Think first, then write: Structure is the key to clear writing

Another day, another country, another training room...

I'm lucky enough to have run journalism, PR and general English business writing skills courses not just in the UK but also in Singapore, the USA and Europe.

On my most recent trip to run a workshop for English-speaking PR and internal communications staff in Mannheim, Germany I noticed once again that training rooms like this one (right) are the same the world over. Some are large, some are small. Some have windows, some don't. Some are high-tech, some no-tech. But they're all similar.

And the writing challenges are the same too. Yes, some attendees have the added challenge of writing in their second language. And, as someone whose rubbish at foreign languages, I'm always incredibly impressed by their fluency in speech and writing.

But, that aside, the issues we always talk about are:
1. What does the reader need to know?
2. How can I write more effective plain English sentences?
3. How can I say just enough -but not too much?

One very important issue the team and I discussed in the session during the couple of days I spent in Mannheim was this: Clear writing is about clear thinking. 

If you think before you write you will come up with a clearer structure. Structure provides the framework, not just for an effective piece of writing on the whole, but also for each sentence and paragraph.

When you sit down to write it's all too easy to just start typing immediately, which means you'll be doing you're thinking on-screen. Instead, take a few moments to plan your piece. It should make the editing process easier too, which will save time overall.

Time spent thinking is time well spent.

A few online resources for journalism students

Interesting to see the US-based Online Education Database has compiled its list of the 40 best blogs for journalism students, which included Online Journalism Blog and a host of others, all of which are well worth a look.

In addition to these sources, for anyone starting out or trying to break in to journalism, I also recommend:

• Adam Westbrook's blog on online video and entrepreneurial journalism
• Write, edit blog, which accompanies Andy Bull's online course and book on multimedia journalism
• Dave Higgerson on journalism, social media and Freedom of Information
• A look at current stories and journalism issues on Jon Slattery's blog
• Tips and info for newcomers from Wannabehacks
• Martin Stabe's UK-centric look at online journalism
• Plus some useful analysis and aggregated news from The Media Briefing

Take a look - and why not suggest some others to add?

The changing role of the journalist

Plenty of people have been discussing how to define a journalist and thinking about whether it's really the case that everyone is a journalist these days.

Martin Cloake takes former Independent editor Simon Kelner to task for saying “Anyone with a phone is now a journalist” in a speech at a Hacks and Hackers event. Kelner corrected this when questioned, as Cloake points out:

Kelner immediately qualified his comment, saying that what he really meant was that anyone with phone “could be” a journalist. He should be more careful when defining the debate, but he’s not the only person to sloppily put forward a view that is, in my opinion, extremely damaging.

But, says Cloake, there's more to journalism than simply publishing:

The great change that we are all dealing with is that anyone with access to technology can publish. But knowing why it is important to protect sources, to balance debate where necessary, to check facts and establish authority… these are just some of the things which distinguish journalism from communication.

This is a fair point. Journalists are professional filterers of information, fact checkers and askers of awkward questions. Some 'amateurs' do the same - perhaps occasionally better than the professionals - while some just record events.


The precise role of a journalist has always been a varied one. Paul Bradshaw raises the problem of defining a journalist in a collaborative age in response to a Press Gazette post. What happens, he asks, when more journalism is being done collaboratively:

If, for example, one person researches the regulations relating to an issue, another FOIs key documents; a third speaks to a victim; a fourth speaks to an expert; a fifth to the person responsible; and a sixth writes it all up into a coherent narrative – which one is the journalist?

Equally, any non-media folk watching or reading about the Leveson Inquiry might find it interesting to note that a journalist can be both someone who decides whether to run pictures and stories about celebrities and their weight and someone who takes politicians to task for their actions.

Journalism has always included a wide range of roles and activities. Admittedly there is a bit of churnalism but there's also space for some thoughtful analysis.

We know that the people we used to call the audience have a vital role to play in the process and if we fail to involve them and interact with them, we'll lose them. All we know for certain is that the range of roles and activities in journalism is just getting broader.

Advice on journalism jobs, work experience and opportunities for students and other newcomers.

There's plenty of info and advice about work and opportunities for journalism newcomers and student journalists around right now.

• The Independent has launched a competition to find student columnists.
• And there's an interesting guest post on the poor standard of journalism job applications over at Fleet Street Blues.
• And Jon Slattery has stumbled across Dole House Blues, a new blog from an unemployed student journalist.
• Meanwhile, there's also some tips on interviewing from students at Journalist Works that are worth a scan.

My advice to newcomers applying for work and jobs in journalism is:

Getting work experience and opportunities:

• Work experience pays off.  It's a bit like doing a week-long interview.
• Don't just aim for the big names you've always read.  Niche brands offer loads of opportunities - and you can often get stuff published.
• Actively blog and tweet about your interest areas. You might get noticed.
• When doing work experience volunteer for everything. Make the most of every opportunity.

Applications:

• Get the basics right: spell names correctly and double-check everything.
• Take a look at the title and/or site you're applying for.
• Tailor your application and CV to what the ad is actually asking for.
• Don't say 'I have very little experience'. Tell them what you have done and tell them why it's relevant to the role on offer.
• Include or link to any relevant cuttings/articles/blog posts.

Media law resources for journalists

I've had a few chats with media law lecturers on journalism degrees and postgraduate qualifications recently. I'm pleased to hear that a number of them recommend the book Law for Journalists by Frances Quinn.

It's a useful and acessible law reference book for new and existing journalists. I use it when I'm running media law sessions for magazine and web publishers - I think it gives good old McNae's a run for its money.

Here are a few of the media law resources I use:
British and Irish Legal Information Institute
Inforrm blog
Jack of Kent
Judiciary of England and Wales
Law Commission
Media Guardian
Meeja Law
Out-law.com
Press Complaints Commission
Press complaints (the unofficial site)
Press Gazette

Any others you'd like to add?

Are you an employer who needs new journalists?

Paid a visit to the Multi-media Journalism department at Bournemouth University today. I was impressed with the quality of the students and their facilities. Bwire is one of the online and print products they produce as part of the BA course.

The students were positive, confident and highly employable and some of them are nearing the end of their courses.  I know it's a tough job market out there, but I think employers should be knocking at Bournemouth's door.

Using simple video

I did some work with communitycare.co.uk recently, aided by RBI web guru Adam Tinworth, looking at how to get the best out of simple video .

Here's a few conclusions we came up with about video:

• Is it visual? There's no point in shooting video if there's nothing to look at.
• It's not TV. Don't try to be the BBC News, it won't work
• Keep it brief. Community Care users are interested in seeing and hearing the interviewee speaking in the video at the top of this post, but not the whole video.
• What's in the background?  'Talking head' videos aren't ideal but if you do use them, interview your subject in front of an interesting background - as long as it's not distracting.
• Don't get hung-up on technology. You can get decent HD from fairly simple kit these days. But don't try to shoot Panorama on a flip camera
• Chunk it up.  It's better to play a short chunk of video - or a series of chunks. 
• Show it off. Don’t bury videos at the bottom of the article page.
• What if the video goes wrong? Maybe you can just the audio track instead.
• Get feedback. Look at your metrics to see what’s working.