News Reporting and Writing

As media evolve and new formats emerge, journalism students face new challenges and need new advice. The Missouri Group confronts these issues in the new edition of News Reporting and Writing, teaching students how to work in the new world of digital journalism by using the enduring skills and current savvy that all reporters need. With new annotated models tracking a story across multiple electronic formats, expanded coverage of writing for digital media, and integrated video clips that go beyond the printed book, News Reporting and Writing will leave students better-prepared than ever.

BRIAN S. BROOKS is associate dean for undergraduate studies and administration at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. In addition to coauthoring News Reporting and Writing for Bedford/St. Martin's, he is coauthor of Telling the Story, Fourth Edition (2010), Working with Words, Seventh Edition (2010), and The Art of Editing, Seventh Edition (2001). GEORGE KENNEDY, professor emeritus at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, is also a coauthor of Telling the Story, Fourth Edition (2010) and Beyond the Inverted Pyramid (1993), as well as a former managing editor of the Columbia Missourian and a former bureau chief for the Miami Herald.  DARYL R. MOEN is professor of journalism at the University of Missouri School of Journalism and former editor of three daily newspapers. Moen is also coauthor of Telling the Story, Fourth Edition (2010) and Beyond the Inverted Pyramid (1993), and author of Newspaper Layout and Design, Fourth Edition (2000).  DON RANLY is professor emeritus of journalism at the University of Missouri School of Journalism and was formerly director of the magazine sequence at the school. He too is coauthor of Telling the Story, Fourth Edition (2010) and Beyond the Inverted Pyramid (1993), author of Publication Editing (1999), and editor of Principles of American Journalism (1997). He has also produced "Ranly on Writing" audiocassettes and "Ranly on Grammar" and "Refrigerator Journalism" videocassettes.

Part One. Journalism and Journalists

1. The Nature of News

2. The Changing Media Landscape

3. The Emerging Journalism 　

Part Two. Basic Reporting Techniques

4. Interviewing

5. Handling Quotations and Attribution

6. Gathering and Verifying Information

7. Finding the News in News Releases

8. Reporting with Numbers

Part Three. Storytelling

9. The Inverted Pyramid

10. Writing to Be Read

11. Alternatives to the Inverted Pyramid 　

Part Four. Writing for the Electronic Media

12. Writing for the Web

13. Writing for Radio and Television 　

Part Five. Reporting on Your Community

14. Covering a Beat

15. Speeches, News Conferences and Meetings

16. Other Types of Local Stories

17. Business and Consumer News 　

Part Six. Beyond Community Reporting

18. Social Science Reporting

19. Investigative Reporting

20. Working in Public Relations 　

Part Seven. Journalism Principles

21. Media Law

22. Ethics