General Journalism Resources

 The News and Information section of my Writing and Literature Resources Page  offers links to good sources of on-line journalism.  

  Review Associated Press style, which Horizons generally follows, in this "Guide to AP Style" from Dr. Michael Sweeney.

  The Journalist's Toolbox is an excellent resource, an award-winning and extremely comprehensive site that features more than than 13,000 web sites useful to reporters, students, and professors.  Explore the various categories available by visiting the main page and using the pull-down menu or search tool.

  Know your rights as a student journalist by reading The Student Press Law Center's list of top ten questions they are most frequently asked. 

 Jim Hall's very helpful web site for beginning reporters (cited a number of times on this page) looks at "The Nature of News," providing a specific, thoughtful answer to the question:  "What is news?".   His thoughtful accounting of the characteristics of a successful reporter is great food for thought.   I highly recommend the entire site, which explores the writing and revising process, basic skills for good reporting, and more.  

Browse the tip sheets of the Poynter Institute, the acclaimed "school for journalists, future journalists, and  teachers of journalism."  Subjects range from managing a newsroom to developing headlines

Story Ideas and the Writing Process

Chip Scanlan explores the types of thinking and practices that lead to good story ideas in "Idea Generators:  Creativity Tools for Journalists."

Steve Padilla offers "21 Ways to Come Up with Story Ideas"

Discover still more ways to come up with story ideas in "Follow Your Curiosity to Find Better Stories" by Valerie Hyman.

The National Student News Service (NSNS) is a nonprofit news source for and by the collegiate media.  Find out what's going on with other college students across the country, which may spark your own ideas for a new angle on an issue. 

  Chip Scanlan demystifies the writing process for reporters in "The Process Approach to Newswriting," in which he offers useful questions, checklists, and strategies to help you to focus your story.  

  Having trouble starting or completing a story?  The Providence Journal answers the question "What Can You Do When You Have Writer's Block?"  

  Jim Hall's "Getting Organized" will help you decide on how to structure your story.  His 2-part Getting it Right" will help you to do a final check before you submit your story for publication.  (When you've finished Part 1, make sure to also click on Part 2 at the bottom of the page.)

Interviewing

 Get the most out of an interview with "Newspaper Interviewing 101," also from the Detroit Free Press. 

  The New York Times Learning Network also offers some good tips for interviewing.  

  Learn the secrets of "Loosening Lips" in Seattle Times reporter Eric Nalder's essay.  

  "Getting the Measure of a Soul on Deadline", which might also be called "Advanced Interviewing," looks at how a clinical psychologist learned to apply useful techniques from her psychology training to her work as a journalist.  

Story Structures, Headlines, and Leads

  The Detroit Free Press gives an excellent overview of newspaper style and structure in "Newspaper Writing 101."

  Jim Hall reviews some basic news story structures.  

  "Newspaper Profiles: No Pat Answers", excerpted from a talk by Detroit Free Press reporter Sheryl James,  gives some good advice about writing profiles.

  Bob Barker's (not The Price is Right host) "A Breakdown of a Story that Tracks" breaks down a well-written short feature, explaining how each part of the story uniquely contributes to the larger whole.  

Jim Hall gives some excellent, specific guidelines for writing a strong lead. along with a few examples. Make sure, again to read Part 2 of his guidelines

Need help writing a good headline?  The Poynter Institute offers good food for thought and specific examples of effective headlines in "Stuck for a Headline?", and there are some excellent suggestions and specific examples in The Ink Spot's How to Write Effective Headlines.

Editorials and Reviews

The New York Times Learning Network offers a brief set of guidelines for writing editorials and opinion pieces. 

Although she's writing to an audience concerned specifically with disability rights, Mary Johnson's "Become an Instant Op-Ed Star!" offers useful advice for anyone writing an opinion piece .  

"Write a book review with Ronald Brickman" offers tips on structuring and writing a book review, as well as a sample book review on which you might model your work. 

  Pamela Garza, who reviews movies on-line, does a nice job of breaking down how a movie review should work, dissecting one of her own reviews in "How to Write a Movie Review." 

My Writing and Literature Resources Page

  My Writing and Literature Resources Page, while it does not have links to web pages that are specific to journalistic writing, does provide links to handouts to good news sources on research, the writing process, and thought-provoking readings that may prove useful for generating ideas for editorials or news stories.  Check out the News and Information section.

Last Updated 9-16-07