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Dynamics of News Reporting and Writing
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Dynamics of News Reporting and Writing
Foundational Skills for a Digital Age

Second Edition


January 2021 | 392 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
Dynamics of News Reporting and Writing: Foundational Skills for a Digital Age shows students how to approach their stories and think on their feet in the evolving media landscape. Recognizing that well-crafted stories are founded on sharp prose, author Vincent F. Filak covers more foundational elements of a newswriting textbook, like lead writing, structure, and storytelling, while also teaching students how to think critically and determine what matters most to their readers. The Second Edition includes even more writing and grammar exercises, discussions of social media and digital media advancements, and additional career-related examples to help students succeed upon entering the field.   


 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
Chapter 1: Audience-Centric Journalism
Thinking Ahead: Understand Your Audience

 
Media and Media Users Today

 
Defining Your Audience

 
The Rise and Impact of the “Fake News” Phenomenon

 
What Do We Owe Our Audience?

 
What Attracts an Audience?

 
The Big Three

 
Best of the Blog

 
 
Chapter 2: Critical Thinking
Thinking Ahead: How to Fully “Get” a Story

 
How Do We Think?

 
The Requirements of Critical Thought

 
How to Approach a Story as a Critical Thinker

 
How to Think Your Way Past Fake News

 
Critical Thought and the Value of Your Questions

 
The Big Three

 
Best of the Blog

 
 
Chapter 3: Basics of Writing
Thinking Ahead: Writing for a Newsreader

 
A Quick Look at Types of Leads

 
Identifying Problematic Leads and Finding Potential Fixes

 
The Inverted Pyramid: Ordering Information After the Lead

 
Quotes: Letting Your Sources Tell the Story

 
Attributing Your Information

 
The Big Three

 
Best of the Blog

 
 
Chapter 4: Expanded News Writing
Thinking Ahead: Learning to Break the Rules of Writing

 
Expanding the Inverted Pyramid

 
Writing With a Narrative Feel

 
Nonlinear Storytelling

 
The Big Three

 
Best of the Blog

 
 
Chapter 5: Social Media
Thinking Ahead: Rethinking How to Reach Readers

 
What Is Social Media?

 
Value of Social Media

 
Social Media Tools for Your Toolbox

 
Blogging

 
The Big Three

 
Best of the Blog

 
 
Chapter 6: Interviewing
Thinking Ahead: Avoiding the Awkwardness While Speaking to Others

 
Critically Thinking About Interviewing’s Purpose

 
Understanding the Interviewing Basics

 
Types of Interviews

 
Other Purposes for Interviews

 
The Big Three

 
Best of the Blog

 
 
Chapter 7: Basic Reporting: News That Finds You
Thinking Ahead: Getting Ready to Hit the Field

 
Reporting Basics

 
Event Coverage

 
Basic Tips for All Event Stories

 
Stories Beyond Standard Events

 
The Big Three

 
Best of the Blog

 
 
Chapter 8: Beyond Basic Reporting: News You Have to Find
Thinking Ahead: How to Find Bigger Stories That Matter

 
The News Feature: How to Find Stories in Everyday Life

 
Beat Reporting

 
Drone Journalism

 
Personality Profiles

 
Working as a Watchdog

 
The Big Three

 
Best of the Blog

 
 
Chapter 9: Broadcast-Style Writing and Voicing
Thinking Ahead: Writing Scripts and Building Stories

 
Broadcast Style: Different, Yet the Same

 
Script Writing 101

 
The Basic Elements of Broadcast Structure

 
Story Types and Formats

 
The Big Three

 
Best of the Blog

 
 
Chapter 10: Collecting Audio and Visuals in the Field
Thinking Ahead: How to Get Enough Material to Build a Good Story

 
Tools of the Trade

 
Types of Material You Gather

 
Capturing Vivid Visuals

 
Making Your Video Valuable

 
The Big Three

 
Best of the Blog

 
 
Chapter 11: Editing Audio and Video
Thinking Ahead: Editing Your Raw Material Into a Polished Gem

 
Audio Bites Online

 
Video Bites Online

 
Pairing Script and Video

 
Building a Story From Start to Finish

 
The Big Three

 
Best of the Blog

 
 
Chapter 12: Law and the Media
Thinking Ahead: The Law Is Your Friend

 
Understanding the First Amendment

 
Law Across Media Platforms: Levels of Protection

 
Reporter’s Privilege

 
Let the Sunshine In: Rules for Transparency and Access

 
Rules for Recording

 
The Basics of Libel

 
Defenses Against Libel

 
Invasion of Privacy

 
The Big Three

 
Best of the Blog

 
 
Chapter 13: Ethics
Thinking Ahead: Just Because You Can, It Doesn’t Mean You Should

 
Why Ethics Matter

 
Basic Approaches to Ethics

 
Tenets of Journalistic Ethics

 
The Big Three

 
Best of the Blog

 
 
Appendix A: Using FOCII to Build Your Leads
 
Appendix B: Résumés, Cover Letters and More
 
Appendix C: A Deeper Dig Into FOIA and State Public Records Laws
 
Appendix D: Step-by-Step Editing Processes for Final Cut and Premiere
 
Appendix E: Freelancing 101 (and Beyond)
 
Glossary
 
Notes
 
Index

Supplements

Instructor Site
edge.sagepub.com/filaknews2e

Online resources included with this text

The online resources for your text are available via the password-protected Instructor Resource Site, which offers access to all text-specific resources, including a test bank, editable, chapter-specific PowerPoint® slides, news writing exercises, and sample syllabi.
Student Study Site
edge.sagepub.com/filaknews2e
 
The open-access Student Study Site makes it easy for students to maximize their study time, anywhere, anytime. It offers flashcards, AP Style quizzes, and learning objectives that reinforce the most important material.
 
For additional information, custom options, or to request a personalized walkthrough of these resources, please contact your sales representative.

Text is very approachable for students and has up-to-date examples. Highly recommend.

Ms Shailin Alisha Kennedy
Communication Studies, College Of The Sequoias
March 17, 2022

Chose different approach for the class -- and Filak's other book, Media Writing, with its broader focus including PR and Broadcast rather than just Journalism.

Dr Jennifer Rauch
Journalism Dept, Long Island University
November 18, 2022
Key features

NEW TO THIS EDITION:

  • New Best of the Blog features showcase the author’s most popular blog posts at the end of each chapter to further drive home chapter points. More of the author’s blog posts can be found at dynamicsofwriting.com.
  • More writing exercises at the end of each chapter give students opportunity to hone their skills.
  • Updated media examples, particularly in the digital media and social media chapters, reflect crucial changes that occur on an almost daily basis.
  • Updated law and ethics chapters keep students informed on the latest practices for operating in a professional and ethical way.
  • Expanded content covers how to monetize journalism efforts and includes a new appendix that discusses the art and craft of freelance journalism.
KEY FEATURES:
  • An audience-centric approach encourages students to reflect on why and how news is relevant to the lives of their readers before they even start digging into their stories.
  • Chapter-opening learning objectives identify what students should be able to do after reading each chapter.
  • Thoughts from a Pro sections offer students an up-close look at a specific aspect of reporting and writing from real professionals.
  • Helpful Hints sections based on the various experiences of journalists provide students with guidance on different aspects of their work, from improving a piece of copy to dealing with a crisis.
  • Consider This sections spark classroom discussions by asking students to take a closer look at a current issue or ideological dilemma and make a valid case for their position.  
  • Think Ahead discussions at the beginning of each chapter act as a roadmap to help students navigate through chapter content.
  • The Big Three chapter-ending summaries ensure students take three crucial ideas with them as they move on to the next chapter.
  • Discussion questions and Work it Out assessments allow students to check their understanding once a chapter is completed.
  • Write Now! exercises provide students with an opportunity to practice key writing skills required in newsrooms today.

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