News Writing and Reporting: A Strategic Approach to Storytelling

by Chris R. Vaccaro

Overview

With a focus on how the modern newsroom runs and operates, News Writing and Reporting: A Strategic Approach to Storytelling prepares students to become successful journalists in today′s competitive news industry. Author Chris Vaccaro applies an audience-centered and business-minded approach, discusses emerging media trends, and guides students through strategic thought in multiplatform reporting and storytelling. The book offers practical career tips, interviews with reporters, and full career and product development guides, while each chapter concludes with strategies and writing exercises to equip students with tactics for planning, structuring, and editing content across various platforms.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781071848098
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	08/22/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	480
File size:	29 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Chris R. Vaccaro is a media executive, professor, and author from Long Island. A multiple Emmy Award and Murrow Award winner, he has served as Vice President of Digital News at Altice USA and Director of Graduate Journalism and Assistant Adjunct Professor at Hofstra University. Vaccaro is a former editor at the New York Daily News, AOL and The Topps Company (yes, baseball cards!), and former reporter at the Southampton Press. His work has been published in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, ESPN, The Athletic, Sports Illustrated, Associated Press, and more. He is the author of eight books and has produced eight documentaries. In 2022 he was inducted to the Long Island Journalism Hall of Fame for his contributions to the Society of Professional Journalists and the Press Club of Long Island. Vaccaro lives on Long Island with his wife Theresa, and children, Hunter, Thompson, and Stella.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 What is News?
Leading Off
The Value of News
State of the Industry
Types of Journalism
Understanding Digital and Social Media
Journalism As a Business
Fake News
The Wrap
Chapter 2 The News Story
Leading Off
The 5 Ws and H
Leads and Nut Graphs
Context and Background
Quotes and Attribution
Ending the Story
The Wrap
Chapter 3 Multiplatform Journalism
Leading Off
Elements of Multiplatform Journalism
Breaking News on Digital
Building Multiplatform Content Plans
Distribute Your Content
Writing For Digital
Social Media Reporting
The Wrap
Chapter 4 Subjects, Sourcing, and Records
Leading Off
Source Types and Balance
User-Generated Content (UGC)
Freedom of Information Act Requests
Anonymous Sources
Reliable Sources
Diversity and Inclusion
Social Media Sourcing
The Wrap
Chapter 5 Interview Skills
Leading Off
Preparation
Critical Thinking
Types of Interviews
The Wrap
Chapter 6 Beat Coverage
Leading Off
Crime and Courts
Community Journalism
Investigative Journalism
Government and Politics
Education
Business
Health and Safety
Weather, Disasters, and Fires
Sports and Entertainment
Other Coverage Areas
Reporter Safety and Mental Health
The Wrap
Chapter 7 Writing Strategy and Style
Leading Off
Own Your Style, But Never Stop Evolving
Capture Your Audience
Preparation is Everything
Data-Driven Decision-Making
Multiplatform Strategy
Urgency—New, Now, Next
Using The Ap Stylebook
The Wrap
Chapter 8 Story Structure, Sentence Construction, and Word Choice
Leading Off
Story Structure
Sentence Construction
Word Choice and Grammar
The Wrap
Chapter 9 How News Organizations Work Today
Leading Off
Inside Modern Newsrooms
Newsroom Transformation
Organizational Structure
Multiplatform and Digital-First Convergence
News Innovation
Competitive Analysis and Market Research
News Partnerships
The Wrap
Chapter 10 Longform and Feature Writing
Leading Off
Feature Writing
Profiles
Structure, Theme, Style, and Strategy
Story Pitches and Mapping
The Wrap
Chapter 11 Journalism Jobs
Leading Off
Opportunities
Campus Media
Résumés
Cover Letters
The Job Hunt
How to Freelance
The Wrap
Chapter 12 Writing for Video and Audio Platforms
Leading Off
Writing for Video
Writing and Reporting for Audio
Shooting, Editing, Production
Broadcast Tools
The Wrap
Chapter 13 Media Law and Ethics
Leading Off
Code of Ethics
Philosophical Principles: Why Ethics Matter
Journalists’ Rights
Libel, Permissions, and More
Plagiarism and Copy Theft
Real-World Situations
The Wrap
Appendix 1: Code of Ethics
Appendix 2: Product Development and News Technology
Appendix 3: Entrepreneurial Journalism
Appendix 4: List of Professional Journalism Groups

Editorial Reviews

A real-world look at today's journalism. It is a blend of theory and practice, and it includes practical tips for navigating the complex issues contemporary reporters encounter.

Donna Halper

Vaccaro understands journalism and its quick changes thoroughly. He presents this knowledge to students in an academic yet conversational way.

Kristine R. Dassinger

Lots of good practical advice for journalism students entering the field today, with a focus on multimedia journalism, multi-platform reporting, and digital first convergence.

Leona Gould-Mc Elhone