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By Carissa Leong, intern

From my experience as a journalist for Paddington Arts and through other extracurriculars, here is a list of the top five journalism tips that I’ve found to be the most useful.

1. Reverse Triangle Structure

One of the best ways to structure an article is with the reverse triangle structure which implies the largest side, the foundation, to be what starts it off. With a hook that especially covers the action of the event, lay all of the information out at the beginning–the who, what, where, when, how, and why. Then, narrow down the story, fleshing it out with the details in consecutive order.

2. Objective or Subjective?

Consider how the article should be written. For event reporting, especially on news and social justice, it should take a more objective stance. However, there is more forgiveness when it comes to life and arts coverage while opinion or satire pieces are generally supposed to skew the reader’s thinking.

3. Keeps Things Concise

Something that people don’t often want to read is a lot of writing. Cut down on excessive words and make sure that every sentence is necessary to draw them in or convey information.

4. Past or Present Tense?

Events that have already happened should always be reported on in past tense including with a story that’s still developing. In areas revolving around art such as film reviews, the present tense can be appropriately used. I like to think that it’s because art and its interpretations are eternal, and there will always be people still watching and interpreting it into the present.

5. Implementing Quotes

Don’t use descriptive words like “shouted” or “muttered.” Keep it simple and objective by using “said.” Additionally, you can use neither and opt for the Q&A format which reflects an organic conversation between the interviewer and interviewee. Each line lists out the name of the person speaking and what they ask or say. Finally, make sure you include if you received the quotes through email, as it specifies that the interviewee had abundant time to revise their intended words.

Best of luck with reporting and writing!