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Writing for the Mass Media, 6/E
James G. Stovall, University of Tennessee - Knoxville

ISBN-10: 0205449727
ISBN-13: 9780205449729

Publisher: Pearson
Copyright: 2006
Format: Paper; 384 pp
Published: 06/17/2005

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Description

Now in its Sixth Edition, Writing for the Mass Media remains one of the clearest and most efficient introductions to media writing on the market.

This successful text offers a simple organization, clear writing, abundant exercises, and precise examples that give students the information about media writing and the opportunity to develop their skills as professional writers. Using a workbook-style format, it introduces and explains the major forms of media writing—inverted pyramid for print and Web, dramatic unity for broadcast, copy platforms for advertising, and the various writing structures required for public relations—and covers all major areas of media, including the Internet. Its basic and practical approach make it an excellent text for an introductory writing course.

Features

Abundant exercise material at the end of each chapter allows students to practice the principles of good writing and offers them the challenge of writing in a media environment.
Simple, straightforward explanations of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style rules that provide students with the basic foundation on which to build good writing (Chs. 2 & 3).
Exercises that deal with some of the most common writing problems, such as use of the comma and pronoun-antecedent agreement, are featured in the text.
Numerous examples of the concepts provide students with models from which to learn.
Information on legal aspects and problems of writing for the media gives students a complete picture of writing for publication in the media.
A chapter on writing for the Internet (Ch. 6) details many of the recently developed structures of Web writing—such as labels, headlines, summaries, and weblogs—and discusses the implications of writing in a linking and hypertext environment.
An emphasis in Chapter 1 on becoming a professional writer increases the professional orientation of the book to prepare students more effectively for their future careers.

New To This Edition

A completely rewritten chapter on writing for the Web, including numerous innovative exercises to develop writing skills, takes into account many of the structures and demands of the Web environment, helping students navigate in this medium (Ch. 6).
Many new examples of good writing are featured in the text, against which students are encouraged to model their own writing.
New exercises found in many of the chapters, including those involving grammar and style, allow students to put content into practice.
An updated Companion Website (www.ablongman.com/stovall6e) and Instructor’s Manual, with additional material for lectures and discussion as well as some additional exercise material, provide supplementary material for users.
A glossary provides easy access to definitions of terms used throughout the book.

Table of Contents

Preface.

1. Sit Down & Write.

What is Good Writing?

Getting Ready to Write

Basic Techniques

Writing for the Mass Media

Becoming a Professional

Text and Images

And Finally . . .

Points for Consideration and Discussion

Further Reading

Web Sites

Exercises

2. Basic Tools of Writing.

Grammar

Common Grammar Problems

Punctuation

Spelling

Computer Aids

Words, Words, Words

Writing with Clarity

Points for Consideration and Discussion

Further Reading

Web Sites

Exercises

3. Style and the Stylebook.

Accuracy

Clarity

Brevity

Journalistic Conventions

Journalistic Style

Stylebooks

The Associated Press Stylebook

Language Sensitivity

Conclusion

Points for Consideration and Discussion

Further Reading

Web Sites

Exercises

4. Writing in the Media Environment.

The News Culture

Elements of News

Personal Sources

Interviewing

Observation

Stored Sources of Information

The Importance of Accuracy

Deadlines

Ethical Behavior

Writing by Example

Points for Consideration and Discussion

Further Reading

Web Sites

Exercises

5. Writing for Print.

Characteristics of News Stories

The Inverted Pyramid

The Lead Paragraph

Developing the Story

Using Quotations

Other Story Structures

Types of News Stories

Editing and Rewriting

Writing Feature Stories

Characteristics of Feature Writing

Parts of a Feature Story

The Challenge of Writing

Points for Consideration and Discussion

Further Reading

Web Sites

Exercises

6. Writing for the Web.

Characteristics of the Web

Demands of the Audience

Characteristics of Web Writing

Forms of Writing

Lateral Reporting

Wanted for the Web: Writers and Editors

Points for Consideration and Discussion

Further Reading

Web Sites

Exercises

7. Writing for Broadcast.

Selection of News

Characteristics of Writing

Story Structure

Broadcast Writing Style

Broadcast Copy Preparation

Conclusion

Points for Consideration and Discussion

Further Reading

Web Sites

Exercises

8. Writing Advertising Copy.

A Love—Hate Relationship

The Field of Advertising

Beginning the Process: Needs and Appeals

The Audience

The Product

The Advertising Situation

Copy Platforms

Writing the Ad

Elements of a Print Ad

Writing Advertising for Broadcast

Other Media

Points for Consideration and Discussion

Further Reading

Web Sites

Exercises

9. Writing for Public Relations.

The Work of the PR Practitioner

Characteristics of the PR Practitioner

Writing News Releases

Letters

Company Publications

Oral Presentations

Conclusion

Points for Consideration and Discussion

Further Reading

Web Sites

Exercises

10. Writers & the Law.

The First Amendment

Defamation

The Plaintiff’s Case

Affirmative Defenses

Privacy

Advertising

Broadcast Regulation

Conclusion

Further Reading

Web Sites

Appendix A: Copy-editing Symbols.

Appendix B: Grammar and Diagnostic Exams.

Appendix C: Problem Words and Phrases.

Appendix D: Advertising Copy Sheets.

Appendix E: Glossary.

Index.

Courses

Newswriting and Reporting (Mass Communication / Public Relations / Film)
Media Writing (Mass Communication / Public Relations / Film)

Next Edition(s)

Writing for the Mass Media, 8/E
Stovall
©2012 | Pearson | Paper; 360 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205043445 | ISBN-13: 9780205043446
Net price: $63.75 (What's this?)Brief Description |

Now in its Eighth Edition, Writing for the Mass Media remains one of the clearest and most effective introductions to media writing on the market.

This text, which has been used at more than 450 colleges and universities during its life, offers clear writing, simple organization, abundant exercises, and precise examples that give students information about media writing and opportunities to develop their skills as professional writers. With a focus on a converged style of media writing, and converting that style into real work, this eighth edition maintains its classic and effective text-workbook format while staying ahead of the curve and preparing students for their future careers.

More Info
Writing for the Mass Media, 8/E
Stovall
©2012 | Pearson | Paper; 360 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205043445 | ISBN-13: 9780205043446
Net price: $63.75 (What's this?)Brief Description |

Now in its Eighth Edition, Writing for the Mass Media remains one of the clearest and most effective introductions to media writing on the market.

This text, which has been used at more than 450 colleges and universities during its life, offers clear writing, simple organization, abundant exercises, and precise examples that give students information about media writing and opportunities to develop their skills as professional writers. With a focus on a converged style of media writing, and converting that style into real work, this eighth edition maintains its classic and effective text-workbook format while staying ahead of the curve and preparing students for their future careers.

More Info
Writing for the Mass Media, 7/E
Stovall
©2009 | Pearson | Paper; 384 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205627846 | ISBN-13: 9780205627844
Suggested retail price: $85.00 Net price: $63.75 (What's this?)Brief Description |
Now in its Seventh Edition, Writing for the Mass Media remains one of the clearest and most effective introductions to media writing on the market.

This text, which has been used at more than 450 colleges and universities during its life, offers clear writing, simple organization, abundant exercises, and precise examples that give students information about media writing and opportunities to develop their skills as professional writers. Using a text-workbook format, it introduces and explains the major forms of media writing–inverted pyramid and other story structures for print, emerging forms for the Web, dramatic unity for broadcast, copy platforms for advertising, and the various writing structures required for public relations. The basic and practical approach of Writing for the Mass Media makes it an excellent text for an introductory writing course.

More Info

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Backcover Copy

Backcover Copy

This successful text offers a simple organization, clear writing, abundant exercises, and precise examples that give students the information about media writing and the opportunity to develop their skills as professional writers. Using a workbook-style format, it introduces and explains the major forms of media writing: inverted pyramid for print and Web, dramatic unity for broadcast, copy platforms for advertising, and the various writing structures required for public relations. Writing for the Mass Media also covers all major areas of media, including the Internet. In addition, its basic and practical approach makes this text an excellent book for any introductory writing course.

New to the Sixth Edition

A completely rewritten chapter on writing for the Web uses innovative exercises to develop writing skills, accounts for many of the structures and demands of the web environment, and helps students navigate in this medium.
Many new examples of good writing are featured in the text, against which students are encouraged to model their own writing.
New exercises found in many of the chapters, including those involving grammar and style, allow students to put content into practice.
An updated Companion Website (www.ablongman.com/stovall6e) and Instructor’s Manual, with additional material for lectures and discussion, as well as some additional exercise material, provide supplementary material for users.
A glossary provides easy access to definitions of terms used throughout the book.

Praise for Writing for the Mass Media

“Stovall’s strengths are many. . .the book is a bargain and the inclusion of exercises for each chapter heightens its bargain status. Likewise, the back-to-basics approach makes the book accessible to a wide range of students.”

“For those who are in search of breadth, Stovall’s greatest virtue has to be the diversity of media writing tasks addressed. Not one of the competitors that I have used offers nearly the diversity of writing assignments treated by Stovall.”
Laurence W. Fennelly, Macon State College

“Stovall’s text is easy to read and the information is easy to access for any entry-level course in media writing.”
Christine Cranford, East Carolina University

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Websites and Online Courses

Websites and Online Courses

Companion Website for Writing for the Mass Media, 6/E
Stovall
©2006 | Pearson | On-line Supplement | Live
ISBN-10: 020547019X | ISBN-13: 9780205470198
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Websites and online courses

eLearning & Assessment

Websites and Online Courses

Course & Discipline Resources

For Media Writing
For Newswriting and Reporting
For the Mass Communication / Public Relations / Film Discipline

Instructor's Manual (Download Only), 6/E
Stovall
©2006 | Pearson | On-line Supplement; 128 pp | Live
ISBN-10: 0205470246 | ISBN-13: 9780205470242

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Companion Website for Writing for the Mass Media, 6/E
Stovall
©2006 | Pearson | On-line Supplement | Live
ISBN-10: 020547019X | ISBN-13: 9780205470198
More Info

Websites and online courses

Companion Website for Writing for the Mass Media, 6/E
Stovall
©2006 | Pearson | On-line Supplement | Live
ISBN-10: 020547019X | ISBN-13: 9780205470198
More Info

For Media Writing

Study Card for Journalism and News Writing
Aucoin
©2010 | Pearson | Study Card; 2 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205755542 | ISBN-13: 9780205755547
Suggested retail price: $9.80Net price: $7.35 (What's this?)More Info

For Newswriting and Reporting

For the Mass Communication / Public Relations / Film Discipline

Allyn & Bacon Digital Media Archive for Communication, Version 3.0, 3/E
Allyn & Bacon
©2005 | Pearson | CD-ROM Only; 32 pp | Out of Stock
ISBN-10: 0205437095 | ISBN-13: 9780205437092
Suggested retail price: $0.00Net price: $0.00 (What's this?)More Info

CPS RF Classroom Performance System
eInstruction
©2010 | Pearson | Electronic Supplement | Available
ISBN-10: 020577864X | ISBN-13: 9780205778645
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iClicker Classroom Response System
iClicker & Allyn & Bacon/Longman
©2008 | Pearson | Electronic Supplement | Available
ISBN-10: 0205594506 | ISBN-13: 9780205594504
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InterWrite PRS RF (Personal Response System)
InterWrite PRS & Allyn & Bacon/Longman
©2005 | Pearson | Electronic Supplement | Available
ISBN-10: 0205436951 | ISBN-13: 9780205436958
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MySearchLab -- Standalone Access Card
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©2010 | Pearson | Access Code Card | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205699413 | ISBN-13: 9780205699414
Net price: $30.90 (What's this?)More Info

News Resources for Mass Communication -- Access Code Card
Allyn & Bacon
©2006 | Pearson | Access Code Card | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205491235 | ISBN-13: 9780205491230
Net price: $20.10 (What's this?)More Info

Pearson Allyn & Bacon Film Study Site Update (open Access)
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©2011 | Pearson | On-line Supplement | Live
ISBN-10: 0205737595 | ISBN-13: 9780205737598
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What Every Student Should Know About Avoiding Plagiarism
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©2007 | Pearson | Paper; 80 pp | Instock
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What Every Student Should Know About Citing Sources with APA Documentation: Updated for APA Sixth Edition, 2/E
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What Every Student Should Know About Citing Sources with MLA Documentation, Update Edition
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What Every Student Should Know About Listening
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What Every Student Should Know About Practicing Peer Review
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What Every Student Should Know About Preparing Effective Oral Presentations
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©2007 | Pearson | Paper; 96 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205505457 | ISBN-13: 9780205505456
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What Every Student Should Know About Procrastination
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©2008 | Pearson | Paper; 64 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205582117 | ISBN-13: 9780205582112
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What Every Student Should Know About Researching Online
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©2007 | Pearson | Paper | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321445317 | ISBN-13: 9780321445315
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What Every Student Should Know About Study Skills
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©2007 | Pearson | Paper; 72 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321447360 | ISBN-13: 9780321447364
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What Every Student Should Know About Using a Handbook
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©2009 | Pearson | Paper; 80 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205563848 | ISBN-13: 9780205563845
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Websites and Online Courses

Companion Website for Writing for the Mass Media, 6/E
Stovall
©2006 | Pearson | On-line Supplement | Live
ISBN-10: 020547019X | ISBN-13: 9780205470198
More Info

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Writing for the Mass Media, 6/E