- Understand the Inverted Pyramid Format. The inverted pyramid format is the standard for UIL news writing. It involves presenting information in descending order of importance, starting with the most timely and important information in the lead. This allows readers to quickly grasp the essential details of the story and then decide if they want to continue reading for more information.
- Identify the News Peg. Before you begin writing, take the time to carefully read the prompt and identify the news peg. The news peg is the most newsworthy aspect of the story, the hook that will draw the reader in. It often involves a future event or decision that will be made soon after the paper is published. The news peg should be the focus of your lead, not background information or older events.
- Write a Strong Lead. Your lead is the first impression you make on the reader, so it should be clear, concise, and compelling. It should summarize the most important information from the prompt, including the who, what, when, where, why, and how. Avoid using question leads unless the question is highly relevant to a large majority of your readers.
- Use the Transition/Quote Formula. The transition/quote formula is a key structural element in UIL news writing. It involves using transitions to introduce direct quotes and provide context for the information presented in the quotes.
- Transitions should be strong and clear, guiding the reader through the story and highlighting the connections between different pieces of information. They should not simply repeat information from the quote.
- Direct quotes should add credibility and color to the story. When introducing a direct quote, lead with the first sentence of the quote, then identify the source, then provide the verb, and then finish the quote. For example: ” ‘The answer to school violence is not more guns,’ he said. ‘Bringing guns on campus is going to create an atmosphere of fear, not learning'”.
- Attribute Information Carefully. Make sure to properly attribute all information to its source, whether you are using direct or indirect quotes. Use the verb “said” and avoid synonyms that imply intent, unless you are specifically attributing that intent to the source.
- Prioritize Student Voices. Include quotes from students in your stories, especially when the story deals with topics that directly affect students. Remember, you are writing for a student newspaper, so the student perspective is crucial.
- Use AP Style. Follow Associated Press (AP) style guidelines for grammar, punctuation, and capitalization. You can find AP style resources online and in most journalism textbooks.
- Proofread Carefully. Before you submit your story, take the time to proofread carefully for any errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and factual accuracy. You can use the editing marks provided in [Source 86] to help you with this process.
- Practice, Practice, Practice. The best way to improve your UIL news writing skills is to practice writing stories using the prompts provided in the sources and from past UIL contests. You can also ask your journalism teacher or a peer to review your work and provide feedback.
By following these tips and studying the sample stories provided in the sources, you’ll be well on your way to writing strong and successful UIL news stories.