ENGLISH 4
4th Quarter
Week 4
LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET
Division of Surigao del Sur
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Competency: Identify the features of journalistic writings
Objectives: At the end of the week, you shall have
Discussed what journalism is
Explained the features of journalistic writing
Expressed the importance on the features of
journalistic writing
Learner’s Tasks
Lesson Overview
This week’s lesson will help you gain better understanding on
identifying the features of journalistic writing.
Journalistic writing is a style of writing that is used to report
news stories in different media formats like television, radio and
social media (Facebook and others).
Journalism is the act of writing about news related subjects for
all forms, print or non-print. It is also the difficult process of taking
information, and giving it a good story. The journalists are always
involved in the selection and presentation of what they consider to
be noteworthy while meeting the standard of truth and honesty in
reporting. It incorporates everything from the “hard news” of
political and public affairs to the softer side, which includes human
interest and celebrity stories.
FEATURES OF JOURNALISTIC TEXT
1. A journalistic text must contain verified facts. Journalists should
see to it that they are making a fair and reliable account of what
they are writing about.
2. A journalistic text must focus on the reader. From major
broadsheets down to online news sites, journalists must put their
readers above their personal interests or assumption.
3. A journalistic text must avoid presumptions or generalizations. A
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writer should get both sides of an issue before presenting a news
story.
4. A journalistic text must be free from bias, and it must be open-
minded and independent.
5. A journalistic text must be significant, interesting and relevant.
More features of journalistic writing are:
1. Simplicity and Brevity (short and to the point)
Example of a wordy sentence full of redundancies:
1. They are having a tour at the present time.
2. They were united in holy matrimony in Tandag City.
3. The secretary tendered her resignation yesterday.
Sentence revised for simplicity and brevity:
1. They are having a tour now.
2. They married in Tandag City.
3. The secretary resigned yesterday.
4.
Another way to achieve simplicity is by writing in the active
voice, which simply means using this format: subject, verb, direct
object.
For example:
Passive Voice: The article was written by Murray.
Active Voice: Murray wrote the article.
2. Precision
It means each word should be used as it was intended by its
original “dictionary” meaning. The writer stays true to the book.
There should also be no slang or abbreviations. Journalists should
therefore not use them unless for their intended meanings. When in
doubt, look it up: a dictionary is a journalist’s best friend.
Here are a couple of examples: “cop” and “kid.”
A cop is a slang term for a police officer, and a kid is, by
definition, a baby goat.
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3. Objectivity and Factual
Objectivity means the absence of personal opinion. Write in third
person (he, she, they), not first person (I, me, my, our, we), to stay
removed from the story in order to be fully objective. Don’t write about
what you think, believe, or feel, but what you see and hear. The only
opinions which should be included are the sources’ opinions
Example of not staying objective:
Cassidy Martin is so intelligent and talented that she will
definitely become a success after graduation.
Intelligent and talented are adjectives – not facts. They are
purely subjective terms. What one person considers intelligent or
talented is not necessarily true for another person. Also, “she will
definitely become a success” is not a factual statement because
there is no way of predicting that.
Example of objective writing:
Because Cassidy Martin has held a 4.0 GPA throughout high
school and won five national awards for her artistry, her classmates
and teachers voted her “Most Likely to Succeed.”
Every element of the sentence is now verifiable and factual,
with no opinions.
Another way writers convey important elements of a story is
through sources. We interview people with knowledge of a story so
that they can share their opinions and experiences as they relate
to the story topic.
For example:
Lauren Thames, a counselor at Martin’s school, said, “Cassidy
is such an intelligent and talented student that we have no doubt
she will become a huge success.”
You want to interview sources who are knowledgeable about
the story, and include their comments, either as direct or indirect
quotes. The key is to properly attribute their comments so that
readers know who said what.
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4. Fairness and Balance
Fairness and balance are achieved by ensuring that both
sides of a story are addressed and receive equal coverage.
Sometimes, of course, a source on the other side of a story will
either refuse to be interviewed, or won’t return phone calls. Once a
reporter has given every source ample time to respond, the story can
still move on. However, a disclaimer must be added in the story, such
as:
Repeated calls to Jonathan Windsor were not returned,
or Jonathan Windsor declined to be interviewed for this story,
or When contacted for this story, Jonathan Windsor replied, “No
comment.”
5. Inverted Pyramid
Journalistic writing is most often written in a format called the
Inverted Pyramid, which arranges the information in descending
order of importance, or newsworthiness.
The most important information should come first, such as
the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. The important details
of the story should follow. After this, other general information
should be included.
In summary, here are tips to remember:
Use short, simple words that most of the people will
understand;
Use short sentences and short paragraphs;
Eliminate unnecessary words that create redundancy;
Use active voice sentences;
State facts, NOT opinions;
Do NOT stereotype: sexism, ageism, racism, etc. ; and
Arrange information from most important to least important.
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ACTIVITY I
Direction: Write TRUE if the statement tells about journalism and
FALSE if it does not.
1. A journalistic text must be free from bias, and it must be open-
minded and independent.
2. A journalistic text must focus on the opinions of the writer.
3. Journalistic writing is a style of writing that is used to report news
stories in different media formats.
4. A journalist writes all about “hard news” of political and public
affairs.
5. Journalism is also the difficult process of taking information, and
giving it a good story.
ACTIVITY II
Direction: Identify the different features of journalistic writing.
Choose your answer from the word box below.
a. Simplicity and Brevity c. Objectivity and Factual
b. Precision d. Fairness and Balance
e. Inverted Pyramid
1. This journalistic writing feature interviews people with knowledge
of the story to make the story verifiable and factual.
2. This feature uses active voice and it is short and to the point.
3. This feature of journalistic writing arranges the information from
most important to least important.
4. This feature ensures that both sides of a story are addressed and
would receive equal coverage.
5. This feature of journalistic writing uses words they were intended
by their original “dictionary” meaning.
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ACTIVITY III
Direction: Draw a (heart) if the statement tells about the
importance of the features of journalistic writing and a (star) if
not.
1. Skipping personal opinion will make a news story very objective
and factual.
2. Looking up meaning of words in the dictionary makes a bad
writer.
3. If the news story is short and on the point, it is simplicity attack of
the writer.
4. One should write a story from least important to most important.
5. When showing fairness and balance in the story, a writer includes
disclaimer in the story if the person was not interviewed.
Formative Test
Direction: Read each question properly and choose the letter of
your answer.
1. Journalistic writing is generally expected to be objective, relying
on:
a. Facts and evidence c. Emotional appeals
b. Propaganda d. none of the above
2. What is journalism?
a. A journal
b. News from all over the globe
c. The act of writing of own experiences
d. Is the act of writing about news related subjects for all
mediums, print or non print.
3. What type of journalistic writing is available when it does not
contain verified facts information?
a. It is a very accurate story.
b. It is a fair and reliable story.
c. It is an unfair and unreliable story.
d. It is short and on the point.
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4. Which of the following stories would most likely be a hard news
story?
a. A neighborhood beach party
b. A burglary in your neighborhood
c. A neighborhood garden wedding
d. A neighborhood grocery store is closing
5. If a story follows the features on journalistic writing, what kind of
story can we read?
a. The story is hard to read and understand.
b. The story is short that misses a lot of information.
c. The story is long and that tells about many information.
d. The story is reliable, noteworthy and that meets the
standards.
Answer Key
Activity I
1. TRUE 2. FALSE 3. TRUE 4. FALSE 5. TRUE
Activity II
1. C 2. A 3. E 4. D 5. B
Activity III
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
References
English 4 Learner’s Material, pages 84 – 87
https://writingcenter.uagc.edu/journalistic-writing
Zablan,Karen Grace H. and Mark Gleen O. Cidro. (2018)
Integrated English for Effective Communication Quezon City:
Phonix Publishing House,
Malicsi, Michael Angelo E, et,al.(2016) Across Boarders
Through Reading. Quezon City: Vibal Group Inc.
https://www.twinkl.com.ph/teaching-wiki/journalistic-writing
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