Considering that during this task of creating my local newspaper I need to use closely the main case study of the Evening Post. I spent a weeks work experience at the sports' desk becoming accustomed with software and how the layout is vital to how the post sells. I learnt many things on how to write the article, the style, the importance of being concise as well as a host of other things.
- Letters rather than Numbers
One thing I learnt was that the numbers in a written article depending on what they are can appear differently. Professional publications , local and national papers tend to use the rule that any number below 10 should be written out, ie 4 as four, and anything above the number 10 is to be written as a number , for example, "there were 17 arrests made"
-Inverted pyramid
The structure of the articles within a paper are completly different to that of writing in a story, the headline is intended to jump out, and almost give the story away. This technique allows the busy reader time to navigate through the paper, avoiding perhaps areas which don't interest them or even offend them, allowing them time to focus on specific areas. A point backed up by my firm target audience research where my questionnaire poses the question, do you read the whole newspaper?
The inverted pyramid is a structure which uses the headline to give a brief description of what has happened before allowing visual methods to select importance such as boldness or size of print. The pyramid has a set up of giving you all the information the reader wants to know straight away. These bits of information are often found in the 'intro' where 20 words or so describe what has happened, usually where, who and perhaps why? The why question is then often delved into and the others into more detail such as time, exact location and more details about the persons involved.
The intro also contains the first word in bold which is just a common technique used by the Evening Post and many other papers to form the 'correct' structure of an article. More often than not, it also gives the reader direction by telling you the location of the story. For example a story may start "PORTISHEAD teenagers are being advised to.."
Whilst I was at the Evening Post, I was informed that apart from the headline, the intro is the most important part of the piece. It essentially sells papers.
- Headline regulars
Bristol Evening Post as my main example uses regular words to describe actions or stories, something which the reader than buys into, building a rapport and trust between reader and the paper itself. The idea that if the newspaper labels an event as 'pathetic' then the reader, especially regular is likely to agree with them and trust the paper as a reliable source, therefore regularly referring to this brand, in this case, the Evening Post for information.
This idea of reliability and the link with readers is crucial with such heavy strain on the print industry, a strong relationship with readers, throwing comments and opinion back and forth whilst agreeing or supporting each-other through a campaign or something similar results in sales at the end of the day.
Examples of these lexis I have took from the Evening Post..
THUGS
YOUTHS
HUNT
VANDALS
YOBS
Alot of these refer to the negative context of crime, probably the main topic the Evening Post covers, as it always comes from the angle against the criminals, and fully behind community and victim.
-Few puns but alliteration
The content of the local paper for Bristol isn't full of puns and sarcastic comments unlike a tabloid newspaper such as the Sun therefore when creating my headlines etc I need to remember that most of my stories will be either Crime or Charity related like alot are in the paper rather than positive or perhaps celebrity based similar to a daily national paper.
The Post does however use some alliteration to ensure the paper isn't completely disinteresting for the reader and just there to inform. It entertains as many headlines involve quotations or alliteration, another way of maintaining an interested reader.
-Captions
Captions are something I was lucky enough to write for the paper therefore I know these need to be short and sharp highlighting the image on the page. In crime stories, it is often just one-word to show the papers serious stance on the issue a word such as 'Guilty' or 'Image from CCTV' reflects the mood and the information about the image that the reader needs to know. Captions are things that I will need to include with every original photo I have in my paper.
-Bylines
They tell you who wrote the article in the paper, for aesthetic purposes, when I create my paper I can create false names along with mine in the byline to add a sense of realism to my pages depending on how it looks. This is underneath the headline and if 'EXCLUSIVE' then underneath that too.
- 27pt on inside page
This is the size of the font which I know is correct for most headlines in the inside page, it is the one used by Bristol Evening Post for their main inside headlines. I will be changing the size of the font although not the font itself to prioritise stories and information on the page, such as the Main Headline, Sub-Headline, Intro, Byline, Caption, Quotes as well as different stories on the same pages being different sizes.
The Evening Post use a formatted system where they save previous layouts and continue to use successful ones, for example with the main story in the centre and stories, above,below, left and right of it, with the sub-headline in a smaller font.
- Features on the eyes
I need to pick what realistically I can use as my eyes, certain recent editions have framed special events such as the Balloon Fiesta taking up the whole top section of the paper with a running-campaign of 'Coupon Tuesday' linking with the importance of the 'eyes' and the advertisers for them.
Certain ones that would be easier for me to pick out would be 'Jobs' inside or something similar, A property or housing advert as well as a food store (a fake one created by me) with a voucher off from that food outlet. All of these I have seen and continue to see on the front of the Evening Post therefore my paper, which will take similar shape could also include similar adverts on the front page, and eyes in particular.
- Deadlines
The deadlines are probably the most important thing above the writing, the visual side of the newspaper, if the newspaper doesn't go to print on time and to the deadline then it won't print. Fortunately over the years deadlines have been made later and later although in order for my paper to be successful I need to stick to my own plans, in order to create my fictional yet professional publication.
- Headings
As already mentioned briefly, the main heading of my newspaper needs to be concise but strong enough and interesting enough to make the reader buy the paper. I need to remember things such as target audience and the answers to my questionnaire to avoid for example putting lots of Sport on the front page, especially if its unwanted. The headline is likely to be crime based although I am still building a plan on potential stories etc.
The font will be bold and traditional in terms of typeface to other local and national newspapers, I also need to use similar words to those regularly seen in the Evening Post and similar news publications. I need to create drama and the element of surprise in my headline alone.
- Checking work
An integral part of writing the articles, is checking for spelling mistakes, grammatical mistakes as well as anything else that could make the article wrong. The sub-editors I was working with have a job to oversee and issues such as spelling although I will need to erase these myself before fictionally, going to print.
- Decline in industry
The economic downturn has been well-documented although the newspaper industry in particular has been affected and my newspaper in order for it to work needs to be different. I have witnessed the Evening Post and meetings where they are looking to change and explore new ways of freshening up the paper, with that focus in mind I want my paper to appeal to most ages. Still use many traditional ways and formats similar to the ones mentioned above although particularly use more colour, have more comments and more domineering images on the cover.
I want my paper to appear modern and chic reflecting the town I live in, an area which the paper will be based upon, Portishead. This area contains wealthy city commuters as well as several footballers, a bustling high-street and a picturesque Marina setting, I want this to be evident just by picking up and viewing my magazine.
- Sportsdesk vs News
I will be creating a front-cover as well as an inside page, therefore I won't be focussing on Sport realistically unless it's in the ears of my paper at the top of the cover. Therefore I need to acknowledge that the Sportsdesk where I was based during my work placement is different to real-life news stories. The stories I will have will probably see less quotations as well as omitted features such as Match Reports and Fixtures that fill up space in the Sports section.
- Target Audience
The key thing to remember during my production of my newspaper is that the target audience research I have done is important, and that the paper I will create, the brand, the image, the stories I will use is for them and ought to apply to them. If that isn't the case then my paper simply will not have been a success.
- Cutting down match reports
Another aspect of the decline in newspapers is the idea that they are old-fashioned and in particular on the Sports section, meetings were ongoing during the week I was there and probably still are looking to revamp Match Reports and the way the Sports news is given to the readers. Lengthy match reports as well as betting and a mass of stats are likely to be lost, with more emphasis on images, a new look set of visuals as well as more fan opinion and perhaps more emphasis on expert writers, who I spent alot of time with during my week there.
- Plan of action
Why is this helpful? Now I have a clear direction of what I want from my newspaper, 'the Element' as it is called at the moment following TA feedback, I also have a clear understanding of the best-selling paper in the Bristol area, although one that is still struggling with the online industry developing. I now need to challenge my paper to form everything I believe the Post is lacking along with my own style and touch in order to build an impressive local newspaper.
