You Did It.
Ten chapters. Every skill you need to write a real news article β all yours.
Your Certificate
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has successfully completed all ten chapters of
CampusJourn: A News Writing Course
and is now able to write a complete, accurate,
and well-structured news article from start to finish.
What Goes in Each Paragraph
Every news article you write follows this order. Keep this as your guide.
line
Short. Bold. Written last. Uses a strong present-tense verb. Active voice. No opinions or bias. Cannot be read two ways.
One or two sentences. The single most important fact goes first. If a reader stops here, they should still know the whole story. Never bury the lead.
Explain the reason the event happened and how it was carried out. Use specific details β names of activities, number of participants, steps taken.
Let a real person speak. The quote must add something the facts alone cannot β emotion, opinion, or detail. One quote per source. Never change the speaker's words.
Include a specific number, amount, or statistic that shows the size or significance of the event. Exact figures make your story credible and specific. Vague words like "many" or "several" are never enough.
Tell readers what this event leads to β what changes because of it, and what the next step or development is. This keeps the story current and shows why it matters beyond today.
One or two sentences of background β history of the event, how long it has been running, or context that helps readers understand the bigger picture. Nothing urgent goes here. The tail is always cut first when space runs out.
Now Go Find a Story Worth Telling.
You know what makes a story worth reporting. You know how to gather the facts, structure the article, write the lead, and edit every sentence before it reaches a reader.
That is journalism. Not the theory of it β the actual practice of it.
You're a journalist now. π
You've finished the course. Now take it further β learn how to prepare your writing for journalism competitions, what judges look for, and how to sharpen every article before you submit.