News is a very elusive thing to define. This is because it doesn't really have a completely conrete definition. It is different from fiction, as it is designed to inform, not to entertain. Because of this, news is often shorter and more to-the-point than fiction. There are several different types of news. "hard news" is an immediate, breaking story that cannot wait for publication. "Soft news" on the other hand, is a story that can wait for publication. Soft news is often about a trend or important person. A hard lead is normally about a short, definite event. A soft lead, however, could be about an event that is expected or planned.
There are many different ways reporters like to surprise their readers. One way is to present a significantly outlaying fact; something that is out of the ordinary and can grasp the reader's attention. Surtees quotes Don Murray as saying "a memorable news story creates the illusion of an individual writer speaking aloud to an individual listener".
The "tip" that most surprised me was "rewrite". I guess I am a bit taken back by seemingly being told to second guess your original prose. But once it is thought about, it makes sense to do so. I can use this idea of rewriting in order to fine tune my 'voice' as a writer. This will be very helpful in refining my future work.
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