Writing And Reporting News

Digital Journalism · Level 6  ·  11 Chapters

Can I download Writing And Reporting News notes as a PDF?

Yes. The notes download as a PDF too: every chapter has a Download PDF button above its notes. Sign in and click it. Each download comes from your plan's monthly allowance or from credits. To read before you sign in, the first topic of every chapter opens to anyone, and a Profplanet plan opens the remaining topics.

▣

What Writing And Reporting News covers

In this unit, you will be able to craft clear, accurate, and engaging news stories that follow professional standards and organizational guidelines. You’ll confidently research and report on a variety of topics—from sports and business to economic trends—ensuring every detail is verified and presented with objectivity. By mastering these skills, you’ll be ready to deliver trustworthy news that informs and inspires your audience in the real world of journalism.

■

Careers after Writing And Reporting News

Imagine your words shaping how Kenyans understand the world around them, from the bustling streets of Nairobi to the vibrant heart of your own community. The skills you’re building in Writing and Reporting News are the foundation of powerful storytelling and trusted information—skills in high demand across Kenya’s dynamic media landscape.

  • Media Houses & Newsrooms: Major broadcasters like Citizen TV, KBC, Standard Group, Nation Media Group, Radio Africa Group, and even county radio stations need skilled news writers and reporters to deliver accurate, engaging stories every day. You could become a news anchor, sports reporter, or business correspondent.
  • Digital Media & Freelancing: With the rise of digital platforms, online news sites, and blogs, you can earn as a freelance journalist, sports blogger, or economic analyst—writing for platforms like Tuko, Kenyans.co.ke, or your own monetized blog or YouTube channel.
  • Corporate Communications & PR: Organizations like Safaricom, KenGen, KTDA, and county governments hire communication officers to craft press releases, report on company news, and manage media relations.
  • Sports Journalism: Covering games for the Kenya Premier League, athletics events, or even local school competitions, you can work with sports magazines, radio stations, or run your own sports commentary channels.
  • Business & Economic Reporting: Banks, SACCOs, and investment firms need professionals to explain financial trends, stock market updates, and policy changes to the public—skills that open doors in financial journalism and corporate reporting.
  • Entrepreneurship: Start your own community newspaper, sports podcast, or online news portal, serving local information needs and creating income through advertising and partnerships.

Mastering news writing and reporting doesn’t just open doors—it gives you the power to inform, inspire, and influence society. Your voice matters, and with these skills, you can shape the future of Kenya’s stories—one headline at a time.

Chapters

What Writing And Reporting News covers: 68 main topics in 11 chapters

1. Determine structure and organization of news

  1. 1.1 Meaning of news
  2. 1.2 Nature of news story
  3. 1.3 Roles of news
  4. 1.4 Role of journalist in society
  5. 1.5 Sources of news
  6. 1.6 Techniques of writing news
  7. 1.7 Meaning of elements/values of news
  8. 1.8 News values/elements
  9. 1.9 Principles of news writing
  10. 1.10 Purpose of news story structure
  11. 1.11 Construction of news story
  12. 1.12 Nature and use of 5 Ws and H

2. Gather news story

  1. 2.1 Tools of journalistic trade
  2. 2.2 Art of journalism in news gathering
  3. 2.3 Process of finding, verifying, clarifying news
  4. 2.4 Risks in news gathering
  5. 2.5 Safety and protection of journalists

3. Determine news writing styles

  1. 3.1 Importance of news writing styles
  2. 3.2 News writing styles for different media
  3. 3.3 Inverted pyramid
  4. 3.4 Language of media

4. Prepare broadcast news copy

  1. 4.1 Factors influencing copy preparation
  2. 4.2 Criteria for selecting broadcast stories
  3. 4.3 Types of broadcast scripts
  4. 4.4 Purpose and the use of style book in copy preparation
  5. 4.5 Style book in copy preparation
  6. 4.6 Legal considerations in copy preparation

5. Prepare newspaper copy

  1. 5.1 Factors determining the style of writing
  2. 5.2 Differences between hard and soft news
  3. 5.3 News headline
  4. 5.4 News lead
  5. 5.5 News body
  6. 5.6 Stories from speeches, emails or press releases
  7. 5.7 Qualities of a good news story
  8. 5.8 Reporter's checklist

6. Prepare digital news copy

  1. 6.1 Factors determining digital platform choice
  2. 6.2 Characteristics of the digital content
  3. 6.3 The Internet
  4. 6.4 Social media
  5. 6.5 Challenges in writing social media content
  6. 6.6 Qualities of a good digital copy
  7. 6.7 Data presentation

7. Establish parliament reporting techniques

  1. 7.1 Important political players and developments
  2. 7.2 Parliamentary rules and standing orders
  3. 7.3 Government processes, organs, branches and offices
  4. 7.4 Privileges of a reporter in parliament

8. Establish court reporting techniques

  1. 8.1 Constitution
  2. 8.2 Court rules and regulations
  3. 8.3 Titles of court officials
  4. 8.4 Types of cases
  5. 8.5 Legal jargon
  6. 8.6 Sources of court stories
  7. 8.7 Contempt of court
  8. 8.8 Trial process

9. Establish sports reporting techniques

  1. 9.1 Rules and regulations governing different games/sports
  2. 9.2 History and development of the sport(s)
  3. 9.3 Player(s) and officials of a game/sport

10. Establish business reporting techniques

  1. 10.1 Business and economic policies
  2. 10.2 Business and economic indexes and jargon
  3. 10.3 Stock markets and exchange rates and operations
  4. 10.4 Numeracy and currencies
  5. 10.5 Inflation and related issues

11. Edit news story

  1. 11.1 Factors to consider when editing news copy
  2. 11.2 Reasons for editing
  3. 11.3 The newsroom
  4. 11.4 Broadcast copy editing
  5. 11.5 Print copy editing
  6. 11.6 Digital copy editing

Revise this unit

3 more for this unit

Beyond the syllabus

Other units in Module III