iReport Toolkit tell your story like a pro
The ingredients of a good story
Deciding what story you want to tell is the first step of the storytelling
process. We asked several CNN reporters, producers and editors what they thought
made a good news story and how to craft one, and came up with a few words of
advice.
Get the basicsFirst things first: your story needs to include the
basics. That's who, what, where, when, why and how. It needs to be true, and it
needs to be fair.
Pinpoint the significanceWhy should your audience care about your
story? It's your job as a storyteller to explain why anyone should. Think about
how you can connect your story with your audience.
Talk like a human beingYour story should be told in words we all
use and understand. If you were going to call your best friend and tell her the
story, what would you start with? And how would you describe it? That's probably
the best part, and the simplest way to get it across. Start there, and see where
it takes you.
Make it flowA story needs pace. You want your audience to need to
know what happens next. Build pace with narrative, quotes, natural sound, or, if
you're working with video, creative shot editing.
Get at the emotionIt feels real. Emotion is a powerful connector,
and can go a long way toward helping us understand one another. Think about how
you can use images, sound and words to express the emotional range of a story
and its characters.
Make a planMap it out. If you're planning to edit a video, put
together a photo gallery, or write a text story, it usually helps to put
together a plan of action. What are the crucial details? What's the most
important part? How are the pieces connected? Draft an outline or sketch a
storyboard before you get started with the hard work of writing and editing.
You'll be glad you did.
Learn moreFinding a good story to tellStories can make us laugh or
cry; they can make us feel angry or comforted or inspired. But how do you pick
that perfect, memorable story to tell? These tips will help you find
it.10 things to know before you go out in the fieldCNN
all-platform journalist Sarah Hoye helps you make a plan to tell your story in
the best way possible.Finding and talking to all the sources you needEvery story
has sources, from the man on the street to the top-of-his-field expert. Figure
out who you need to talk to, track them down, and get the information you need
with these handy tips.
No comments:
Post a Comment