Q: The headline should grab the reader’s attention and give them a taste of what the article is about. A good rule of thumb is to tell the reader the “what” and “where” in the headline. Keep the headline short and clear, perhaps as brief as 4-5 words.  For example, you may create a headline like, “Teen Girl Missing in Okotoks” or “Congress Stalls on Family Planning Bill.” In some cases, it may be easier to save the headline for last, after you have written the article, so you know what the focus of the article is and can sum it up clearly. The lead, also spelled "lede,” contains the story's most essential details. The lead should briefly answer, “Who,” “What,” “When,” “Where,” “Why,” and “How” for the reader. It should also hook the reader in and encourage them to keep reading. For example, you may write a lead like, "An outbreak of flu in San Francisco has led to 3 elementary school closings this week, according to school officials." Or, "A missing girl originally from Okotoks was found Monday in an abandoned cabin in the Minnetonka area, according to local police." Readers should be able to skim through the first section in the article and get the necessary information about the topic. Provide current, up to date information about the topic in the first 1-2 paragraphs of the article. This is known as the inverted pyramid approach. For example, you may write, “10-12 students have been diagnosed with the flu and health officials fear it could continue to spread if it is not contained.” This is where you answer the questions, “Why” and “How” in more detail, providing the reader with in-depth coverage. You may provide detailed background on the subject or briefly discuss a past timeline of events that relate to the topic or incident. Keep each paragraph to no more than 2-3 sentences so the reader can follow along easily. For example, you may write, “The teen girl was reported missing on Friday afternoon by her mother after she did not come home from a study date at a friend’s house. She is the second girl to be reported missing in the past 2 weeks from the Okotoks area.” Put at least 1 strong supporting quote in the first section of the article, as well as 1-2 more in the secondary sections of the article. Use quotes that support any information you provide that is not common knowledge. Stick to quotes that are short, clear, and informative for readers. Always attribute the quotes to a source when you include them in the article.  For example, you may write, “‘The girl is shaken, but does not appear to have any serious injuries,’ stated local Police Chief Wilborn.” Or you may write, “According to a statement by school officials, ‘The shutdown will prevent the flu from spreading further and ensure the safety of our students.’” Avoid using long quotes or more than 4 quotes in the article, as the reader may get confused or lost if there are too many quotations. Wrap up the article by including a quote that feels impactful and leaves the reader with a sense of understanding. You can also include a link to an organization’s website or event if the article focuses on the organization.  For example, you may write, “The girl’s mother expressed relief for her daughter and concern about her community, noting, ‘I just hope no other girls go missing in this area.’” Or you may write, “Local health officials are urging parents to check the municipal health and wellness website, www.hw.org, for updates on when schools are able to reopen.”
A: Create an engaging, informative headline. Open the article with a “lead” first sentence. Place information chronologically, starting with the most current, important details. Expand on key details in the rest of the article. Include at least 2-3 supporting quotations from sources. End with an informative quote or a link to more information.

Q: There are a lot of cliches that people use when other people are going through hard times, and more often than not these common responses just feel insincere or painful to the recipient. Examples of what not to say include:  "God will never give you more than you can handle," or its even-worse variation, "This is God's will." Sometimes well meaning people of faith say this phrase, and they may truly believe it, but it can feel very harsh to the recipient, especially if she is experiencing something that is very difficult or overwhelming. Also, the person may not believe in God. "I know how you feel." Sometimes people say this phrase to others who are going through hard times, and while its true that everyone has experienced trials in life, it's impossible to know how someone else is feeling. This phrase is even worse if its accompanied by personal anecdotes that really don't match the intensity of what the sufferer is experiencing. For example, if someone is facing the loss of a limb, don't equate it to the time that you broke your arm. It's not the same thing. However, if you have truly had an experience that is on par with the experience the sufferer is going through, it's ok to talk about and say "I've been through something similar." You'll be ok." This is a common phrase when people don't know what to say, and we often say it more as a wish than a statement of fact. In fact, you don't know if someone will be ok, and in many cases of chronic or terminal illness, the person will NOT be ok. They may die, or be condemned to a life of physical suffering. Saying they will be ok minimizes the experience they are having. "At least..." Don't minimize the person's suffering by suggesting they should be thankful that their situation isn't worse. In particular, avoid discussing minor health issues such as a headache or a cold. This can vary depending on your relationship with the person and the length of their illness. If they are chronically ill, or a very close confidant, it is more likely to be appropriate to discuss things that you're going through. While its true that its important to be sensitive to the feelings of someone who is sick, sometimes we overcompensate for our fear of doing the wrong thing by doing nothing at all. Its better to stick your foot in your mouth and apologize than it is to just ignore your sick friend altogether. If you do mess up and say something insensitive, just say, "I don't know why I said that. I really don't know what to say. This situation is just very hard." Your friend will understand. Try to pay attention to your friend's cues so that you don't visit too frequently or overstay your welcome. When someone is extremely sick especially, it can be very difficult to carry on a conversation and they won't want to offend you so may over-tax themselves by trying to please you.  If your friend seems distracted by television or her phone, or seems like she is struggling to fall asleep, those might be signs that she is growing tired of the visit. Don't take it personally! Just remember she is dealing with lot, both physically and emotionally, and it can be taxing. Be mindful of the time, and be sure that you don't extend your stay into mealtimes or other times that your friend may need to be alone. Ask if your friend would like you to pick up some food for them or cook them a meal if you plan to visit during mealtime.
A:
Watch out for common faux pas. Don't complain about your own health problems. Don't let fear of doing the wrong thing keep you from doing anything at all. Be considerate.