Basic Writing Skills for Media

Program : Bachelor of Journalism & Mass Communication

Course Code: 701

Semester I

Paper: Basic Writing Skills for Media

Paper Code: BJM – 102

Unit 1 :

• Media Writing skills & characteristic
• Introduction to writing
• Grammar & Style rules
• Preparation for writing
• Preparing a list of subject for writing
• Preparation of source list of information to writing

Unit-2 :

• Inverted Pyramid Structure
• Lead Writing, Body, and Summary
• Narrative structure:
• Beginning – middle – end
• Conflict, development, climax, and denouement
• Story, storyline, plot and treatment
• Principles of suspense and surprise

Unit-3 :

• Newsman’s language; sentences and their structure, Negative and
• Double negative expression
• Attributions and identification of sources
• Writing letter to editor.
• Preparing press releases.
• Taking interviews.
• News writing on different beats

Unit-4 :

• Interview Writing
• Writing Feature – Sources of Ideas – Collection of materials; Presentations; Market for features; Feature Syndicates. Columns: Characteristics, Techniques of Writing Columns, Types of Column, Columnists.
• Article, Editorial, Play
• Local event coverage
• Writing for web

Suggested Books :

• Print Journalism : A Critical Introduction . Richard Keeble
• Hindi Patrakarita ke vividh Ayam. Radha Ramakrishanan
• Patrakarita ki laxman Rekha. Alok Mehta
• Hindi Patrakarita : vividh Ayam . Ved Pratap Vaidik
• Writing Feature Articles – A Practical Guide to methods and Markets – hennessy