Title: Write that Story: A Guide for Writers and Editors

Author: Otieno Amisi

Publisher: wordpress

Available at: www.writethatstory.wordpress.com

Good books on journalism are hard to find in Kenya. Good books on writing are even harder to find. But the demand for good writing is always overwhelming. Many publishing houses are choking with poorly written and badly edited manuscripts because few people go to writing school, and fewer schools provide high quality writing skills.

It is against this background that Otieno Amisi, a teacher and journalist, has come up with Write that Story: A Guide for Writers and Editors. This book, which is still in electronic form,  will be of immense value for those involved in communication as creative writers, press officers or public relations workers.

Kenyan newspapers, though reputed to be among the most vibrant in Africa, are full of editorial gafes and glaring mistakes. Writers on training soon realise that there are no books on writing by Kenyan or East Africans, and they have to make do with foreign books, which are often irrelevant, outdated and lack the needed touch with local situations. Even celebrated and well educated people need help to write their biographies.

This e-book is specifically tailored to the needs of Kenyan and East African journalists and creative writers. It contains practical exercises on writing, editing and other aspects that will make anyone a good writer.

There is a huge, hungry market in the mushrooming schools and colleges offering journalism and media studies. Experience with professional writers, from rural-based correspondents, communication officers and editors indicates that though there are many good writers out there, they can all be made much better. The same applies to many managers whose job involves communicating to target markets through the printed word.
Save for the occasional scholarship winner, very few up-country based journalists in the third world ever have a chance to improve their skills. This is due to initial bad training or lack of it, and poor mastery of the skills of good writing. Besides, many of them are simply too overwhelmed by the rigorous demands of news journalism.
Modern journalistic practice is overwhelming. Today’s journalist is expected to be a master of all disciplines and technological wizardry. From a comprehensive knowledge of computers and photography to a grasp of the environmental effects of a new factory, to the motive behind a recent murder or a stalled corruption case, the average journalist in the 21st century is more than just a correspondent.
He is typically in charge of a wide area, usually a district or small town, and his area of coverage is even wider because he meets, on a daily basis, issues ranging from environment, economics, and sports, to culture, business, education politics, and so on. He is also expected to write the occasional political analysis, or travel or feature story.
While technology has greatly changed the way journalists work, it is becoming important that journalists be much more than ‘correspondents’ as we were a few years ago.  This book challenges writers to be different and better writer. It wants writers to become development journalist, activists and a change agents in their communities.Realising the need for a style book for editors, the author has also tried to come up with a book that will act as a standardized guide which clarifies the use of language in everyday journalism for writers and non journalists alike.   Write that Story  is the product of extensive research and experience in the practice of journalism in
Kenya over the last fifteen years. Though it is written for writers and editors who are already established in media houses in Kenya, it will also be helpful for writers and editors of books and students of journalism and writing in general not only in
Africa, but also abroad. For journalists and researchers, it gives a peep into the working of the media in a developing country.  The book begins with adaptations from two writers, Fr. Renato Kizito and Ndirangu Wachanga. The essays, initially published in The Sunday Nation, give a broad overview of some challenges of being a journalist  and an editor.
The author then sets out to examine old and emerging trends in journalism like development journalism, the internet, governance and correspondence journalism.

Some of the most important chapters for journalism trainees are where Amisi outlines the 17 time-tested principles of good journalism and looks at some challenges of media practice in Kenya. Ethics and the law are also elaborated upon in considerable detail.

“Getting the right story” and “Getting the story right’ looks at special assignments, investigation and research skills, sources, and outlines some story ideas. In these chapters,  the author provides hints and leads and shows young writers how to take a stand, set goals, create appeal, watch for sensitivity and get evidence.
The book takes a critical look at editing, and provides practical decision-making skills that editors need. It defines managing editing, copyediting and self editing. It also examines hierarchy among editors and outlines characteristics of an editor.

The rest of the book is about how writers can make their stories clearer, simpler and briefer.
The author, a Kenyan writer, poet, teacher and journalist is currently working as a Revise Editor with Oakland Media Services. He founded New Age, a respected but short-lived literary journal (1990-1993) soon after graduating in Education and Literature in English from Kenyatta University. Since then, Amisi’s works of journalism and poetry have appeared in various local and international publications.  

Amisi is inviting publishing offers and comments on otienoamisi@yahoo.com  You can also see his blog: otienoamisi.wordpress.com

With our world continuously becoming incredibly unsafe, threatening the very human existence, despite unprecedented technological inventions and prosperity, human institutions are desperately searching for stable guidelines to steer them against excessive modern absurdities. But there is one institution – the media – on whose services, perhaps more than ever before,  we will be dependant upon, if only to save the world from total devastation. On its part - and in order to play its role in a meaningful way, a way that should not allow for mistakes - the media will have to be headed by the wisdom, vision and philosophy of one of its chief architects. Charles Anderson Dana, who died over a century ago.

Correct punctuation makes your writing clear and shows how words relate to each other. Choose the correct punctuation from the alternatives given below 

Avoid                                                                      Use a large number of                                                     many, a small number of                                                    some

adjacent to                                                               near, next to

admit to                                                                    admit, said

aforementioned                                                       delete

a lot of                                                            many, much

a majority of                                                   most, much of, many

added bonus                                                            bonus

advance warning                                                      warning

advance planning                                                  planning

after all is said and done                                      delete

albeit                                                                   though

all of a sudden                                                     suddenly

all of the                                                                  all the

all of these                                                               these

allow to                                                                   let

along side of                                                             along

along the lines of                                                     like

already has been                                                 has been

amidst                                                                     amid

amongst                                                                   among

an historic                                                               a historic

and also                                                                   and

approximately                                                         about

arising from the fact that                                         because

as a matter of fact                                                     in fact, or delete

as a means to                                                                to

as a result of                                                            because

as a whole                                                               delete

as being a                                                         as or delete

as it truly is                                                             delete

as of the moment                                        now, or delete

as the case may be                                                  delete

at all times                                                             always or delete

at first glance                                                           delete

at present                                                            currently

 at that point in time                                                then

at the present time                                      currently, now

at the same time that                                    while

at the time when                                           when

at this point in time                                       now, or delete

attired in                                                           wore

backwards                                                         backward

basic necessity                                                    necessity

basic fundamentals                                         basics or fundamentals

because of the fact of                                   because of

be helpful to                                                             help

being                                                                        delete

both of these/them/the                                            both

brings to mind                                                         recalls/suggests

but rather                                                                but

by and large                                                             delete

by definition                                                           delete

by means of                                                            by, via

by the use of                                                           using

by virtue of (the fact that)                              by, because

came to a realization                        realized/recognized

came to an abrupt end                            ended abruptly

can be seen as                                         is or delete

cannot help but                                                can only

clearly articulate                                               articulate

close scrutiny                                                      scrutiny

commence                                                  start/begin

common similarities                                     similarities

compare and contrast                                       compare

complete stranger                                                stranger

completely eliminate                                         eliminate

concerning the matter of                                about/regarding

consensus of opinion                                       consensus

continue to remain                                            remain

could potentially be                                                could be

depend upon                                                          depend on

depending upon                                             depending on

despite the fact that                                     although/despite

devoid of                                                     without

did not succeed                                        failed

different than                                          different from

divide up                                                   divide

due to the fact that                                        because

due to/the effects of                                              because

during the course of                                               during

each and every one                                       each, every

each individual                                  delete or everyone

each of                                                                     each

end result                                                                result

endeavor                                                                  try

enter into                                          enter or delete

every single one                                each one, all, each

filled to capacity                                                     full

filled up  .                                                              filled

final demise                                                             demise

final destination                                             destination

final outcome                                                  outcome

finalize                                                               finish

first and foremost                                             first

first annual                                                              first

first began                                                               began

first ever                                                                  first

first of all                                                                first

firstly                                                                      first

for all intents and purposes                                   delete or actually

for the purpose of                                                   to,

forforeseeable future                                                future, or be specific

forthwith                                                                 now

free gift                                                                    gift

fundamental                                                            basic

future plans/prospects                              plans/prospects

general consensus                                         consensus

general public                                                          public

give an indication of                                                indicate

give consideration to                                       consider

has/had/have the ability to/capacity for            can/could

has/had/have the opportunity to                       can/could

have a tendency to                                tend to/often

have an effect on                                                     affect

have got to/have to                                                  must

henceforth                                                   from now on

highly unlikely                                                        unlikely

in a situation in which                                 in, when

in a very real sense                                                  delete

in actuality                                                              delete

in addition to                                                           besides

in all likelihood/probability                   likely/probably

in close proximity                                                   near

in connection with                                                  about

in excess of                                            more than/exceeding

in light of the fact that                                            because

in order to                                                               to

in reference to                                         about/regarding

in spite of the fact that                           although/despite

in terms of                                                   delete

in the neighborhood of                                about

in the course of                                       during, while

in the event that                                          if

in the near future                                                     soon

in the midst of                                             during, amid

in this day and age                       currently, now, today

in today’s society                                 today

in view of the fact that                           because

in which                                                     delete

inasmuch/inasmuch as                                because

interestingly enough                                     delete

is able to                                                                  can

is aware of the fact that                                          knows

is going to                                                                will

is in conflict with                     conflicts with/is against

 is in contrast to                                  contrasts with

is of significant importance      is significant, is important

is scared of                                                              fears

is to                                                                         will

it is necessary that                                must/should

join together                                                            join

later on                                                                    later

leaves much to be desired                      is unsatisfactory

majority of people                                       most/many

make a decision                                         decide

make an assumption                                   assume

make contact with                                       contact

make reference to                                         refer to

manner in which                                           way

match up                                                                 match

may possibly                                                          may

might possibly                                                        might

miss out on                                                             miss

mix together                                                            mix

must inevitably                                                       must

must necessarily                                                     must

mutual agreement                                     agreement

natural instinct                                                        instinct

necessary prerequisite                                    prerequisite

never the less                                                 nevertheless

none the less                                           nonetheless

numerous                                                                many

of great importance                    delete, or is important

off                                                 from

on a daily basis                                                       daily

on a monthly basis                                            monthly

on a regular basis                                                 regularly

on a weekly basis                                                    weekly

on a yearly basis                                 yearly, annually

on account of the fact that                                      because

on an annual basis                                    annually, yearly

on the basis of                                         because, based on

on the grounds that                                                 because

on the occasion of                                                   on

on the situation of                                                   about

one of the most interesting                                     delete

only serves to                                                         delete

orientate                                                                  orient

overall goal                                                              goal

overall plan                                                             plan

owing to the fact that                                              because

passed away                                                           died

past experience                                                  experience

past history                                                        history

plan ahead                                                               plan

possibility exists for                             may/might/could

preventative                                                   preventive

previous to                                                      before

prior experience                                            experience

prior to                                                                    before

providing that                                                  provided

quite                                                                 delete

real problem                                                            problem

reason is because                                                     because

refer back                                                                refer

regardless of the fact that                                      although

rely upon                                                                rely on

respective/respectively                                           delete

secondly                                                                  second

serves to explain/show                           explain/show

so as to                                                      to

some kind of                                               delete

somewhere in the neighborhood of                         about

sort of                                                                     delete

study in depth                                                        study

symbolically represents              represents, symbolizes

take action                                                               act

take a decision                                                         decide

take into consideration                                        consider

terrible/horrible tragedy                                          tragedy

the fact that                                                     that or delete

the majority of                                                        most

the reason is because                                               because

there are now                                                       there are

there is a chance that                             may/might/could

thirdly                                                                     third

this is why                                                              because

through the use of                                         through, using

to a further extent                                                   further

together with                                                           with

total abstinence                                                   abstinence

totally obvious                                                        obvious

towards                                                                   toward

true facts                                                                 facts

try and                                                                    try to

united as one                                                           united

until such time as                                                    until

upon                                                                        on

valuable asset                                                          asset

various different                                             various

very                                                           (nothing)

virtually all                                                              most

well aware of                                                           aware

whether or not                                                        whether

which have been found to be                     are or delete

while                                                            although

whilst                                                                      while

will in the future                                                     will

wide range/wide variety                           range/variety

will take steps to                                                    will

with the exception of                                              except

with regard to                                        about/regardingwitnessed

first hand                                              witnessed

Most writers in mid career level often find themselves writing opinions, commentaries and analyses. Many people also write personal columns, criticism and analytical pieces on a range of issues. Op-ed pages, editorials and analysis columns all pose specific challenges to journalists’ skills, knowledge and sense of responsibility. Other than identifying topics and issues from the day’s news that are suitable for op-ed treatment, writers also generate original topics that will proactively raise public debate. They then write authoritatively about the subject, constructing overviews and handling contentious social and political and social issues. A good piece in his category will usually structure arguments logically and frame them in clear, bright writing, identify and source supporting evidence for an argument or analysis.Senior editors are always expected to choose, plan and implement editorial campaigns and maintain professional standards while writing from a personal or organisational standpoint. 

 The leader Also called the leader, editorials are usually exceptionally good writing by senior editors. They are written in impeccable English and contain very clear argument for or against an issue. They are usually short, precise and brief. They manage to distill a raging debate in a mere 300 words that are all relevant, memorable and clear. On special occasions, editorials may run from the first page of a newspaper. In this case, it is called a Page One Commentary.The editorial reflects the collective view of the media house on matter of topical, national and controversial interest. It is usually an argument or reasoning that  provides a solution providing, makes a position or declares the standpoint, of the media house. It is based on moralistic, socially upright reasoning, and sometimes reads like a piece of guidance or prayer to the nation and calls for better leadership. Types of Editorials

There are at least four known types of editorials. These include the Laudatory or praise editorial, the Critical or ‘offensive’ editorial , the Explanatory or Didactic and the persuasive editorial.Magazines too have editorials. But these are different from those of a large daily newspaper because of the specific nature of their content. The magazine editorial is usually lighter than the main editorial, and is often a summary of the contents of the magazine, or just a statement on the major story. Magazine editorials are often personal reflections of the editor, and are sometimes humorous. They are usually signed by the editor.  Purposes of editorials

Editorials have been used for various purposes. They may educate, chastise, criticize, ridicule, social ills, or condemn bad leadership or wayward individuals in society.Like other newspaper contents, they also inform, readers about a current issue. Editorials are also used to praise good deeds and to rally people around a common idea or agenda. They help foster national unity and are often marked by its clear desire to criticise, explain, praise, advise or warn, persuade, condemn or ridicule. They usually contain the view of the media house and are unsigned and not attributed to any one writer.They explain issues and clarify values. Through them journalists have retorted back at bad management, made peace calls to warring groups of people, and called readers to reason. They are written by senior writers or senior editors, usually after a meeting in which editors take a collective stand on a matter of importance.. Placement

Editorials are usually placed on page 6 or 8 or 10 inside a daily newspaper, though magazines publish them in earlier pages. For the large or ‘serious’ newspapers, they are accompanied by the company logo, addresses and production team. 

Style

Editorials are revered because they are the window to the management’s real feeling and understanding of issues. Even when they are well toned, they reflect collective fury of a country or a large section of  readers on serious matters. At their best, editorials are eloquent, scintillating, smooth, while remaining argumentative, persuasive and fact filled.  

Commentaries The editorial page, and often the page alongside it is the most democratic section of a newspaper. These pages contain important views or thoughts of individual readers, or groups of readers.Because they provide a forum for readers to speak to each other and to the rest of the world, commentaries are an extremely a popular part of any newspaper. Correspondents and freelance writers may write opinions from time to time. The typical commentary is a reflection on a matter of public interest, usually topical and rich in detail, opinion and fact, all at the same time. It is usually written by a person who is affected by a policy or action taken by those in authority, and who is assumed to be an expert or spokesman for a large, interest group.Letters to the editor are usually shorter, highly opinionated and even more personal.. Commentaries, opinions and letters are required to carry addresses of writers as proof of authenticity and good faith. 

It was early 1991, and I had just graduated from university with a degree in literature. Though I had recently been appointed editor of New Age, a literary journal, I hadn’t done much reading and writing myself. But a conference of language scholars was in town, and there was no reporter confident enough to cover such high level proceedings. So the Editor in chief picked me for the job. 

Now, Taban is feared for his sheer arrogance, wit and intellectual power. His stature on the East African academic and literary scene is monumental. He is one of the oldest and most controversial literary figures in east
Africa, and has remained a puzzle among his peers and admirers alike.He has dismissed many of his peers and mentors in various fields with uncanny ease, and has been known to humble some of them in public debates, whether in the print media or elsewhere. What would a mere reporter like me ask him?  Would I be able to engage him in an intellectual argument? Would I rather not ask him to do his story himself? He had a Phd in literature; I was merely full of enthusiasm in. and awe. I timidly approached him just as he stepped out of the amphitheatre at the Kenyatta International Conference centre. After I introduced myself and my mission, the bearded old man looked at me and asked, “What have you read, young man? I could not help noticing that he was looking a little bemused, rather dismissive “I have read a few of your books, like Meditations and The Last Word,”. I replied quickly. “I would like an interview with you on the current literary situation in East Africa.” We sealed the deal soon after. The guru granted me an interview at a city restaurant the following day. I left KICC with a sigh of relief.  That evening, I spent a rather sleepless night poring over Taban’s books. Luckily, I had been a keen admirer of Taban, and I had many of his books on my shelf, being carry overs from my undergraduate days. So I prepared a list of questions ranging from where he was born and brought up and educated to what he was doing at the moment. Did he still hold the same views and unkind words on African writers and publishers? What would he say about East African writers in the 1908s and 1990s? And so on.  But I found that during the interview, I did not have to read out to him the questions one by one, or necessarily in that order. The interview flowed on smoothly. He led me on, churning one tale after another about his days as a student of fine arts at Iowa State University where he made the biggest African pot, and later as a lecturer at the University of Nairobi.  Why I am going into all these? Because to write a successful story, you must first do some good research. And to get a successful search result, you must ask the right search question. Framing a good question requires you to think strategically about exactly what you need.  This also means that you must formulate effective search questions. By taking the time to identify key phrases and visualize the ideal answer, you will be more likely to recognize that answer when you find it in books, interviews or online. The best approach is to use the standard journalist approach of five Ws and H, i.e. who, what, when, where, why and how  Who: Who is the research about: a politician, a businessperson, a scientist, a criminal? Who is key to the topic you are researching? Are there any recognized experts or spokespersons you should know about?  

What: What kind of information do you need: statistics, sources, background? What kind of story are you doing?: an analysis, a backgrounding report, a follow-up, a news piece, an opinion, a children’s story? What would the ideal story look like?  

When: When did the event being researched take place? This will help determine the source to use, particularly, which information source has resources dating far enough back. 

Where: Where did the event you are researching take place? Where have you already looked for information? Where might there have been previous coverage: newspapers, broadcasts, trade publications, court proceedings, discussions?   Why: Why do you need the research: seeking a source to interview, surveying a broad topic, pinpointing a fact?  Why must you have the research: to make a decision, to corroborate a premise?  

How: How much information do you need: a few good articles for background, everything in existence on the topic, just the specific fact?   Sometimes, so much data is available that, without a plan, you can easily find yourself swimming in an ocean of information. This happens if you are interviewing experts in various fields. Sometimes, if you questions are not specific, you may be dismissed before you even begin the interview. A good, clear question will save you time, embarrassment and build your reputation among sources. Luckily, many sources are friendly, especially if they know their stuff. They will guide you on, filling you in on the details and you may not need to keep looking back at your questions. The trick is to create rapport and establish a desirable level of confidence in your interviewee. Once a source trusts you, they will simply open up and tell you as much as you would like. 

Choosing a topic Applying the K.I.S.S. principle to choosing an interview topic helps writers avoid the complexity of too many competing, confusing factors.  Pick a few topics or one argument, that is finite, limited, and can be defined. Do not let the source try to explain everything; it can’t be done. Even if your source knows everything, avoid the temptation to ask them all the questions you can imagine, or let them rant on and on. Your editor and your readers are definitely looking for specific information or standpoint on an issue. Readers want a coherent essay, not a rambling babble of words. A good writer narrows in on a specific question or problem  

Your analysis of that specific question can then widen to include the larger problems of the industry or speciality. As happens when you finally write your story, begin with your specific problem and then expand to the larger contexts gradually through the interview. Then you can go on to the source and his or her world. Start and stick to the original theme and even if you wander off, be sure to return to it at the end.