1What is online journalism? - Ayo Menulis FISIP UAJY

Writing 109
the idea that it communicates is, clear and apposite;
the language used is simple and direct. But within that short
sentence Evans also includes the juxtaposition of two apparent
opposites in ‘vivid’ and ‘economy’. The effect is both arresting
and thought provoking;
put those two qualities together – the direct simplicity of both
message and language with the striking phrase at the end – and
the sentence, and this is the beauty of it, does exactly what it
says.
Evans’ sentence may seem unremarkable but, in less skilful
hands, the sentiment it expressed could have degenerated too
easily into cliché. “Keep it tight and bright” might approximately
mean the same thing but it doesn’t begin to say the same thing.
And that makes all the difference.
Story structure
The correct use of words and sentences enhances all written
communication. But what about news in particular? How do you
harness these core writing skills to the additional requirement to
summarize an often complex set of events or information in a
direct style and limited space?
Two things fill a journalist’s mind when they are writing – ideas
and language. Language, as we’ve seen, is critically important and
shapes the structure of the sentence and the paragraph. But ideas
shape the structure of the story. And story structure is fundamental
to your readers’ understanding of your message.
As David Randall (1999) explains, in his book The Universal
Journalist:
‘The most important part of writing is what happens inside
your head between finishing your research and putting the
first word down. You have got to think about your material and
decide what it is about and what you want to do with it.
Composition is not merely the business of arranging
words, it is the business of organising thought. It does not