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Chapter 5
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Exercises
Editing 2.0 Exercises: The return of long-form journalism
Module 5.1
Questions
- Why do you think humans have always loved stories? What is it about being human that explains the constancy of storytelling throughout history?
- Story length is only one indicator of quality journalism. What are some of the others?
Activities
- Read the same story on a desktop computer and a tablet device of some kind. How different were the two reading experiences? What might explain those differences?
- Safari time: Hunt down a really well-crafted long piece of journalism, a story more than 2,500 words in length. Now try to edit it down by at least 50 percent. In other words, cut in half. Once you’ve accomplished that, note what was lost in terms of arc and narrative. Now cut by 50 percent again.
Quiz
Editor’s Bookshelf—Additional Reading Suggestions
Chapter 5: Focus on good writing: Strong and graceful prose
Clark, Roy Peter. Boston Globe reporter shows how news writing can unfold “like a story in a book.” Poynter.org, April 30, 2013.
Tenore, Mallary Jean. William Zinsser’s 5 tips for becoming a better writer. Poynter.org, Jan. 4, 2011.