Narrowing Topics Down

by: Gabriela Isobelle Niña N. Vaño

Narrowing topics down can be such a bane to others. But it's never good to write about something that's too general. So, this blog aims to help you with that.

First things first, you need a topic. In choosing a topic, it is advisable that you choose the ones which are in line with your interests. If you're fascinated with books, then go for books. If youre fascinated with fashion, then cover that as well, and so on.

After finding a topic, you must then choose a self-limiting topic under that. For your article to be effective, it is best that you cover a specific aspect of your chosen topic. Take for example, you chose to write about footwear. Instead of writing everything about footwear, you can write about the kind of footwear which is best suited for (let's say for example) summer. You can also write about a specific brand of footwear. For example, you can write about Converse, how it was popularized and so on.

Just in case you still have trouble finding a self-limiting topic, you can make use of outlines. A general topic always has subtopics. You can list down these sub topics and from there you can just scratch out the topics that don't really appeal to you. You can continue this process until you find the outline that's just right for you.

If this style still doesn't work well with you, you can also try a more subjective approach. Given that you have a topic and that it is interesting enough for people to read, you can narrow it down by taking and breaking it into categories and asking the five W's and the H. You can also try to evaluate similarities and differences within the topic or, with the topic and another topic.

Finally, you can even consider the following areas related to the topic:

• The problems faced by the topic
• The problems overcome by the topic
• The motives of the topic
• The topic's effects on a group
• The topic as a member of a group
• The group affected by the topic
• The group getting benefits from the topic
• The group responsible for the topic, etc...

Enough said, that ends this blog. Hopefully this helped and that narrowing topics down won't be as hard as it used to be. Have a good day!

HOW TO CHOOSE A TOPIC (Overall)

Rachelle D. Sindo
University of the Philippines in the Visayas-Cebu College; BA Mass Communication 2
Mobile number: 09289072778; E-mail address: rachelle_sindo@yahoo.com.ph

SUBJECT: How to choose a topic (General topic)
Characters with space: 3, 509

A Good Choice, Indeed
You love foods. All of us definitely do. Yet, when instances occur that we have to really decide only one food that we could eat, I tell you, it will not be as easy as loving it anymore.

This scenario is somehow similar to a journalist who loves playing with a pen and its ink or with a computer and its encoding software. But then, when the writing is no more free and its time already to choose one specific topic to write, just like picking one food to feed yourself, it will not anymore be a simple task to do.

I could absolutely relate in both situations mentioned above. I am a food lover and at the same time, an amateur journalist. Although food and an article are entirely different things, choosing what to eat and deciding what to write have certain similarities that would make my comparison justifiable.

Let us begin with the question: how do you choose a topic for an article?

Well, this query has been answered so numerous times already but what I will be sharing with you are the class priorities of some of the 2nd year Journalism 103 (Interpretive Writing) students of the Mass Communication program in the University of the Philippines in the Visayas – Cebu College, based on their experiences in their Journalism 102 (News Writing) course.

First on the list is to choose a topic according to your interest just as you choose your food according to what your appetite dictates. “It is easier to write an article if you yourself love to write about it,” says one student.

Your proximity to source or your connection is another approach. Likewise, most of your choices on what to eat are the most accessible foods in your place or foods in which the ingredients needed are readily available. This simply indicates that if you already have an idea of whom to interview for a specific topic, it will not be difficult to make a story of it anymore.

Third in rank is choosing a topic depending upon the relevant events or current issues just as the newest cuisine in town affects your preference of food. Also in the third spot is the consideration of suggested topic of family members and friends. Recommended course of others is similarly an alternative in choosing what to eat.

Surfing the net or researching is also an option. “Nowadays, the world wide web provides you with so many good ideas on what to write,” remarks another student. Correspondingly, exploring restaurants, food chains, and eateries gives you a handful of menu to choose from.

Deciding a topic based on the events attended, activities undertaken, and unique things discovered are all fourth in the list. In one way or another, these are all identical to eating something which you have tried or tasted before and foods that are exotic or rarely eaten.

Sports tidbits and ideas that are products of brainstorming are among the least cited ways of selecting a topic. These may apply to selecting a food that are energizing and foods which are outcomes of prior thinking. According to the sources of the said techniques, sports is ting and is an interesting and unusual topic to write about while brainstorming is an effective way of having various ideas for an article. Sports writing, however, is not everyone’s forte and the process of brainstorming is usually time-consuming. Hence, these are not applied by the majority of the respondents.

One student also wrote a distinctive way of how to choose a subject. A topic that just pop up in his/her mind is what he/she considers to be the topic destined for him/her. This can probably be associated when you choose a food merely because you happened to pass by it or encountered it along your way. Nevertheless, this method should not be practiced since it is not reliable and this mentality is not applicable to journalists who have deadlines to meet.
These are only few of the many techniques on how to choose a topic to write and you can even have your personal manner of doing so. It does not matter how you arrived on a topic as long as it will be a valuable article serving its purpose to persuade, inform or entertain. And this tells so much truth on deciding what food to eat. For as long as it satisfies your cravings, dispenses nutrients to your body, and supplies you with vitality, it will always be a good choice.

Overview in Finalizing a Proposal

by: Julie A. Nieva

A journey of a thousand begins with a single step. This quote from the famous Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, can be applied to all kinds of work, especially in journalism.

Like a ladder to success, a writer must follow certain steps in order to accomplish a story. One of these steps is finalizing a proposal.

A proposal serves as a guide in writing an article. However, even coming up with a topic is hard.

When asked about what steps should be undertaken in finalizing a proposal, majority of our journalism class agreed that finding a definite angle, having enough sources to interview, conducting research for additional facts and resources, looking for a newsworthy topic, seeking suggestions from pros, and checking if the article is time-constrained are the factors that should be considered in finalizing a proposal.

Our cluster, however, has different priorities on the steps in finalizing a proposal.

First, the cluster believes that looking for a newsworthy topic is important. An article has a bigger chance of getting published and can easily attract attention from the readers if it tackles new things.

Second, with a topic in mind, it is best for the writer to find an interesting angle in discussing the subject. Readers would not want to spend time reading articles with the same ideas and with similar descriptions.

Third, the writer must consider the time or the preparation in writing an article. There are some write-ups that are time-constrained. If the writer is not careful, his/her story might go stale.

Fourth, the writer must check if there are enough sources to interview. To avoid a biased story, an article must have at least two or three sources in order to present the different sides of the story.

Fifth, conducting research for additional facts is also essential. Readers would understand better if a lot of information is included.

Finally, seeking suggestions from the readers is also advisable. After all, the article is written to entertain, inform and educate the mass.

With these steps in hand, the cluster believes that a writer can finalize a good proposal that will be a guide in writing an interesting and newsworthy article.

how to choose a topic to write about by manabat

Getting Your Article Published in a Newspaper or Magazine

By Jessa Angelie S. Lausa


You have written a good article and you want the people to read it because you’ve worked hard for it, so get it published.


Getting your article published is as hard as making the article itself. But do not be discouraged. The writer needs to have hard work, perseverance, and a positive mental attitude if he/she wants his/her article to be published.


Want to get your article printed on papers with your name on it? Here are some tips that will guide you in getting your article published:


1. Ask your peers and a professional to read and criticize your article.

Even when you think that your article is okay already, it is always
better to let your peers and a professional read it to check on its
grammar and comment on it. Value their comments, and follow their
suggestions to elevate your article’s quality. Don’t submit a mediocre
article to an editor because there are thousands of articles that you
compete with.


2. Look for a specific section of a paper/ magazine where your article best
fits.

Gather a few issues of a newspaper or a magazine. Study carefully on
how they put each topic to a specific section. Study how each topic in
a section is related to each other or study their common denominator.
Then see if your article has some similarities so it would fit to that
section. For instance, are the stories in that section all about
business, sports, or different stories in you community? Contribute
your article to the section where it best fits.


3. Play by the sections rules.

After finding the specific section, follow the rules of writing in
that section where you plan to contribute. Study the flow of the
stories, its length, characters, point of view, and the setting.


4. Revise.

Make your article fit to the section according to its rules. Have your
grammar, spelling, and diction checked. Don’t submit the same
article to different editors at the same time. Each section of
newspaper/magazine has its own editor, should you submit your
article of another paper/magazine, (granted it was rejected by the
first editor) revise it. Don’t forget to include your friends’ and
mentors’ suggestions in revising your article.


5. Make an attention-grabbing query letter.

According to Dave Haslett, the founder of ideas4u.co.uk, “the
writer’s secret friend is the query letter.” In that query, grab the
editor’s attention by telling an anecdote or something that would
make him/her read through the entire query and your article. Include
in your query your relevant experience, why there’s a real need for
the article to be published, and the problem it will help its readers
to overcome. Keep your query letter to a single page.


6. Submit your article.

Don’t attach your files when using email because it takes time for
the editor to download it, and assume that the editor is always busy.
Copy and paste your article to the text box after your query letter.
Choose a bigger font size. Write a short witty phrase about your
article as your subject, and cc it to your own email address to check
that it was received. Before clicking send, proofread everything.


7. Monitor the paper.

Don’t wait for the editor to reply to your email because most of them
don’t. If the editor wants you to revise it, or asks some questions
about it, answer them because your chance of getting published is
getting big. If after a week, your article hasn’t got published or you
hear nothing from the editor, ask him/her politely if he/she has
received and read it. If she/he does, ask about its potential to get
published. If she/he rejects it, withdraw your article and tell the
editor you’ll submit to another paper.



Some tips that will also increase your article’s potential to be published is to send in photographs, and to relate your article according to the theme of the paper. Every writer gets rejected but you shouldn’t give up on it. Always have a positive attitude and try it again.

If your article gets published, don’t forget to thank your editor. Build a good relationship between you and your editors because you will need them for your future articles.When your article gets published, you'll definitely feel that the juice is worth the squeeze, so squeeze some more and squeeze harder!

Finalizing the writing proposal

By Katreena M. Bisnar

Finalizing one’s writing proposal is too tricky a matter, primarily considering the readability of the article. There are a lot of points to take note which ranges from relevant topics down to the number of credible sources available for interviews and clarifications. We recently had a class discussion on good writing practices, and we came up with a synthesized account of the class’ and our cluster’s opinions on how to firm up your writing schemes. All views are based on our personal experiences of running around, trying to get good stories fit for publication.

In general, both the class and our cluster highly prioritize the availability and number of credible sources in coming up with their respective write-ups. It is necessary as our primary aim in writing is to inform the readers what they have to know. The many credible resources you have, the more reputable your writing will be.

Topics that are fresh and relevant rank second among the two groups. It is seen to be vital to think of something that is new and useful to the people. It is also good to zero in on striking angles as it will most assure readability. Our cluster also stresses the importance of following the advices rendered by peers and mentors.

The class is one in saying that topics that are timely should be sought for. It is a basic principle in writing for print media as the readers will find it very useful and sensible to come across articles that tell them what is currently in the present.

Close is the whole group’s idea of brainstorming for topics in advance. We believe that as writers, we should have a vast reservoir of newsworthy topics just to prevent us from having shortages in gathering news bits. Writers must have an eye and an ear for great stories. This only follows that the more ideas we have in store, the more alternative topics we can choose from.

Our own cluster also adds the importance of asking what the readers would want and enjoy reading. It is good because you will then have a number of audiences ready to read your article. And further, our group also suggests that journalists pursue writing topics that they are comfortable with. With a natural interest on the topic you are writing, you will find it convenient to support your ideas with relevant information.

Choosing a Publication/Section

GROUP TWO
CHOOSING A PUBLICATION
By: Angelica Odias

Choosing where your article fits might be confusing than writing the article itself.
Being new in the writing industry and not knowing a lot of people in the field are one of the primary reasons why amateur writers think it is difficult to choose a spot for their article.

A survey conducted on a group of journalism students showed a lot of possible solutions to this problem.

Here are some points for you to ponder on when you’re having a hard time choosing a section/ publication for your article:

Browse specific sections of newspapers. Take a peek at local dailies and know what sections are there in each page. If you’ll know what the usual topic being published by these sections, it’ll be a lot easier for you to find a target section where you can contribute your article.

Consider the editor’s attitude. The fate of your article will be judged solely by the editor. The editor has the power to make or break your chance of being published. That is why you should know a thing or two about them.

Ask around if these editors are approachable, or what kind of style do they prefer and what topics or subjects do they usually find amusing. Now, if your target editor seems to be of a good nature according to what you heard from others, take a risk by approaching them yourself. You can also jot down the contact details of editors as you browse local dailies if in case you don’t have any idea where to contact the editor of your choice.

Feel the vibe. Try to feel if your article has a bigger possibility to be published or not. Check out if the section you’d been considering to contribute to is in need of more articles. Look for a section that is accessible to a newbie like you; for example, the community section. Usually, student writers start off by contributing community news because it is one of the most accessible sections in newspapers.

Mentors to the rescue. Try to consider your mentor’s opinion and advise when you choose a section or publication. They are the ones deemed to be knowledgeable enough on specific sections of newspapers so asking for their views and suggestions isn’t a bad option.

The most-read paper/ section wins. Writers want their articles to be read not just by their family and friends but also by strangers. A writer wants their article to be appreciated by many, that’s why they want to attract readers as many as they can. When choosing a publication/ section for your article, keep in mind that if you want people to read your story and make them relate to it so also try to consider the popularity of that section. The more popular the section, the more readers you’ll get.

Suggestions from friends. Listen to what your friends say, ask them if they know a publication/ section that will possibly publish your article. Consulting your pal is easier than approaching your mentor but it can also be as equally effective especially if your friends once had their experience of submitting articles on different sections. So go ahead, and pay attention to what your trustworthy pals have to say.

background of a person to be consulted in choosing a publication

By Donna Faye M. Loayon

As a Journalism student, you need to write articles of various subjects which are to be submitted to different publications. However, you sometimes do not know where exactly to contribute them. When you have so many choices, you think of people who can help you out, right? Now, you should consider what kind of background necessary in a person to be consulted.
Well, here are some:

• Educational Background. This is a very important thing to consider. How would you expect an uneducated person to help you out? This is not to discriminate the uneducated but hey this is reality! The educated can surely formulate opinion which may aid you.

• Age. People of different ages vary in formulating opinion. If you are writing an article about the youth, most likely teens will suggest that you contribute it to a youth-oriented section. Same is true to kids; they would expect your article to be contributed in a kid-inclined section.

• Occupation and Civil Position. The occupation and civil position of a person affects his/her preference. In writing your article, you must think for whom is the article, who would benefit from it. For instance, you are writing an article regarding business. Someone who ventures in an enterprise will definitely suggest to contribute it to an enterprise/ business section of a publication. Your article may eventually inform other businessmen and in turn provide a link among them.

• You should definitely ask someone who reads newspapers. He/ She absolutely knows the trend of various sections in a publication. He/ She must be familiar of the style and the content of sections

I hope you consider all these background in a person necessary. So, go ahead, find someone who has what it takes to be consulted!