In the article you will read about what a note is, what style of speech this type of text belongs to, learn how to write an information note and its distinctive features, the principle of writing “inverted pyramid” and the structure of a note, and also get acquainted with the types of notes and their examples.
Notes are widely used by printed publications and, in general, the media to quickly transmit information messages to the audience about current, significant and interesting events.
What is a note and its distinctive features
A note is a short message about a new event or fact.
The main function of a note is to provide answers to the questions what?, where? and when?
Distinctive features of the information note:
- reliability of the fact
- novelty,
- brevity,
- relevance,
- minimum details
- the use of well-known terms (exchange, transaction, exchange rate, shadow market, broker, file),
- use of commonly used and socio-political vocabulary,
- the use of words and speech patterns characteristic of an official business style (carry out activities for the reporting period, taking into account),
- predominance of nouns,
- sentences are often complex.
The note refers to the journalistic style of speech, which is used in the media: television, Internet, newspapers, magazines, radio.
An example of a note in a journalistic style:
“The amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, which were approved by more than three quarters of the citizens who voted, came into force on Saturday, July 4.
The updated text of the country's basic law has already been published by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
206 amendments have been made to the Constitution. In this regard, 98 existing laws will need to be changed.”
Arguments and Facts AIF.ru
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What is newspaper style
The note is a newspaper creation. She was born for the newspaper and with its help she developed her own style. To express the most necessary things in a short article of two or three paragraphs, chopped phrases, pathetic language, slogans and calls to action are used. Clichés have emerged - established expressions often used in the press. Gradually, the language of the newspaper moved away from colloquial speech and literary prose. It has become a tool for transmitting information, devoid of philosophical reflection.
Therefore, television and radio, which came later, formed a different style of communication. At first, radio correspondents, commenting on events on the air, began to describe what they saw. They say about good sports commentators that a picture is not needed for such a report. Later, with the advent of television, the ability to see details and draw the viewer’s attention to a certain moment became an important ability of the presenter. Calls: “Do you hear?”, “Take a closer look!” - a distinctive feature of these performances.
But the desire to present information briefly and concisely is similar to all three types of messages. The text of the note is announced on the radio in the news, running as a running line under the video image. Therefore, a newspaper article is considered the foundation of journalism.
Tasks that an information note performs
The main task of an information note, just like other texts related to the journalistic style, is to provide information about some socially significant event. In addition, the note may contain assumptions, hypotheses, forecasts, recommendations, regulatory and evaluative information.
The purpose of the note does not include a detailed analysis of the event.
The main thing is to inform the mass recipient about an event that has happened or will happen in the future. If the news needs to be covered in more detail, then the journalist can indicate the source of information, add quotes and provide statistics.
Article “How to write a short biographical sketch: recommendations, genre features of the essay, types and an example of a biographical sketch.”
Techniques that help organize information
It is quite difficult to make a short note from voluminous material. Write a draft first, then remove everything unnecessary from it. We offer several actions that will clear the text of unnecessary garbage:
- Introductory structures. They will not help the reader solve his problem.
- Evaluative expressions. If this is not a review, then they are of no use. Excellent forms and comparisons are also removed - the latest, super practical and others are not needed in the note.
- Household stamps. Anything that does not provide useful information is not required in this genre. Therefore, feel free to remove all sorts of “magically”, “like clockwork” and others.
- Iro-bureaucratism. Anything that is too difficult to read is replaced or removed. You should not write “implementation of tasks for planting green spaces.” It’s better to say “trees and shrubs will be planted.” This will make it easier to read and understand.
- Formalisms. Everything should be beneficial to the one who reads this. Therefore, not only interfering structures are removed, but also those that are not clear. Instead of “the hot water supply will be turned off,” it is recommended to say that without regular repairs, the pipes will fail and then the repair work will last indefinitely.
We have given an example of correct and unsuccessful writing and now you know how to write notes correctly. It is worth distinguishing between newspaper style and being able to adjust messages in accordance with it, because throughout life everyone has to deal with journalism and the need to write letters or petitions. There is nothing complicated about this, the main thing is to correctly apply the acquired knowledge.
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How to write an informational note: note structure and writing principles
How to Write an Informational Note Using the Inverted Pyramid Principle
When writing a note, the structure traditional for the journalistic style of speech is used: information is presented in descending order, that is, its value and importance decreases from the beginning of the text to its end. This method of writing notes is called the “inverted pyramid principle.”
Conventionally, a note built on the “inverted pyramid” principle consists of 4 parts:
- Heading . The headlines of news articles in the media are most often quite succinct and informative - within 10 words. The title itself usually reveals the main idea of the note. For example: “Residents of Moscow and the region were warned about heavy snowfall.”
- Lead . This is the first or leading paragraph of the text, the “header” or abstract of the article, which sets out the main idea of the text, only the most valuable information:
“Residents of Moscow and the region were warned about heavy snowfall that will begin on the evening of January 3.”
- The main part of the text is a description of the event, details, evidence, photographs, quotes, etc.:
“As the Ministry of Transport of the Moscow Region reported on its Instagram account, about 10% of the monthly precipitation may fall. Motorists are asked to maintain speed limits and distance."
- The final part is additional information, similar, interesting materials, journalistic assessment. This part is optional:
“The consequences of the previous snowfall in the Moscow region were cleared by Sunday morning - about 900 special vehicles took to the roads of the region. More than 8 thousand kilometers of roads have been cleared and treated with reagents.” (Arguments and Facts).
The site has a separate detailed article dedicated to the “inverted pyramid principle” in journalism.
Information Note Structure
In a note, the author usually tells the reader:
- About the event - what happened?
- About time - when?
- About the place - where?
- About the participants - who?
- About the circumstances - how?
- About the source of information - how do you know?
- About the predicted development of the event - what will happen next?
What questions the journalist will answer in the text of the information note and the number of these questions will depend on the amount of information he has and the purpose of the note. These questions can be arranged in a wide variety of order, at the discretion of the author.
When writing a note, it is important to consider another point - whether it is necessary to connect the event being covered with another event that is already known to a wide audience. In this case, the structure of the note will be more complex, because it is necessary not only to talk about the event that occurred, but also to connect this fact with existing information.
Varieties
The authors use 3 types:
- Informational is a standard type that involves only information and facts. Usually applicable in the event genre.
- Chronicle – important for describing a variety of stories. Everything that happens should be described in sequence. Popular in the subtype of mini-stories.
- Advanced - it provides more data than the previous two varieties. For example, they simply dilute it with additional facts as the news progresses. Others may add a mini-conclusion or a short interview with an expert.
Now let's see what subgenres are popular and look at examples of how to write a note in a newspaper. For each we provide descriptions and explanations.
Event-based
This is news, the subject of which is some event or a certain state of affairs. It necessarily implies a strict answer to all standard questions.
Such a news note is most like a small information message. In an ordinary case, the volume rarely exceeds 4-5 sentences. All this should be written in an official style.
The opening lines must answer what the story is about. There is no need to expand, insert terminology or personal attitude. Proper names are also not welcome. It is permissible to use no more than 2 digits, but remember - if we are talking about victims, then their number cannot be rounded.
At the very end, you can briefly talk about other past or future events.
Announcement note
This is a short message about upcoming concerts, exhibitions and other events. The essence is presented concisely, without exaggeration or speculation. No comparisons with other similar processes. It is permissible to talk a little about what will happen. The time, date, and location must be indicated.
Annotation note
This is the first main and most important source that tells about the object. The subject may be information events that have already taken place. Most often these are books, articles and films. The more competently it is written, the higher the chances that someone will want to study the object completely. It is necessary to present the content in the most interesting way possible to attract readers.
You can spend a lot of time studying what is being described and know it perfectly. But there is a risk that no one will read the text if you leave only general sentences. We advise you to write in such a way that you want to re-familiarize yourself with the work. To notify people about the existence of the play, it is worth indicating not only the title, but also the main qualities, characteristics, and interesting points.
It definitely fits in what is new about this item compared to others. The structure is something like this:
- title;
- subject;
- Problems;
- goals;
- methods of achievement;
- results;
- conclusions.
In the case of a story about artistic material, do not confuse a brief summary with a retelling of the content. The volume rarely exceeds 250 words; everything should be original, structured and compact. References are not used, abbreviations and abbreviations are also not recommended. As a last resort, if you can’t get by, their meaning will certainly be revealed.
It is worth remembering that this genre can only be applied to completed projects. You cannot write a note if the work on the book is not completed.
Mini review
This is more of an evaluative and sometimes advertising construction. The subject of discussion is a play, movie or other phenomenon. Unlike the previous subgenre, the author’s point of view is present here, and the entire narrative is built on it. The goal is to talk about the impression made by what you saw, heard or read.
A nuance - the opinion should not be supported by any evidence, these are simply stated emotions for those who want to see them. No analysis or other complex tools required. This is just the attitude and assessment of the writer. Written in first person.
Blitz portrait
Another example of writing text in the short note genre. Here you can find information about the hero. It talks about the impression a person makes.
Usually this is not a separate species, but part of a large volume of material. For example, a story about what a person did and where he was born.
Mini review
Another small subgenre in which a collection of different events is compared. A common feature is used as a criterion. If several incidents happened at the same time, then they can be studied as a whole. For example, the class wrote a test, and the resulting marks are the subject of review. This also includes objects related to the same topic.
Mini story
It is based on some kind of intrigue. Women's magazines that tell historical and romance short stories often work this way. They talk about relationships, professional or other adventures.
Advice
The main idea is program information. An algorithm is laid down that a person must follow in order to achieve the desired result. If you follow everything step by step, it will be easy.
If you need to learn how to correctly compose any type of text, we recommend that you start taking courses on the website of the International School of Professions. During the classes you can learn a lot of different information and easily explore new specialties and directions. And for those who are no longer new to this business, programs have been prepared to study in-depth courses and improve their skills.
How to write an informational note in a journalistic style: types of notes and their examples
Before you start writing a note, you need to decide what genre you need to write in, and what type of note is suitable specifically for the particular event being covered.
So that you can quickly navigate and not make a mistake with your choice, later in the article we will look at the types of notes with visual examples.
So, the following types of notes :
- Event note
An event note is a message about an event that has happened or will happen in the near future. This type of notes is used by the media more often than others.
Example of an event note:
“Attack on the airport in Yemen
Several mortar shells exploded on Wednesday at Aden airport simultaneously with the arrival of ministers of the new Yemeni government.
According to the pan-Arab TV channel, representatives of the Yemeni government were not injured. The explosions occurred in the arrival hall before the members of the Cabinet of Ministers left the aircraft.”
Arguments and Facts
- Announcement
Announcement is a message about upcoming cultural events, the construction of new buildings, etc. It is such messages that attract most of the public to attend various cultural events.
The main purpose of the announcement is to provide brief but objective information about the time and main aspects of the planned event, about its most important prerequisites and stages.
Announcement example:
» It is planned to open 46 New Year's fairs in the Moscow region, RIAMO writes, citing acting. O. Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Moscow Region Sergei Voskresensky.
Thematic trading platforms will operate in 31 urban districts of the region. The first nine of them will open on Monday, December 14. The mass opening of fairs starts on December 20, when New Year's trade reaches its peak.
The fairs will include festive celebrations with Father Frost and the Snow Maiden, tasting of farm products, competitions and sweepstakes for adults and children, and various master classes.
New Year's fairs will run until December 31.”
- annotation
An abstract is a note about published books and articles, with the aim of giving a brief description of their main qualities.
Annotation example:
"Why do we speak: the history of speech from Neanderthals to artificial intelligence / trans. from English E. Yu. Myagkova
M.: KoLibri, Azbuka-Atticus, 2021. – 284 p. 3000 copies (n) ISBN 978-5-389-14645-7
The author, an acoustic engineer and BBC radio presenter, demonstrates the basic mechanisms of speech, explaining how the voice defines personality and conveys its characteristics.”
- Mini review
Mini-review - the reviewer briefly, concisely and without unnecessary digressions gives a reasoned assessment of the work.
Read the articles “How to Write a Book Review” and “How to Write a Professional Movie Review.”
Review example:
"Tom Hanks is an American hero." Boris Nikitsky
A good war film by director Aaron Schneider, “Greyhound,” has appeared on the Internet. The main role is played by “People's Artist of the USA” Tom Hanks. The actor also took part in writing the script. The film is simple and clear, propaganda and educational. World War II, the captain of a destroyer, who had not previously participated in hostilities, is tasked with repelling attacks by German submarines on a convoy traveling from America to Liverpool. We see how difficult and dangerous this is, the enemy is treacherous, he has sunk many ships, but the destroyer manages to survive this battle.
The commander, whose beloved is waiting on the shore, does not eat or sleep for several days, and, despite the lack of combat experience, wins. The film is about perseverance, endurance, about war as a job that just needs to be done well in difficult circumstances. We watch this “difficult work” for almost an hour and a half, and it is not tiring, because the relationship between the captain and the first mate and all his subordinates is well built and played well. The ocean is very beautifully shot, on the huge waves of which an American destroyer is fighting a squadron of German submarines. Captivates the captain's humanity. Tom Hanks convincingly played another of his series of positive heroes on whom young Americans are brought up. The film is not a masterpiece, but many such films are released in the USA. It’s surprising that in Russia, where there are many real, not fictitious, heroic war stories, few such films with a clear patriotic moral message are made.”
lgz.ru
- Blitz portrait
A quick portrait is a note with brief information about a person in order to give the audience a primary idea of his personality:
“...In 1995, Time magazine named her “a politician of the 21st century” among the hundred most famous women on the planet; in 2002, she spoke at the 57th session of the UN General Assembly. Two years later, she took fourth place in the presidential elections, gaining 3.84 percent of the vote, and in 2005 she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Three years later, she left politics, began acting in films, writing books, hosting radio and television shows, and is also known as a popular business coach and co-author of a fashion line. We talked about the stormy nineties and today, about politics and economics, about power and opposition, and just about life with one of the most famous women in the country, Irina KHAKAMADA.”
lgz.ru
- Mini-tip
Mini-advice is a note in which the author gives a specific set of actions that can lead the reader to obtain the desired result. For example: advice on housekeeping, improving health and physical fitness, getting rid of bad habits, etc.
Most often, the author of a mini-advice note is an expert in some field of activity.
Example of a mini-tip note:
“Before you start growing greens, take care of the soil,” advises Tatyana Oglezneva, a gardener with 50 years of experience. – It’s best to buy it in a store – that’s what it’s called, soil for growing. It is nutritious and soft. Depending on the type of greenery, select a pot or vessel.”
Many plants will require cling film - it will need to cover the ground from which sprouts are just trying to emerge. Stock up on a spray bottle and a bottle of water for irrigation. And be sure to choose a window sill where you will start “creating”. There are many types of plants that do not need constant bright sun. However, on the north side it is difficult to grow even the most unpretentious greens. In this case, you can purchase special lamps for seedlings and turn them on for several hours a day.
Source: Arguments and Facts
- Mini story
A mini-story is a note about people’s relationships. This type of note is characterized by a small amount of text and the presence of photographs.
An example of a mini-story style note:
“In the Stavropol Territory, 91-year-old Margarita Fedorovna Komarova, a veteran of the Great Patriotic War, was presented with a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation by police officers.
It is noted that Margarita Komarova was born and lived in the Ivanovo region, at the age of 17 she was awarded the medal “For Valiant Labor in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.” After the war, as the Ministry of Internal Affairs clarified, Komarova and her family moved first to the Lugansk region and then to the Stavropol region.
Thus, as part of the ongoing work to regulate the legal status of veterans, employees of the Migration Department of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Stavropol Territory established that a participant in the hostilities against the Nazi invaders lived in the region. The leadership of the regional Main Directorate quickly completed the necessary documents and, on the eve of the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Victory, presented a Russian passport to a veteran of the Great Patriotic War at his place of residence.
According to official representative of the Russian Ministry Irina Volk, law enforcement officers, in the presence of the granddaughter, presented the grandmother with a passport, congratulated her on the upcoming anniversary of the Victory, and also wished her health and long life.”
- Mini review
A mini-review is a note about several events that are united by theme or time during which they occurred.
Mini-review example:
“In Russia, 26,301 cases of coronavirus infection were detected per day, 447 patients with COVID-19 died, 18,897 people recovered. This was reported at the operational headquarters to combat the disease.
As specified, the current growth rate is 0.8%. The most favorable situation in this indicator is observed in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Tyva and the Jewish Autonomous Region.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, over 3.2 million Russians have been infected with the coronavirus, 58,002 people have become victims of the disease, and almost 2.6 million have already recovered.
Earlier it was reported that 386 thousand tests for coronavirus were carried out in the Russian Federation per day. 658,610 people are under medical supervision.”
aif.ru
How the cat was rescued
On March 26, a cat was discovered on a tall pine tree near the Computer Center of Akademgorodok. Clutching the top of the tree, he swung at a 30-meter height. The next day, rescuers' attempts to climb the tree were unsuccessful. The trunk was slippery; it was possible to overcome only half of it. At four o'clock, Igor Anatolyevich, the leader of the circle of young climbers, arrived at the place with two assistants, Alexey and Dmitry. They secured the belay in the middle of the trunk, and with its help Alexey reached the top and removed the frightened cat, placing it in his backpack. At eight o'clock, to the applause of the frozen spectators, he was given into good hands. He hung in the cold wind for at least two days, but now he has nothing to fear.
Words and terms
In the newspaper there are special words, terms, and established expressions. What cliches can a newspaper article have? Example of some:
- Public sector workers.
- Commercial structures.
- According to informed sources.
- Law enforcement agencies.
- Rotorcraft.
- In this period of time.
- Taken under control.
There are emotional clichés:
- Energetic start.
- Firm position.
- All as one.
- The most severe crisis.
