How A Reporter Got A Seat By Blagojevich
Posted February 20, 2020 by Bill Wheelhouse
Tip of the Week Archive
A Short Tip of The Week
Posted February 13, 2020 by Bill Wheelhouse
Writers should aim for shorter sentences. When you can, keep your sentences to ten words or less. The more you do this… the sharper your copy.
A Half-Dozen DON’TS In Broadcast Leads
Posted January 23, 2020 by Bill Wheelhouse
We often here important things to include in broadcast leads (or ledes if you prefer). Jeanette Abrahamsen of The University Of South Florida has some excellent tips on her site.
She also included six items to avoid:
- Using a person’s name in the lead line,
2020 Tip: Don’t Chase The Latest Trends
Posted January 8, 2020 by Bill Wheelhouse
The International Center for Journalists is offering advice for the coming year by asking current and former ICFJ Knight Fellows their thoughts. One of those is Janine Warner, who is a fellow in Latin American and executive director of SembraMedia. Her advice:
“Don’t chase the latest trends just because everyone else does. More
Six Great Writing Tips
Posted December 18, 2019 by Bill Wheelhouse
Here’s a stocking stuffer of simple yet important writing tips for TV, Radio & the web.
These tips come from Poynter and the wonderful Al Tompkins
- Focus your story by summarizing in three words. Use one theme per story, one thought per sentence. Select, don’t compress,
Editing: A Compliment Goes A Long Way
Posted December 11, 2019 by Bill Wheelhouse
From Jack Limpert’s Blog, About Editing and Writing. He offers up a list of ways to help fellow writers. Here is an important one on the power of mutual enthusiasm.
Newly Updated Database Of Illinois Government Employee Salaries
Posted December 4, 2019 by Bill Wheelhouse
Our Tip Of The Week will give you another tool for your proverbial newsroom toolbox.
Over 500,000 salaries of government employees, teachers and other public employees is in an updated directory from the Better Government Association.
The BGA says the updates include improved navigation. Take a look at it here & More
Tip of The Week: Finding The Story
Posted November 20, 2019 by Bill Wheelhouse
The tips below were excerpted from a longer story from the International Journalists Network.
Rowan Phillips presented a full article of tips for freelance investigative reporters. The article is worth a read. I excerpted these tips which can apply to reporters everywhere.
Tips for finding the story
- Read or subscribe to lesser-known journals,
Tips To Avoid Being Part Of The Misinformation Problem
Posted November 14, 2019 by Bill Wheelhouse
Journalists are sometimes the problem in disseminating misinformation. A new article in Harvard’s Journalists’ Resource spells out tips to help you avoid being a part of the problem.
The article we link to includes three tips:
- Avoid False Equivalences
- Avoid Thinly Sourced,
Seven Tips On Building Credibility & Trust
Posted November 6, 2019 by Bill Wheelhouse
With journalists competing to be informational sources, it is important you have credibility and trust with your audience and your sources. These seven tips come from a reporter in Germany, but apply about anywhere.