The language of news stories
News writing tends to be:
- impersonal to make it appear objective (to distance the reporter from the story) hence:
- written in the third person
- use of direct speech or indirect speech which is attributed to someone other than the reporter.
- some use of passive verbs but usually only when someone who is being quoted wants to distance themselves from an issue and to show their objectivity about an issue.
- about something that has taken place so mostly written in the past tense
- simple - in fact close to the way we talk - so relatively short sentences and words and some use of cliches which the whole audience understands.
- punchy - it must grab the reader's attention so often uses:
- short rather than long words
- active verbs
- relatively short sentences
- concrete rather than abstract vocabulary
- See this Assessment Resource Bank resource on Types of Nouns (ARB username and password required to view this resource)
- sometimes emotive and colourful vocabulary
- some use (but not overuse) of adjectives
- but also relatively formal hence:
- no use of contractions
- sentences written in full
- sometimes imagery is used to help create a clearer mental picture for the reader.
- often including the reporter's bi-line and/or a date.
Published on: 18 Dec 2010
