How to Write for a Newspaper

Writing for a newspaper, whether weekly or daily, is an exciting experience, because you have the opportunity to meet new people, learn about new things, and see your words published under your name. This local fame can bring you much satisfaction. So, how can you get to a point where you can write for a newspaper?

Instructions

1. Prepare yourself so that you become a competent writer. Take classes at a community college or through adult education, or, if you have time, go for a journalism degree at the university.

2. Decide which type of newspaper you would like to work for. A good way to get your feet wet is to start on a local weekly paper. There you can gain experience in the comfort of your own community, among people that you know.

3. Look for stories that will be interesting and engaging to the readers in the community that you serve. Check through local "pennysavers" and other such magazines and flyers to see what events are going on that seem to catch the public interest.

4. Find the lead to your story. As you interview people or take notes on the event you are covering, sift through all the incoming information to see what parts stand out. Whatever stands out should be your lead paragraph, even if it's not the chronological beginning point to the event you cover.

5. Take out all unnecessary words. Don't use any word unless it has a real, substantial purpose. For example, this phrase is too wordy: "There were a total of seven fire fighters at the scene of the fire." It can be changed, with no loss of meaning, to: "There were seven fire fighters at the scene." The second sentence is much more concise and gets all the information across to the reader.

6. Check for misspellings, correct punctuation and proper grammar. Your editor will be typically very overworked, and will appreciate a clean, error-free article from you.

7. Check your quotes and sources for accuracy. Your work will be going out into the public eye on a regular basis, and you want to maintain your credibility by writing your stories as truthfully as you can.

Tips & Warnings

• Writing for a newspaper isn't the same as writing compositions in high school or college. You have to learn specific writing skills that will help you create memorable stories.

• Don't let personal bias or subjective feeling color the way you write your story. Report on the facts of the event by remembering that you are not the judge of anything that has happened. Your job is to report the news as it occurs, seeing all sides.

Resources

• Interview With an Editor who Discusses the Realities of Working on a Newspaper