A Beginner’s
Guide to
Campus
Journalism
By: Giselle A. Segura
Campus Journalism
– With journalism being considered as one of the most vital profession in any
society, campus journalism allows student to get a taste of what it is like to
write for their school, their neighborhoods, their dreams, and their hopes.
– Aside from that, campus journalism helps students to practice their freedom of
expression, and improve their skills in communication arts.
Campus Journalism Act
The RA 7079 was passed on 1991 by the lawmakers in the Philippines and was
known as the Campus Journalism Act of 1991. This act supports the development
and promotion of student journalism, rights of the youth, and preserving the
integrity of student publications. The law also states that anyone who obstructs or
coerces any student publication and a student journalist shall be penalized.
Different Types
of Articles for
School
Newspaper
News Article
– These articles are all about the news. Specifically, you want to write about
school news. You can write about local, national, or world news—but we
recommend only doing so where they are relevant to the student body.
– You have the opportunity to go so much further than what is posted on social
media sites. Social media reports rumor, gossip, and assumptions. You will
report the truth, having done all the relevant research and fact checking. You
want your article to be the definitive source on the issue—the source others
will point to and say, “But that’s not what so-and-so said.”
Guidelines for writing News
Article
– A good news writer must collect information about a news event, organize it carefully and present it clearly. Use
this planning sheet to prepare your story:
1. List the five Ws for your story.
■ Who
■ What
■ When
■ Where
■ Why/How
2. List additional details.
3. List any quotes from people involved in the event.
4. Write a traditional lead paragraph for a story written in inverted pyramid style.
5. Write an attention-getting introductory sentence
Feature Story
– (over 1000 words)
– Each newspaper edition is likely to have a feature story. It’s the longest article in the
paper, and the most in-depth. Feature stories revolve around facts, but they take a
story to the next level by presenting context, quotes, reasons why it happened,
ramifications of the story and implications. The article shouldn’t involve personal
bias. It should be based on an elaborate investigation made by the journalist,
interviewing multiple accounts. However, the feature isn’t limited to facts, it gives
the journalist a little room for interpretation and embedding his opinion in the
piece, in a subtle way.
– The topic varies. It could be some big news, an in-depth analysis of a social school
phenomenon, a new policy or something else.
Guidelines for Writing Feature
Story
– A good feature writer uses descriptive words and many details so readers will want
to know more about the subject of the story. Use this planning sheet to prepare
your feature story:
1. Identify the person, item or event you will write about.
2. List at least seven descriptive words you will use in the story.
3. List interesting quotes from the person or people involved in the story.
4. List five interesting pieces of information about the subject ranking them from most
to least important.
5. Write an introduction that will get the reader’s attention.
6. Finish your story. Be sure your ending makes a connection to your readers.
Editorial Writing
– (under 500 words)
– Unlike the previous 2 types of articles, the editorial is an opinion piece. Still, the writer
shouldn’t express his own views, but the opinion of the entire editorial staff.
– For that reason, the editorial is usually not signed. It’s a piece of commentary that appears to
be written by an entire team. That’s why the writer/ editor shouldn’t talk about himself using
the singular form of the first person: I, me, myself.
– The editorial should be entertaining or argumentative. In order to achieve that you can start
by making a claim that could be controversial, then proceed by explaining your reasons and
clarifying your claim. This flow will keep readers engaged. Some of them will agree with your
point of view. Others won’t, but that’s alright. The purpose is to challenge readers.
– Topics: school rules, policies, teaching methods, advice, announcements, school news
Guidelines for Writing Editorial
– It is easy to have an opinion. It is harder to support that opinion with powerful and
verifiable information. Use these tips to write your editorial piece:
1. Identify your issue.
2. What is your position?
3. List at least three details to support your position.
4. What is the opposing position?
5. List details that support the opposing position.
6. Describe your challenge to the opposing argument.
7. What will be your appeal to the reader to support your position?
Columns
– Just like editorials, columns are opinion-based articles. The content and topics
are very much like an editorial.
– But the main difference between an editorial piece and a column is the
signature. The editorial goes unsigned because it represents the collective views
of editorial staff, but the columnist will publish his piece under his name.
– That’s why columnists can write about their opinions using the singular form of
the first person. Sometimes an editor will publish a series of articles on the
same topic/ similar topics, through several issues.
Cartoons/Comics
– If you have a talented illustrator in your crew, you should make the most of his
skills. Assign a space in your newspaper’s layout specifically for the cartoon. The
topic should be something school related, something that students can relate
to. The cartoon will put a smile on the reader’s face.
The Far Side of the Newspaper
– Trivia
– Crossword puzzles
– Advice columns (teenage dating, etc.)
– Fashion stories and photos
– Food sections with recipes and restaurant features
– Home and garden sections with tips on decorating and hobbies
– Horoscopes
Writing the
News Headline
News Headline
News Headline:
5-10 words at the most
*should be accurate and specific
City Council to Cut Taxes doesn't mean the same thing as City Council to Cut Budget
*Use present tense and active verbs, but don't start with a verb
Man Skateboards for Homeless
*Use infinitive form of verb for future actions
Convention to Create Jobs
*Do not use articles - a, an, the
*Do not use conjunctions like and - you can substitute a comma
President Declares Peace, Holiday
*Should be complete sentences or imply complete sentence
*Don't use unidentified pronouns
They Win Final Play-Off!
*Avoid clever for clever's sake
Rays Flip-Flop On St. Petersburg
– References:
https://blog.flipsnack.com/school-newspaper-guide/
– https://www.makemynewspaper.com/types-of-articles-for-school-newspapers
– https://youthincmag.com/what-is-campus-journalism-why-do-students-need-it
