Here’s the Newswriting Format in a Nutshell

If you are taking your first journalism class, you’ve probably discovered that newswriting is very different from other kinds of writing. But don’t be intimidated. The newswriting format is very straightforward and you should be able to master it without too much difficulty.

Important Tips to Keep in Mind When Shooting Digital Video

More and more reporters are being asked to produce digital online videos. And while video editing programs, such as Adobe Premiere Pro and Apple’s Final Cut, can seem intimidating, shooting digital video can, for the beginner, seem deceptively easy. After all, what more is there to do than point your camera or smart phone at what you want to shoot and press the record button?

In fact, there are plenty of pitfalls that can occur when shooting a video, so here are some pointers for the novice to keep in mind.

What’s the Difference Between Journalism and Public Relations?

What’s the difference between journalism and public relations, a reader asks.

Good question.

Broadly speaking, journalism is about finding the truth. Public relations, on the other hand, is about presenting a person, company, agency or institution in the best light possible.

Here’s an Associated Press Style Cheat Sheet

Associated Press style is the standard format used by the vast majority of print and online news outlets in the U.S. No one expects you to memorize the AP Stylebook, but you should start checking it when you you write your stories. Over time, you’ll start to memorize the most commonly used AP style points.

The Basics of Libel and Libel Law

With great power comes great responsibility, the saying goes. And in the United States, the press has an enormous amount of power and yes, responsibility.

That’s because the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution mandates that the press not be controlled by the government, in contrast to many countries around the world, where press freedom is either severely curtailed or nonexistent. That unparalleled level of freedom has made the American news media very powerful.