News Writing: Two Summer Contests

What would Nonfiction Month be without a few more contests to help refine your writing?  With that in mind, it's time to look at our neglected Journalism category and create something to keep it afloat.



Traditional News Writing

As we explored in A Nose for the News, traditional news articles are concerned with hard-hitting facts and succinct language--something we should all have practice with from time to time.  In an effort to help you practice this technical art and find some success, I'd like you to think back to anything you have done or seen that's been "newsworthy" this summer.  

Did you attend a devMEET?  Did you visit a new place you'd never seen before?  Did your brother throw your little sister out the window?  Were their soldiers in your streets?  Was gay marriage made legal (much to the chagrin or celebration to your hometown)?  Did they finally tear down that leaking water tower?  Has Wal-Mart moved in?  Were terrorists caught in your city?  Has your home been shaken by bombs?  An earthquake?  Did your grandmother finally change her hairstyle?

Believe it or not, you can make an exciting news story out of just about anything.  If you think you lead a boring life and nothing exciting has ever happened to you, well--stop moping and start writing.  Sure, the news in those newspapers is Serious Business, and sure there are some Serious Business things happening all over the world--maybe in your own backyard--but there are plenty of small-town, small-time things happening as well--and all of them are worthy of the news.


Your Quest

Find something you can make news worthy (or find something that is news worthy), and write a hard-hitting, fast-paced article about it.  Because this is a contest designed to get you writing while also having fun, and I want you to have fun with it.  The only rules are thus:

You must have been there or witnessed it firsthand.  No secondhand sources.
It must be true; i.e., it must really, actually, honest-to-God have happened.
Your facts must be verifiable.
The rules of traditional news writing should be considered.
Names can be changed to protect the innocent.
It must have occured between 1 April 2008 and 1 September 2008 (so there's still time).
No more than 3 entries per person.
Entries must be between 200-500 words in length.  This is not negotiable.  Entries over or under the limit will be disqualified.
All entries must be submitted to Literature ---> Prose ---> Nonfiction ---> Journalism. Entries to "Scraps" will not be permitted.
A link to your article must be sent to GeneratingHype, in a note entitled NEWS, by 8 September 2008.


If traditional news writing just isn't for you, then maybe you'd like to try your hand at feature writing.


Where in the World are You From?

As explored in A Brief Look at Feature Writing and further explained in Feature Writing by Marshall Soules, a good feature article tells a reader about something, but it does it in a way that feels more human--and is far more creative--than the rules of traditional news writing allow.

With dA being a global community and writers hailing from so many places I'll never see, I thought it would be a grand idea to host a feature writing contest based on the place you currently live.  In other words, I want you to write about your city, town, village, province, county, country, ec.  Tell me--tell your other readers--something about this place you call home.  Introduce us to the thing that makes your town yours--the good or the bad--and make us care about your corner of the world.  Give your city heart.  I want to learn about your culture, your history--your life--by discovering where you live.



The Rules

You must have lived or be living in the place you are writing about.
Your facts must be true and verifiable; i.e., you cannot make up things about your home.
Names can be changed to protect the innocent.
The guidelines for feature news writing should be considered.
Entries must not be longer than 1,500 words in length.  (This is a prose contest only.)
No more than 2 entries per person.
All entries must be submitted to Literature ---> Prose ---> Nonfiction ---> Journalism. Entries to "Scraps" will not be permitted.
A link to your article must be sent to GeneratingHype, in a note entitled FEATURE, by 22 September 2008.



The Results (Prizes)

Prizes will be awarded based on the total number of quality entries and the diversity of the subjects covered.  dA-relevant and non-dA prizes are being considered.


If this doesn't tickle your fancy, or you're looking for something a bit more controversial, check out the Political Editorial Contest!