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.In fact, most entertainment reporters at a major awards event never get into the auditorium.They wind up covering the event from an auxiliary room (or adjacent building) set up with a television monitor.When postevent interviewing occurs, it takes place in a press conference forum with a chance for only one question, at best.There is rarely any exclusive interviewing that takes place at such events.Most entertainment reporting at the local level does not involve such spotlight events.Those assignments might be the reward for a year of covering more routine entertainment news at the local level.These stories focus on shows at the local auditorium or arena, touring artists and performers, an occasional interview with a celebrity who visits or who lives in the area, and a lot of features about amateur productions and artistic effort at neighborhood theaters, local colleges, and perhaps even high schools.The types of stories are often classified as nothing more than previews and reviews, some editors like to say.There is much truth to that, but enterprising entertainment reporters go much further with profiles, humaninterest stories, seaPage 232sonal stories, and a wide array of approaches to their beats.It is up to you and your skills to make the most of being an entertainment reporter.Using the Essay StructureAlthough entertainment features use a variety of organizational approaches, most reviews and critical articles find their way into an essay structure.This is a simple approach that permits the maximum development of writing.A good lead (or introduction) opens the essay with a statement of what you want to do.The body of the essay is a synthesis of generalizations about the work that are supported by evidence and illustration that are taken from the work.The conclusion summarizes the points.And all this is done in just a few hundred to a few thousand words.Writer William Ruehlmann (1979) recommended 10 points about the basics of what he calls judgmental features.To reach success as a critic, he says:1.Make yourself an expert.The more you know about writing books such as novels, the more authoritative you will be and the better you can handle your assignment.2.Don't flaunt your expertise.Do not write over the heads of your readers.Teach, but do not assume too much about what readers know.3.Do not talk down.Assume your reader is intelligent and can understand what you write.4.Avoid overdependence on plot summary.Do not tell your reader everything that happened.Tell the reader how and why something happened, but not what.5.Explain the work in context of our lives.In other words, he asks, is the work good entertainment? Does it help us better understand ourselves or understand the world around us? If so, it is art.6.Find a strong lead and ending.Be specific and arresting in your lead.End with a snap.7.Cite specific examples to support your views.If you say something good or bad about the work, show readers.This gives insight by providing your own reasoning behind the assessment.Page 2338.Write well and write cleverly.Apply the same standards for good style and structure that you expect in the work you are reviewing to your own writing.9.Take your stand with conviction.Do not be timid.Write with confidence and assurance.10.Have a little charity.Remember this in particular when you are writing about amateur artists instead of professionals.But even in dealing with seasoned professionals, take into consideration all factors when you decide you love or hate something.Ruehlmann says that the structure of a review can be as varied as any other type of feature article.He says you must remain flexible to permit the review to take the form necessary to make your points understandable.He also emphasizes the need for readable reviews.This is done, he adds, by use of specific examples to support opinion and to enliven the critical writing.Good writing is what sells your work, regardless of whether you are a staff writer or freelancer.Writing must keep readers interested.Andy Rathbone (1998, personal communication), a San Diegobased author, writes both product reviews and restaurant reviews.He believes opinion writing should be stimulating for readers: You have to hold the reader's interest by going close to the edge, but not over.Nobody wants to read a boring opinion.However, if you go too far in one direction, you'll be branded as a radical, and lose the reader's respect and, more important, the reader's longterm interest.Walking that edge—being radical enough to be interesting, yet still have that truthful edge that makes people nod their heads—is the key.Although straight entertainment feature writing is normally in third person, there are two schools of thought about perspective in personal opinionbased writing.One side argues for first person writing.The other advocates third person [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |
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