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News is such information which happens all around the world. We obtain information on local, national and international affairs. Politics, sports, business, entertainment, science, technology, holiday‘s lifestyle, fashion and many more stories of human interest are covered by newspapers. Reading the news fulfills the desire of civil society to understand what is going around. While making news different aspects are taken into consideration. They are the news story, topic relevance, text size, number of details and socio-cultural values that are assumed to be shared by the readers. But the key role is played by the language of news. Before making any news the writer has to understand the linguistic community or the target readers.
News is written keeping in mind different variables such as Topic, Participants, relationship and Purpose. This is what makes the news more sensible and prominent. Topic is the subject of the news which is likely to be surprising, exciting and provoking for the readers.
The language of news should be understood by people from different educational and cultural backgrounds. Sentences should be read smoothly, should not be dull, and should capture the life of an occasion.
Language has a specific significance in news writing. Language is concerned with the exact manner in which words and phrases are presented in writing. When you read a passage aloud, every word or phrase that you hear constitutes the language. So it is clear that the written language is prepared on the basis of the reader's interest and ability.
“ROBERT GUNNING”
The Techniques of Clear Writing is a book written by Robert Gunning in 1968. He emphasizes ten principles for clarity in writing. The book is recommended for writers and journalists who are in the field of newspaper and magazines.
Following are the techniques given by Robert Gunning for clear writing:
Principle 1: Keep Sentences Short
The length of sentences must be short and average to avoid boring your readers. Length of 15 to 20 words per sentence would be a good average.
Short sentences are not enough by themselves. Long sentences are not the leading cause of confused writing.
Unclear words block clarity.
Trim the heavy words and unclear words from your writing.
Example:
> "Four aircraft passengers, the pilot, and three people travelling in a car were killed when a twin-engine Beechcraft Baron aircraft hit an electric power line and crashed near Nadi Airport this week. " (long sentence, harder to understand)
> " Eight people died when an aircraft crashed near Nadi Airport this week. The pilot and four passengers died when their twin-engine Beechcraft Baron hit a power line. Thr plane then crashed into a car on a road near the airport, killing three more people." (multiple shorter sentences, easier to understand)
Principle 2: Prefer the simple to the complex
Minimise the complex form of writing. You need both simple and complex forms for clear expression.
Most of the time, the complex forms may be best. So, if the right word is a big word, go ahead and use it. But if a shorter word does the job, use it.
Example:
Instead of saying "infrastructure", we can use roads, railways, and other services.
Principle 3: Prefer the familiar word
Tell it simply and straight which is obtained by avoiding intricate sentence structure and by using familiar words You can write with style but still be clear. So you have to avoid difficult words, jargon, foreign words, slang, or too many idioms.
Example:
Indigent means poor... so use the word poor. OR use the word killing instead of unlawful or arbitrary deprivation of human life.
Principle 4: Avoid unnecessary words
Letters can be cut in half and still say the same thing.
Unnecessary words usually create confusion.
Example:
Rather than saying: "The girl runs quickly", write: "She sprints"
Instead of saying "The screen door didn't shut noisily", write "It banged shut"
Principle 5: Put action in your verbs
Always try writing with an active verb. Readers want to read everything in present tense.
A sentence is in the active voice when the subject does the acting. It's in the passive voice when the subject is the recipient of the action.
Example:
"The table was hit by the man" (passive voice)
"The man hit the table" (active voice)
Principle 6: Write like you talk
Some grammarians would insist that "write like you talk" is poor grammar. They prefer "write as you talk."
In some way storytelling and writing are completely different, but the writer would follow the way he/she talks.
"Write like you talk" also has its limitations when it comes to news writing. Newspapers — many at least — still prefer that news stories be written in inverted pyramid style and in an impersonal manner.
Principle 7: Use terms your reader can picture
Avoid fuzzy (unclear) words. "Conditions," "situations," "facilities," "inadequacies" are typical examples.
Use specific meanings of such words, which gives a clear picture in the
Principle 8: Tie in with your reader's experience
Much communication fails because writers ignore readers' beliefs, ignore how they came by them, and how firmly they hold on to them.
Highly abstract terms often are useful for thinking, but they are tricky in communication because they are open to such wide interpretation.
In trying to persuade readers to accept your words, remember that the meaning they produce will be determined entirely by their past experiences and purposes.
To get your words read, understood and accepted, you must have a clear understanding of your own purposes and of the purposes of the reader. If these purposes differ, you have two courses for winning acceptance of your message. You must either change your readers' purpose, or you must show them that though your purposes differ in part, they have, at the same time, much in common. mind of readers.
Principle 9: Make full use of variety
Introduce enough variety of sentence length, structure, and vocabulary so that the simplicity is not noticed. As a result, readers never think the writing is rough or childish.
Variety is a main ingredient in the art of writing. Only practice can lead to variety.
Example:
If we are talking about stealing, we can use different verbs: steal, rob, mug, extort, swipe, poach, etc.
Principle 10: Write to express, not impress
When writing is easy, we make it more difficult by seeking out long, unfamiliar words, and in writing long, twisting sentences.
Pay attention to clear expression, and for the most part grammar will take care of itself.
