Stories

Most newspaper stories (They are called stories, not articles. Articles are written for magazines.) come in three forms: The Stand Alone, the story and the investigation.

The stand alone is a great place to start. It includes one to three paragraphs about an event (cutline) along with a picture. When strapped for time, the reporter grabs a picture and a few names and can create a stand alone in a few minutes. If you cruise news websites, most of what you find on the opening pages are stand alones (along with the teaser to get you to click on "read more").

Example

Photo - cute lady donned in a hat and garden gloves

Cutline - Betty Boop creates an American flag using red, white and blue pansies during the Arbor Day event at Spring Hill State Park.

Ask the editor what type of photos he accepts. Here at the Sentinel we take photos via email, mail or drop off. Regular printed photos can be scanned into the system and processed for publication. Every paper uses a different system (Quark, InDesign, etc.). Find out what they need for photos before you send anything.
Stories can run with or without a photo. I was trained to take a photo at every event I went to. I still try to do that, but the Sentinel doesn't run as many photos so many of my photos don't make it to print. Some stories don't lend themselves to photos. Stories run from 10 to 20 inches (about 500-1,000 words). It is difficult to say what that translates as word count since every newspaper has different sized columns and pages. Again, just ask the editor.

Your story will be edited for clarity and length. You will not be able to read the edited version before it goes to print. There just isn't time. Be prepared for it to sound and feel different when it is published. If you have questions about the final version of your story speak with the editor. Do not complain to all your friends about how "my story was cut up." If you want to write for the paper you have to learn how to work with the editor. Be prepared to disagree with the editor. Be prepared to write according to what the editor wants, not what you want.
Investigation stories are best left to those who have written for the newspaper for a while. But if you feel the urge, talk to the editor about the investigation that you want to delve into. He may be willing to work with you to create a good investigative piece. There is more back and forth with an investigative piece. The editor knows who should be questioned about any certain issue.

Before presenting a story idea to the editor have an outline prepared. Have three sources (at least one professional source) and please make sure to get both sides of the story. Some stories can be one sided, like covering a board of education meeting. Other stories, like the closing of a business, may need more digging. For example, if Joe's Boots closes down, how many people will be unemployed? Talk to a few employees. Talk to the owner. Talk to someone in management. Talk to the mayor or a council member as to how this will effect the city. Talk to the president of the chamber of commerce. Then talk to customers - where will they buy their boots now?

Rachel Mendell writes for the Morrow County Sentinel, a weekly paper that covers county government and community events in Morrow County, Ohio. She has also written for the Galion Inquirer (daily) and the Crestline Advocate (weekly). Copies of her book, Ghostly Galion, are available by emailing thedomesticwarhorse@yahoo.com. Samples of her writing are available at domesticmobility.blogspot.com. For more information about writing for the newspaper contact Rachel at reporter@newscolorpress.com or call 419-946-3010. Be polite. You may need to leave a message.