News+Reporting

One of the first types of articles you might write for //The International// or T//he Student News Action Network// is a news report.

The parts of a news report :

1. Lead: includes 5 W's (look at the websites at the bottom to learn how to write good leads) 2. Focus on a topic of interest in the news 3. Throughout the article, focus on HOW and WHY 4. Use quotes to support your argument, and make sure to cite them properly. 5. "Round of your article" in the conclusion. "Try ending with a quote or a catchy phrase!"

Lead should be a sentence, condensing the important facts of the article in a nutshell. Should be less than 35 words. Never start the intro with a quote, it is confusing for readers since they still have no idea about the context of the quote. The intro is the most important sentence in the story so you should take time to get it right.

When writing, put yourself into the reader's shoes. -Always ask "So what?" -Why does your story matter to your reader? -Why should they read it?

The more you write the better you get.

EXAMPLES: China plans to buy more than 2,500 commercial aircraft from 2011 to 2015, bringing the country's total fleet size to more than 4,500 jets, Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday, citing the country's top aviation regulator.

Iran signaled a willingness on Tuesday to allow potentially intrusive international inspections of secret military facilities, raising expectations that it was searching for a diplomatic solution to the standoff over its nuclear program.

Write for College notes:
 * Developing Strong Paragraphs: pg 97-108
 * Report Writing: pg 164-181

Examples of news reports:
 * //2012 June Edition://**

//**TEDxYouth Tokyo**// //**The young and the bright assemble at T.I.S to empower and educate**// //**by Sanskriti xxxxx (12) & Kaoru xxxxx (12)**// //On November 20, 2011 over 300 young individuals, from 18 international and Japanese secondary schools and universities, gathered at the Tokyo International School (TIS). This event became a place for students to become more aware of ideas that will further connect the world and its inhabitants.// //The TED (Technology Entertainment and Design) Conference began in 1984, formed to share “ideas worth spreading.” First organized by TIS founder, Patrick Newell, and long-time TED supporter, Todd Porter, the TEDxYouth event in Tokyo became a gathering of young individuals, all in support of a more vocal and active community.// //From the lighting and telecasting, to the details of the speeches, a group of seventeen students, accommodated by three mentors, organized this event. From social issues such as the importance of teamwork to ecological problems such as saving endangered species, the TEDxYouth Tokyo Conference gave a chance for twenty-two innovative and articulate students and instructors to speak out and be heard in front of a diverse audience. Patrick Newell, founder of TIS said, “TEDx Youth Day at Tokyo was one of the ten most innovative student-organized events in the world!”// //After attending his first TED event six years ago, Newell was “blown away” by the whole concept. “This is crazy--all these intelligent, change-makers coming together from around the world for five days”. Newell said that he wanted to change the “e” in TED from entertainment to education, and as time passed he made this happen. When Patrick was first introduced to TED in 2005, it only had five events planned for the whole year. However, six years later, in 2011, growing activism and enthusiasm of innovative individuals led to over 800 TEDx events worldwide in cities such as Tokyo, London, Hong Kong, and Seoul.// //Organized by only 20 people, 17 of whom were students, the event was hosted by Maya xxxxx (11), Juna xxxx (11), and Monica xxxxx (11), with Patrick Newell and Jason Wolfe mentoring the event. Maya xxxxx (11) says: “I really enjoyed meeting with a wide variety of students who all shared the same revolutionary mentality and confidence as I do.”// //Tokyo’s TEDx event involved performances from a variety of youth, including a 13-year old student from Yokota Middle School, Riley xxxxxxx, who made a speech on “Roots and Shoots.” Following this speech, was a presentation on bullying by a Burmese refugee, Su Let Yee, and a presentation on team building from an ASIJ cheerleader, Jiyoo xxx.// //Activists also presented on current issues such as nuclear energy and the preservation of the Ainu civilization. Motivating professionals, such as John Daub who independently created a company named, “Weblish” which teaches English via video production, also spoke to the youths regarding innovation and the importance of hard work. In addition to the multitude of speeches, there were also instrumental performances. Upon the conclusion of the day, Newell and Wolfe both agreed that the event was “truly a site where the youth empowered youth.”//

//**A Broken Promise**// //**Occupy Wall Street cries out for equality**// //**by Momo xxxxxxx (12)**// //On September 17, 2011, lower Manhattan was overrun by a powerful flood. With waves of protesters infiltrating New York City, thus began a widely publicized protest, later to be known as Occupy Wall Street.// //The objective of OWS is to peacefully protest against social and economic inequality, high unemployment, greed, and corporate corruption, seen particularly in the U.S. financial sector. Initiated by the Canadian activist group AdBusters, the protest began at Liberty Square in Manhattan’s Financial District, with the activists marching up Wall Street, flashing their slogan “We are the 99%” in the heart of America’s wealth.// //“People are unhappy,” says Ms. Mary Saso, the economics teacher at ISSH. “The promises made by the American government were essentially broken.” Indeed, the young and promising new president elected back in 2008 proposed a hopeful vision of economic improvement under a big, shiny slogan calling for “Progress.”// //Up to 3 million jobs were to be created with President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus package; and yet, many young protesters resorted to action because of the vicious cycle of structural unemployment. College graduates are mourning their seemingly wasted education; they are out of jobs because they are either too educated, or lacking experience.// //The American economy has been faced with a number of chilling statistics since the global financial crisis back in 2009. Although in December 2011 the unemployment rate fell to 8.5%, the fact that the number has hit the lowest mark in the last three years is hardly good news. Currently 15% of the population live below the poverty line, the highest percentage in the last 52 years; and an average American makes only 11% more than in 1980, while consumer prices have risen by about 150%. Now is the time to face the consequences.// //Since its kickstart, OWS has offered many memorable scenes and acts of protest. A figure that has essentially become the “face” of OWS is Guy Fawkes. Commonly recognized as the mask donned by the freedom fighting protagonist V in “V for Vendetta”, his face has become the accessory of choice in the crowds of encamped activists.// //Like Fawkes, the united force of equality-seeking working class citizens raised an agenda that has become too big of an issue for politicians to ignore. “With an election ahead, politicians must address income inequality,” says Saso. “Although the voice of OWS is not officially represented as a political party like the Tea Party, the dissatisfaction of the voters has been made clear.”//

Advice on writing news reports from on-line sources:
 * http://www.squidoo.com/newspaper-article
 * http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/735/05/
 * http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.children_teenagers/vhc_how_newspaper.htm