Lastly, Pangilinan (2012) provides another definition which goes, "news is information that has a

meaning for a set of readers." Hence, the bases of all news are facts, interest and readers.

From all the definitions above, news can be coined by stating that it is a timely reportage of events,
regardless of time and manner, which are grounded on facts. It considers nearness, importance, impact
and interest to the public.

News in School Papers

With the concept of news in mind, a student journalist should remember that concerns the school,
its students, the teachers, including the parents is newsworthy.

News in school may include worthwhile or extraordinary acts of students like: opening of a new
college, inauguration of the new building, stories of success, conflicts or suspense, school convocations
and other programs, interviews of visiting personalities, merging of two colleges, increasing tuition and
other fees, new grading system and the like.

Characteristics of a Good News

One can gauge the worthiness of a news by some qualities that emanate from the subject's nature
and functions. The characteristics that are discussed below become one's yardstick to determine whether
an issue is worth publishing or broadcasting. In such sense, when a student writer has a limited space for a
news, he/she tries to weigh the importance of the news that will occupy a space in the paper by
enumerating the attributes of news that are present in both stories. Hence, the more attributes or
characteristics a story has, the more effective it is to become catchy, interesting and worth reading...the
more it becomes appealing to the readers.

1. Timeliness or Immediacy
This characteristic of a news item underscores the newest angle of the story. For instance,
the changing of the grading system which was announced yesterday is more appealing to a
student other than the Christmas party last December. It should be noted, too, that the more recent
the event, the more appealing it is to the reader.

2. Conflict
The physical and mental struggles of persons are also newsworthy. In campus context,
competitions like oratorical contests and quiz bees are newsworthy due to the mental conflicts
present. Sports events during intramurals or foundation days are newsworthy, too, as they have
physical conflicts.

3. Proximity or Nearness
Although proximity primarily refers to geographical location, it likewise means the nearness
of interest and appeal. In the context of writing news in the campus or school for students in
Batanes what is happening to Batanes State College will be of more interest to them than what is
happening to Western Mindanao State University. The imposition of "no cellphone policy" in
Batanes State College will interest the Batanes' readers more than the zero tuition scheme of
Akian State University, so to speak.
4. Accuracy
Journalism is anchored on facts. News writing is a journalistic skill. Therefore, the contents
should be accurately reported. Accuracy primarily refers to the factualness of news as purveyor of
truth.

5. Significance
If something is important to the reader, surely he/she will read the news. Hence, a writer
should survey whatever is significant to the life of the target readers and write about it. When news
is important to him/her, the news bears a high degree of significance, thus, newsworthy and worth
reading. In the campus setting, topics that are highly significant include new rules imposed by the
administration or the student government, amendments to policies, upcoming big events, results of
scholarship screening and the like.

6. Prominence and Names

"The world is unfair," so the adage goes. In this light, there are persons more popular than
others. Popular names can effectuate situations and their acts may be more interesting to others.
Hence, news about these persons can yield a high degree of newsworthiness, thus becoming more
readable than other news. For campus papers, prominent personalities include the president of the
student body, the principal, the student who won in a national competition and the like.

7. Drama
Since news is also anchored on public interest, writers should bank on any story that can
lead the writers to crying or to laughing. Such story is packed with color; thus, subjects are moving.
In this way, the news becomes appealing to the readers. For instance, you write a story of the
student leader who manages to graduate as magna cum laude despite his five-year term as the
College Student Government President.

8. Oddity or Unusualness
Sociology can explain why oddity is a good element of news. A theory explains that when
persons are curious about a phenomenon deviating from a natural course, they will be interested in
such a topic or issue; hence, that topic becomes newsworthy. Looking into the campus situation,
one may write about a forty-year-old student who has just graduated; he has just finished his fifth
bachelor's degree in your college. This unusual situation may be so intriguing as regards the
student's purpose, therefore, becoming more newsworthy to the readers.

9. Romance and Adventure

"Love makes the world go round," so a song says. Hence, stories about love, 9. Romance
and Adventure including adventure, may ignite the taste of the reading public. This is also the
reason why showbiz news continuously booms. Attaining breakthroughs and achieving scientific
discoveries are given much.

10. Progress
Attaining breakthrough and achieving scientific discoveries are given much attention by the
readers. This attribute of the news gives a high degree of shock and a sense of development in the
society where the persons live. Looking into ma be in the form a newly constructed building and a
 school situation, progress may be in the form of newly constructed building and newly donated
laboratory, equipment from alumni abroad.

11. Numbers
For persuasion, statistics or figures have the power to shake the conviction of the
audience. This is why numbers yield a very strong impact on the readers. However, the figures that
one should write should be worth appreciating. For instance, the Alumni Association donated one
computer set last January, while the Parent Teachers Association donated 57 computer sets to the
school. The latter yields a higher degree of newsworthiness than the former. It is not safe to say,
however, that the higher the figure, the higher is its newsworthiness. Say, your school has
performed in the National Achievement Test 50% lower than last year's data. This is a figure lower
than the usual and yet bears a high degree of interest.

Types of News Stories

Here are the following types of news stories according to their classifications.
1. According to Chronology or Sequence
a. Spot News.
As the term suggests, this is a news story that gathers information as it is
broadcast at the same time. Hence, it is unscheduled and demands immediate publication.
In many instances, the reporter becomes the first hand witness to the activity or subject
taking place. For instance, a student journalist happens to be standing at the gate when a
jeepney bumps an education student. He writes the story and publishes it in the weekly
newsletter of the college.

b. Coverage News.
Many interchange spot news and coverage news. Though both of them are good
avenues for firsthand information, the difference between the two is that coverage news is
written based on the given assignment to the reporter or news writer. The assignment is
sometimes called beat. It means that the writer knows what to write about. For example,
the chief editor wants to publish what transpires in the academic meeting, so he assigns,
Jessica, a writer to cover the meeting. Jessica knows what she shall write about and shall
be concentrated only on the meeting, thus, her beat. c. Advance News. When a writer
crafts news about an upcoming event, say, meeting de avance of running student leaders,
change of opening of classes for the next academic year and an announcement of new
uniforms to take effect next semester, he/she actually writes an advance news. In advance
stories, writers' skills in creating many new perspectives on a subject are tested so as to
create climax when the event happens. Sometimes, series stories are created with one or
two reporters guarding the newest angles of the event or situation. -d. Follow-up News.
While advance news is predictive, follow-up news looks into the upshot to an event or
situation. For instance, a reporter wrote a news about the imposition of the new uniform
effective this semester, then in the next issue he shall write on the ideas and comments of
the students about the new uniform, or the problems they now meet.

2. According to Range and Reach

a. Local News: This is a news item. The subject of which happens in one's own community
where the paper originates. For instance, The Builders, the official student organ of
 Batanes State College, covers the installation of the underground electrification system in
the province; the news is said to be a local news since it is about the province itself.
b. National News: Countrywide news is called national news. It is determined when the news
impacts the people of a certain country. Most national news is published in the dailies.

c. Foreign News: All news items which trace their origin from outside the boarders of the
country are called foreign news. Some foreign news articles also create impact to typical
locals due to their domino effect like the oil price hike in the world market.

d. Dateline News: An out-of-town news story. This news is introduced by a dateline which
states the place from which the story was reported, the date, and the source of the
material if not written by the local staff.

3. According to Construction
a. Straight News. The first paragraph answers the most important W (what, where, when,
why, who) depending on which of the W's is the most prominent among them. Its body
paragraphs consist of the elaboration on the W's and the H. It is written using the inverted
triangle structure.

Example:
Thirty-four barangay officials are now more familiar with the ins and outs of good governance after
undergoing various activities during the capability building seminar and training at Community Outreach
Center on February 18, 2014. (Presentation of Who)

The participants coming from barangays Sta. Maria, Magapit and Paranum were lectured on the
rules of parliamentary procedure by Prof. Edmond A. Usal, CA dean; Katarungang Pambarangay Law by
Mr. Sherwood Gayodan, CA faculty; Internet literacy through Mrs. Mary Jane B. Habon; and preparation of
Memorandum of Agreement and minutes of meeting by Prof. Gemma R. Pascual, CTE faculty.
(Elaboration of Who)

After the discussion, the participants were given workshops like demonstrating parliamentary
procedures and making an actual Memorandum of Agreement. (Additional information about what the
"who" did)

Meanwhile, in her welcome remarks, Dr. Leonita P. Garcia underscored the need for cooperation
among the barangay officials and the campus administration to materialize the goals of the institution.
(Least information about another "who')

b. News Feature. This special type of news should not be confused with the feature articles
(features). News feature is sometimes called special features and printed in the features
sections of the newspapers or in the magazines. Human interest and news-feature stories
are classified as news since both are gathered and written daily by reporters as their
regular assignments. Furthermore, both emphasize the elements of timeliness or
immediacy which distinguish news from other types of reading, although they differ in
important respects from the straight news story.
Example:
Love is in the air, indeed, in the Batanes State College as cut outs of hearts are in a riot of
multicolored lights and decors hung upon everywhere and even, way.

However, the "Feb-ibig" celebration reached its climax when the traditional promenade participated
in by students, teachers, parents, community and even barangav members was conducted at the Aquino
Grandstand, February 14.

To make the occasion more symbolic and relevant, students also had a "hearts.: lantern parade"
capped with ballroom dances.

(1) Single-Feature or One-Incident Story. It may be an account of a speech, an interview, an election,

that deals with an isolated event. In writing a news-feature story with this kind of structure, include
the one-feature id the lead. Add in the body details which clarify and explain the lead. See that the
story breaks logically at every paragraph and that the story may be cut if lengthened as space
dictates.

(2) The Several-Feature, Multiple-Angle or Composite Story. In a composite story, two or more
divergent aspects of a news topic are drawn together for the sake of space and coherence. In
structure, the composite story may resemble that of a follow-up story in that both of them aim to
consolidate component parts. However, they differ in the sense that the follow-up story ends in a
tie-in with a past story; whereas, the composite story is composed of units, each one made up of
fresh spot news frequently with reference to the future. In writing, the several-feature or composite
story, include all of the features in a comprehensive lead in the order of their importance. The next
step is Lead to explain and elaborate in the body each of the features in the order which they are in
the lead. In doing this, relegate less important details of each feature to less important positions.
But remember that each chain of facts although covered separately should be handled as a single,
unified story.

Lead Angle

Summary of Other Angles

Details of
Lead
Angles

More
Details
 More
c. Fact Story Details
This is plain exposition of a simple situation of a series of closely related events
which conform to the inverted triangle design more closely than any other kinds of news.
The component parts are the series of facts that may be likened to rectangles of
diminishing length arranged one after the other in order of their importance. The key to
proper arrangement consists solely in judging the relative value of the data at hand and in
grouping them in their respective order.

Example:
"The campus student population this semester totals to 1,814. That marks 11.63% increase as
compared to 1603 total head count during the semester last year."

This was the statement of Mr. Leslie A. Panaligan, campus registrar, when the Innovator staff
inquired about the student headcount of the campus.

The registrar said that the campus population has been dramatically increasing for the past years
based on the data recorded in his office.

"Based on our record, the campus is continuously welcoming students with 5 to 15 percent range
increase every year, and this semester notches almost 12 percent hike," Mr Panaligan mentioned.

Showing the summary of enrolment, he pointed out that among the five colleges of the campus,
the College of Agriculture has the highest number of enrolees with a total of 590 students.

Trailing behind the biggest college is the College of Teacher Education with 531 students enroled
in its BSEd and BEEd programs.

The College of Information and Computing Sciences followed with 360 headcount while the
College of Hospitality Industry Management trailed next taking supervision of the 263 BSHIM students.

Although still the smallest college, the College of Arts has 70 students remarkably far from its 55
students during the same term last year.

"Such increase is attributed to the cooperation of everyone in scouting students to enrol in the
offered programs or courses of the campus. The continuous career guidance held every second semester
is also a great help," the campus registrar declared when asked about the reason why such percentile hike
is attained this semester.

Source: Jenerwin M. Columna from The Innovator November 2013

d. Action Story
This is a narrative involving not merely simple facts but dramatic actions —
incidents, description of persons, perhaps testimonies of witness, as well as explanatory
data. In reading this kind of story, first write a summarizing lead in any appropriate form.
Relate the most important details in narrative or chronological form. Tell the story again by
 giving more details. But be careful not to begin the chronological order just after beginning.
Give sufficient attention to the elaboration of important information, background and
interpretation. Each unit must be closely interlocked.

Example:
Mobilizing its destructive forces built into an empire fortifying its impenetrable stronghold, the AB
Political Science-Agriculture Team, known as Mighty A's, wreaked havoc frightening and sending its foes to
their knees to capture the trophy for the over-all champion in sports for this year's intramurals.

After the three gruelling days that started September 21, mighty A's rallied its way to victory with a
comfortable lead after amassing a total of 66 gold.

Trailing far behind was Fearless Technocrats with 54 gold, followed by the once-formidable Titans
of the College of Education as third placer having hauled only 51 gold; landing on the fourth are the
Memory Makers of HIM.

The winning team dominated other competing teams in softball, baseball, athletics, badminton, and
sepak takraw and was adjudged Most Disciplined Team and Best in Booth.

Asked about team's stratagem in winning, Jackilou Berbano, College of Agriculture Student
Government (CASG) Mayor, and Jomar Abadilla, Political Science Club president, said they attribute their
success to the concerted efforts of the agriculture and political science students and faculty, who were
always at their back to uphold them in every game.

Meanwhile, the Memory Makers of the Hospitality Industry Management (HIM) defended its throne
in the Literary-Musical Contest as it garnered four gold in vocal solo, vocal duet, and song writing contest.
The Titans of the College of Education also prevailed in the academic competitions with nine gold
reaped in almost all contested activities.

Further, Ferdinand Bulusan, BSE-IV student, was declared Hall of Famer in oration for being a
tree-time and two-time champion in oration in the campus and in the university, respectively.

All winning students will represent the campus in the university meet to be held at CSU Carig on
November 23-25, 2011.

Source: The Innovator of CSU Lal-lo November 2011

e. Speech, Report, Quote, and Interview Stories

The arrangements of a speech report, a quote story and of an interview are to
great extent similar. The quote story may be charted as alternating large and small
rectangles of diminishing size: summary, quote, summary, quote, summary arrangement.
The quotations may be direct, indirect, or a combination of both.
In writing this kind of story, the following suggestions may be helpful:
1. Write a summarizing lead in any appropriate form.
2. Write the body of the story in a summary-quote-summary arrangement.
 3. The lead may be a summarizing statement — the gist of the speech,
statement, letter, or interview; or it may be the most important quotation in the
story written as direct quote.
Example: Quote Story
"A little pain, a life to gain."

This was the statement of Mr. Joeffrey Usabal, one of those who attended the Bloodletting activity
held at Aladino M. Dupaya Sr. Gymnasium, Centro, Lal-lo, Cagayan, August 4.

"It was a very noble undertaking and I am very happy to be a part of it. That single pain I felt is truly
nothing when I compare the effect of it to the sick people of the community," Mr. Usabal continued as
showed a small prick in his hand.

Themed with "Every Blood Donor is a Hero", the bloodletting activity is simultaneous to the
launching of the WE CARE Program of the Local Government Unit of Lal-lo during the celebration of 433'1
Patronal Town Fiesta held last August 2014.

Led by the Municipal Nutrition Committee, the whole-day activity was attended by various blood
donors including qualified students of Cagayan State University at Lal-lo.

"It is a way of realizing our desire to help save lives in danger. Truly, a single bag of blood
wholeheartedly shared is worth of life," he disclosed.

Meanwhile, Prof Rogelio T. Tamayo, campus executive officer, thanked the student donors for
their willingness to help.

"It was not just a show of help to the activities of the Local Government Unit of Lal-lo, but it was
actually a way for CSUL students to realize the real value of sharing and saving lives through donating
blood," he added. "We hope that the desire of our students to help and participate in such kind of activity
will not end. The spirit of helping others is one of those things I want to inculcate to you [students], so keep
it up," the CEO disclosed.

Source: Kristal Faith Pagaduan, The Innovator November 2014

Example: Speech Report Story

"I am deeply honored to receive this resolution of commendation... but I know, I just did this for the
betterment of the campus."

This is the statement of Dr. Perfecto V. Vivit, campus executive officer of CSU Lal-lo, after
receiving a resolution of commendation from the municipality of Calayan for his full commitment and
immediate approval in the cacao partnership project of the Cacao Growers Cooperative and the campus.

According to Mr. Tito Maquiraya, one of the councilors of the municipality of Calayan, their town is
very grateful for the approval of the project since most of the members of the cooperative come from
Calayan.
.
 Moreover, a large number of cacao seedlings will come from their municipality which contributes in
the promotion of the town's production.

"Hindi lang yan, isang malaking garantiya kasi ang binigay ng campus ninyo, of course, sa
pangunguna ni Dr. Vivit, kaya talagang sukdulan ang pasasalamat ng aming bayan," Mr. Maquiraya added.

Asked about his main objective of approving the project, Dr, Vivit said that it was just practical for
the campus to make good production rate and the project was a large key.

"In fact, this is a win-win project; we help them, they help us. The production that we will get from
the project will surely be very useful to elevate quality education and to improve learning facilities," Vivit
disclosed.

Source: Ferdinand Bulusan November 2013

4. Minor News Forms

a. News Brief. This is a short item of news interest, written like a brief, telegraphic message.
It gives mainly the result with few details.
b. News Bulletin. It is similar to the lead of a straight news story. Its aim is just to give the gist
of the news.
c. News Featurette. This is a short news feature usually used a fillers, say, quirks in the
news.
d. Sidebar. It is a news item or a feature placed side by side its mother story to which it is
related but under a headline of its own.
e. Flash. This is a message giving first brief news of an event. It is usually boxed.

Main Task
Instruction: Do the given task below. Make sure to follow the instructions given properly. Your output will be
graded based on the rubrics seen in your syllabus (refer to the “Graphic Organizer Rubric”).

TASK 1:

In the shapes, write the characteristics of good news or the elements of news and give one-
sentence definition for each element. Illustrate your answer in a bond paper and write your
explanations in a separate bond paper.

Characteristics
of Good News