microsoft-backed OpenAI is working on a software that can generate minute-long videos based on text prompts, the company said on Thursday. The software, called Sora, is ...

  29. Israel Summons Brazil Ambassador After Lula's Comments on Gaza

    Israel summoned Brazil's ambassador for a reprimand after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva compared its war on Hamas with Adolf Hitler's extermination of Jews during the Holocaust.