WRITING FOR JOURNALISTS

261 Pages·2021·11.535 MB·English

by  MATTHEW GILBERT HARRIET ALLEN GAVIN SWAINE

“This is an outstanding practical introduction to writing for journalists of all
kinds – news, features, print, online. Starting with frst principles, it builds
ability through exercises at each stage and a structured progression to more
complex issues like interviews, data, science and business. With contributions
from leading journalism teachers and professional journalists it is a timely up-
date of previous introductions taking full account of the digital transition in
newsrooms and the expectations from employers of multimedia competence.
At a time when journalists are under scrutiny for their professionalism and high
standards are at a premium it offers an excellent introduction to key skills for
those entering the business.”
Richard Sambrook, Professor of Journalism and
Director of the Centre for Journalism at
Cardiff University, formerly Director of Global News at the BBC
“In the summer of 2018, when we, a group of mainly print and TV journalists
at The Telegraph India and other brands of India’s top media group ABP were
struggling to adjust to a native digital newsroom, Matt came to our rescue. His
clear vision of how to approach a multimedia story was immensely benefcial.
This book is an extension of those practical tips. A much needed book for both
journalists and journalism educators. I have used many of Matt’s tips like how
to approach a feature, decide on multimedia content among others in my class
and my students found them interesting. The real-life examples and exercises
through out the book adds much value to it. It also covers a wide spectrum of
journalistic writing which sets the principles of journalism straight.”
Sambit Pal, Assistant Professor at the Indian
Institute of Mass Communications,
formerly journalist at The Telegraph India
“Early in my career I would have loved to be able to draw on the diverse, rigor-
ous advice you’ll fnd in these pages, and even now I found so much in here to
challenge and encourage.”
Peter Grunert, Group Editor, Magazines for Lonely Planet

Writing for Journalists
Thoroughly revised and updated, the fourth edition of Writing for Journalists
focuses on the craft of journalistic writing, offering invaluable insight on how
to hook readers and keep them to the end of your article.
The book offers a systematic approach to news and feature writing that starts
with the basics and builds to more complex and longer pieces. The authors give
the reader the tools they need to deliver engaging and authoritative writing
that works across print and digital. Drawing on professional insight from writ-
ers across the industry, the book guides readers through the essential elements
needed to write powerful and effective news stories, from hard news pieces
to features on business, science and travel, and entertainment reviews. New
to this edition are hands-on writing exercises accompanying each chapter to
help reinforce key points; chapters on how to build a professional profle, pitch
stories and get commissioned; and a section on online writing, SEO, analytics
and writing for social media.
This is an essential guide for all journalism students and early-career journal-
ists. It also has much to offer established journalists looking to develop their
writing and lead editorial teams.
Matt Swaine is the Course Director for the MA in International Journalism
at Cardiff University, where he teaches multimedia news and long-form fea-
ture writing. As a journalist he edited BBC Wildlife and Trail magazines and
launched websites and magazines such as Trail Running and Outdoor Fitness. He
spent two years as Lonely Planet’s Editorial and Product Development D irector,
and has written for titles as diverse as Mother and Baby, Sunday Times Travel,
Guitarist, The Telegraph and Cycling Plus.
@MattSwaine
Harriett Gilbert is a broadcaster, journalist and novelist. She was literary ed-
itor of the New Statesman and has reviewed the arts for, among others, Time
Out, the Listener, the Independent and the BBC. She presents A Good Read on
BBC Radio 4 and World Book Club on BBC World Service Radio. She was for
many years a senior lecturer in the Department of Journalism at City Univer-
sity London.
@HarriettSG
Gavin Allen is a Digital Journalism Lecturer at Cardiff University School of
Journalism, Media and Culture. He has been a journalist for 20 years, latterly
as Associate Editor of Mirror.co.uk, having previously worked at MailOnline,
MSN and WalesOnline.
@Gavinallen
Media Skills
Edited by Richard Keeble, Lincoln University
The Media Skills series provides a concise and thorough introduction to a rap-
idly changing media landscape. Each book is written by media and journalism
lecturers or experienced professionals and is a key resource for a particular in-
dustry. Offering helpful advice and information and using practical examples
from print, broadcast and digital media, as well as discussing ethical and reg-
ulatory issues, Media Skills books are essential guides for students and media
professionals.
English for Journalists
Twentieth Anniversary Edition
Wynford Hicks
Researching for the Media
Television, Radio and Journalism, second edition
Adele Emm
Subediting and Production for Journalists
Print, Digital and Social, second edition
Tim Holmes
Magazine Production
Second edition
Jason Whittaker
Interviewing for Journalists
Third edition
Sally Adams and Emma Lee-Potter
Designing for Newspapers and Magazines
Second edition
Chris Frost
Sports Journalism
The State of Play
Tom Bradshaw and Daragh Minogue
Freelancing for Journalists
Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson
Writing for Journalists
Fourth edition
Matt Swaine with Harriett Gilbert and Gavin Allen
For more information about this series, please visit: https://www.routledge.com/
Media-Skills/book-series/SE0372

Writing for Journalists
FOURTH EDITION
Matt Swaine
with Harriett Gilbert
and Gavin Allen
Fourth edition published 2022
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2022 Matt Swaine, Harriett Gilbert and Gavin Allen
The right of Matt Swaine, Harriett Gilbert and Gavin Allen to be identifed as authors
of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any
form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented,
including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks,
and are used only for identifcation and explanation without intent to infringe.
First edition published by Routledge 1999
Third edition published by Routledge 2016
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Swaine, Matt, author. | Gilbert, Harriett, 1948- author. |
Allen, Gavin L., author.
Title: Writing for journalists / Matt Swaine with
Harriett Gilbert and Gavin Allen.
Description: 4th edition. | London; New York : Routledge, 2021. |
Series: Media skills |
Includes bibliographical references and index. |
Identifers: LCCN 2020053272 | ISBN 9780367368562 (hardback) |
ISBN 9780367368579 (paperback) | ISBN 9780429351761 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Journalism—Authorship.
Classifcation: LCC PN4783.H53 2021 | DDC 808.06/607—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020053272
ISBN: 9780367368562 (hbk)
ISBN: 9780367368579 (pbk)
ISBN: 9780429351761 (ebk)
Typeset in Goudy
by codeMantra
This book would not have happened without the input of colleagues
and editorial experts; Wynford Hicks, Tim Holmes, Dr Aidan
O’Donnell; Nigel Stephenson; Guy Procter; Richard Sambrook;
Anna Walker; Simon Ingram; Simon Hemelryk; Paul Rees; Jonathan
Swift; Jheni Osman; Ben Hoare; Oliver Berry; Phoebe Smith;
Bethan Rose Jenkins; Richard Eccleston; Louise Parker; Kat Smith;
Dr Janet Harris; Mike Hill; Dr Savyasaachi Jain; Tony O’Shaughnessy;
Dr David Dunkley Gyimah; James Stewart; Dr Linda Mitchell;
Dr Gavin Evans; Simon Williams Clare Savage and BAFTA award-
winning image scanner Mick Connaire.
Thank you to Clare, Artie, Charlie and Hazel