Writing Room — Free Press

missions

1. The first sentence

   Welcome to the Writing Room of the Tidewick Gazette. The town library opened a new reading room on Saturday, and the story needs a strong first sentence.

2. Short and simple

   Editor Nell hangs a sign on the wall: good news is easy to read. Sort the draft sentences from the Tidewick Gazette.

3. Fact or opinion?

   A reporter's draft about the Tidewick school fair is full of sentences. Some can be checked, and some are only what someone thinks.

4. Honest headlines

   The Tidewick Gazette has a pile of headline ideas. Some tell the story, and some only want you to click.

5. Captions that match

   The photo desk has three pictures from the Tidewick Gazette and no captions. A caption must say what the photo really shows.

6. Edit the draft

   A young reporter wrote a short story about the school concert and left it on your desk. A good copy editor fixes mistakes, cuts what is not needed and keeps the story neutral.