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00000179-e1ff-d2b2-a3fb-ffffd7620000This page is a resource for WNIJ student workers and participants in the "Public Radio 101" seminar to create news content in accordance with the policies and practices of Northern Public Radio and WNIJ News.The articles and information posted here may be shared with other students and reporters, giving proper acknowledgment and credit to the original sources.We encourage you to take advantage of the links below to enhance your journalistic endeavors.Valuable External Links:NPR Ethics Handbook INBA Code of EthicsHow Not To Write For Radio How To Pitch A StoryNPR Training: Hone Your Craft An Introduction to EditingSound In The Story High-Quality Sound With Your PhoneTips For Shaping Great StoriesA Top Audio Engineer Explains NPR’s Signature SoundBlogs That Offer Guidance Memmott's Missives and Musings Judith Smelser: Scribbles and Scruples

Guidelines for WNIJ News Stories

WNIJ News

Reporters should create at least two broadcast versions of all newscast stories -- plus a version to be posted on the WNIJ website. This enables us to cover the same topic during newscasts in alternating hours of the major news magazine programs without repeating the same story.

We prefer that you create a "wrap" and a "cut and copy" to give the host options within the newscasts.

Note: You must provide a script that shows exactly what is in your audio, whether it is your voice as a reporter or a sound bite from a news source.

If you are covering an event in person, take pictures for use in the web version of the story! (Be sure to get correct spellings of names and titles for the captions.)

Here are some common terms for the types of stories used in the WNIJ Newsroom, with examples of each.

  • Anchor Intro: An introduction to a story read by the anchor (also referred to as the Lede).

Example: DeKalb County officials continue to track West Nile Virus. WNIJ’s Jane Doe has more on those efforts:

0813WNVW (0:57...SOC)

"0813WNVW" is the slug. It starts with the air date followed by a brief title for the story (less than 12 characters total) The “W” indicates this is a wrap voiced by the reporter; 0:57 is the length of the story (0 minutes, 57 seconds); “SOC” is short for “Standard Outcue” meaning you end the story with your name and "WNIJ News"

  • WNIJ Standard Outcue (SOC): “I’m Jane Doe, WNIJ News.”
If you were to end the story with sound that continues after the SOC -- such as applause -- you need to let the anchor know that on your script. Instead of SOC, you would type out your signoff followed by “applause fades.”

  • Anchor Tag (or Anchor Outro): Additional information important to the story which the host will read after the SOC, such as a reference to a website or a disclaimer about a station supporter.

Example:  Anchor: More information on West Nile Virus symptoms and treatment is available on our website -- wnij.org
or:
The DeKalb County Health Department is an underwriter of WNIJ

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  • Reader: A story that is read by the anchor.  It does NOT include sound bites

Example:  Anchor: DeKalb County health officials continue to track West Nile Virus. The health department regularly tests birds and mosquitos for the virus. A bird in Genoa (jen-OH-uh) recently tested positive for West Nile. Landowners are encouraged to report suspicious birds to the health department.

  • Voicer: A story that includes a lede for the anchor to read. The reporter reads the entire story, and it does not include sound bites. Typically it should run 40 to 45 seconds. This type of story is used when a source is not available to be recorded but the information is important to our audience.
Example:  Anchor:

DeKalb County officials continue to track West Nile Virus. WNIJ’s Jane Doe has more on those efforts:

0813WNVV (:40...SOC) 

Reporter: The county currently has four mosquito traps that are monitored weekly. A recent batch near Genoa tested positive for West Nile Virus. Ray Dio is the Director of Health Protection. He says mosquitos that transmit West Nile Virus prefer hot and dry days. They love stagnant water, and their parting gift can leave you feeling pretty woozy, but is rarely fatal. The department depends on landowners to report dead birds who may have been exposed to West Nile. One found in DeKalb recently tested positive for the virus.

  • Wrap: Includes a lede and one or more soundbites. Write out the soundbite. Ideal length (:45-1:00)
Example: Anchor:

DeKalb County officials continue to track West Nile Virus. WNIJ’s Jane Doe has more on those efforts:

0813WNVW (:57...SOC)

Reporter: The county currently has four mosquito traps that are monitored weekly. A recent batch near Genoa tested positive for West Nile Virus. Ray Dio is the Director of Health Protection. He says mosquitos that transmit West Nile Virus prefer hot and dry days. They love stagnant water, and their parting gift can leave you feeling pretty woozy, but is rarely fatal.

“West Nile is endemic, meaning that it’s going to be in the area for the foreseeable future. We know it’s here, it is going to be here, it is just a matter of taking normal precautions that you would against any mosquito or insect bite.”

The department depends on landowners to report dead birds who may have been exposed to West Nile. One found in DeKalb recently tested positive for the virus. I’m Jane Doe, WNIJ News.

  • Cut and Copy (also known as Reader w/Tape): Does not include a lede and is not voiced by a reporter. It is text with a sound bite.

Example:

Anchor: Illinois health officials have reported dozens of cases of Zika virus statewide. A different type of mosquito spreads Zika, which can cause birth defects. At this point, Zika has been spread by traveling to countries where the virus is most prevalent. Ray Dio is the Director of Health Protection. He says, for now, local officials are trying to learn as much as they can.

0813WNVCC “…different ways that it is transmitted, which has more ways to transmit than West Nile. Those are things that we are definitely keeping track of and then based off of that, trying to prepare plans on how we can address Zika in the communities should it become established in a mosquito population in the area.”

Anchor: The county currently tests mosquito batches for West Nile Virus, but Dio says they aren’t yet testing them for Zika.

  • Web version:  This is a good template for taking your audio version and making a web-friendly posting by combining two soundbites into one, comprehensive piece of text.

Example:

Headline: Buzz Off! Northern Illinois Officials Warn Of Mosquito-Related Illnesses

Bylines: Jane Doe

Category: Illinois

Body: DeKalb County officials continue to track West Nile Virus in birds and bugs.

The county currently has four mosquito traps that are monitored weekly. A recent batch near Genoa tested positive for West Nile Virus. Ray Dio is the Director of Health Protection. He says mosquitos that transmit West Nile Virus prefer hot and dry days. They love stagnant water, and their parting gift can leave you feeling pretty woozy, but is rarely fatal.

“West Nile is endemic, meaning that it’s going to be in the area for the foreseeable future,” Dio said. “We know it’s here, it is going to be here, it is just a matter of taking normal precautions that you would against any mosquito or insect bite.”

The department depends on landowners to report dead birds who may have been exposed to West Nile. One found in DeKalb recently tested positive for the virus.

Meanwhile, Illinois health officials have reported dozens of cases of Zika virus statewide.

A different type of mosquito spreads Zika, which can cause birth defects. At this point, Zika has been spread by traveling to countries where the virus is most prevalent.

Dio says, for now, local officials are trying to learn as much as they can.

“…different ways that it is transmitted, which has more ways to transmit than West Nile. Those are things that we are definitely keeping track of and then based off of that, trying to prepare plans on how we can address Zika in the communities should it become established in a mosquito population in the area.”

The county currently tests mosquito batches for West Nile Virus, but Dio says they aren’t yet testing them for Zika.

  • Note: Names have been changed in these examples for the purpose of illustration.