#Tip of the day for journalists: Understanding different lead types and improving writing

Poynter has an online chat with Roy Peter Clark which offers advice on how to write better leads. He also outlines the different types of leads that exist, such as – in his words – the straight lead, the anecdotal lead, the explainer, the question, the summary and the grabber.

See the full post here.

If you have a tip you would like to submit to us at Journalism.co.uk email us using this link.

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#Tip of the day from Journalism.co.uk – avoiding common mistakes in web writing

On his Online Journalism Blog Paul Bradshaw has posted a list of mistakes “made repeatedly by first-time web writers” and offers detailed advice using examples on how to avoid them and improve writing standards. The post refers to issues such as linking to sources, headlines and the use of block quotes.

Read his full post on his Online Journalism Blog.

Tipster: Rachel McAthy

If you have a tip you would like to submit to us at Journalism.co.uk email us using this link– we will pay a fiver for the best ones published.

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#Tip of the day from Journalism.co.uk – how to quote sources responsibly

Over on Poynter there is a useful copy of a live chat with Roy Peter Clark, author of “Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer” looking at the use of quotes. Questions posed at the start of the post include: what defines a good quote; what’s the ideal length for a quote; whether you can “tinker” with quotes for clarity and the chat also touches on using social media for reaction.

See a playback of the live chat here.

Tipster: Rachel McAthy

If you have a tip you would like to submit to us at Journalism.co.uk email us using this link – we will pay a fiver for the best ones published.

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#Tip of the day from Journalism.co.uk – questions to ask before reporting

This ‘how to’ post on Poynter suggests a series of questions journalists should consider before reporting on a story, in a bid to find a better focus. Author of the post Tom Huang recommends editors get involved in this conversation to limit the revisions a story will need further down the line. Tipster: Rachel McAthy.

To submit a tip to Journalism.co.uk, use this link – we will pay a fiver for the best ones published.

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Newsless: On providing news and context

“We don’t just cover the news for the sake of telling people what happened; we cover the news to help our communities understand themselves better, so they can improve (…) the trail of a story doesn’t end with the passage of a bill or the resignation of an official. It doesn’t end at all. It merely connects with more and more dots that form an ever-clearer picture of a better society,” writes Newsless.

via News as a hook for context at Newsless.org.

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