A quick guide to writing up your events

Writing about a news event isn’t the same as producing digital marketing content. We, as readers, take it for granted. The who, what, where, when, and how are so embedded in good writing that most readers don’t recognize them.

 

News is an important feature for charities to cover. Updates on events, members, and the happenings within the organisation all count as feature worthy.

 

Here, we take a look at what elements to consider when covering news for online reading.

 

 

Prepare before the event

 

When reporting in live events, facts are important. You’ll want to be able to recall what’s happened quickly. Digital note takers and recording devices are perfect for capturing highlights and quotes from keynote attendees. Make sure that you’ve got enough battery power to last.

 

Hot tip: Review the agenda and attendee list to identify the crux of it.

 

 

Record just about everything

 

When attending the event, try to record everything. It’s easier to have too many details of the news than to try to recount.

 

Hot tip: Get the best of all media types – sound, picture, and video.

 

 

Think of the event from a 360-degree view

 

Get all angles of the occasion. This could be from the perspective of audiences, speakers, volunteers, management, or just someone passing through. All elements of the story could be incorporated into the article. Steve Buttry from the LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication says: “Some of the most interesting stories might come from the delegates in the room rather than the speakers on stage.”

 

 

Start writing with the 5Ws in mind

 

The 5 W’s are hallmark questions to be answered in the written piece. These include:

• Who is involved?
• What’s going on or changing?
• When is this happening?
• Where is it happening?
• Why is this important?

Peppering the piece with other details brings the news to life. Quotes and opinions can do the trick.

 

 

Make it catchy

 

News can be intriguing and juicy, even without looking at the photos. Words in the title and caption lure readers in. They need to be short and snappy. To get more clicks on the piece, use common SEO words related to the topic.

 

Hot tip: Search other publications for ideas on titles.

 

 

Content and length

 

Noise-breaking content is not only catchy, but short. Most news articles are between 500-800 words in length, or between 2 to 3 minutes of reading. Any more than that and there’s a risk the reader will lose interest.

 

To start with, Grammarly offers advice on how to draft the first paragraph. They say:

• Begin with the most important and timely details
• Proceed with facts and evidence
• Then support and conclude with quotes or less important items

 

Drafting the outline and writing

 

You should outline the writing in an ‘inverted pyramid’, according to Writers Online. The logic that follows is that the most important details are in the first paragraph. The beginning few sentences should give the story in a bite-sized version.

 

Consequent sections expand on the main story, are offshoots, opinions, or connected points. Many news sources use this area to relay quotes and direct insight to the news story.

 

Hot tip: News is written in the past tense and neutral in tone.

 

 

Editing

 

Reviewing and making improvements should take nearly as much time, if not more, than the drafting and writing itself.

 

Reading aloud helps writers erase many sins, while others choose digital means. Online editing tools are more sophisticated that Microsoft Word. Digital platforms like Grammarly and Hemmingway check grammar and language sophistication.

 

 

Fact-checking

 

Aside from editing, fact-checking is essential – telling the truth builds trust amongst the readership. Myth-busting sites to use include Full Fact and Channel 4 FactCheck.

 

Hot tip: Start by checking the identities and veracity of those quoted in the piece. For authoritative figures, make sure their credentials match up.

 

 

Adding graphics and other media

 

Building in graphics and media to the story can pique more interest. Showcase the event itself by adding a photo or a video clip from the recordings. When adding media to digital content, don’t forget to make it accessible. Embed captions into the graphics and add closed captioning to video so those with different abilities can access the message.

 

 

Writing press releases

 

Remember, news is not the same as a press release. A press release is factual, but its purpose is to announce a launch of something. Here, charities can be less neutral – telling audiences about the benefits of a change is one way to do it.

 

Hot tip: For tips on writing the perfect press release, check out our feature.