Alamin Ang Kahulugan

Ang wastong pagpili, pagbasa at pagsulat ng balitang pampahayagan at pampaaralan ay lubhang mahalaga sa lahat
lalo pa nga sa isang mag-aaral.

Ang kasanayang ito’y nangangailangan ng masusing paglilimi at malikhaing kaisipang tutukoy sa mga bagay-bagay
sa kapaligiran at sa sandaigdigan.

Anu-anong mga balita ang umaakit ng pansin at pumupukaw ng kawilihan ng isang mambabasa?

Basahin at suriin ang kasunod na balita:

FL SA SEREMONYA SA MEDICAL CENTER

Nanguna kahapon ng hapon ang First Lady at gobernador ng Metropolitan Manila, Imelda R. Marcos, sa seremonya
sa pagsisimula ng trabaho sa Philippine Medical Center sa Campus ng University of the Philippines sa Diliman,
Quezon City sa kabila ng masamang panahon.

Ang seremonya ay makahulugan din para sa mga kaugnay na proyekto ng Center-12 panrehiyong ospital sa buong
bansa at isang pambansang Lung Center sa Metro Manila.

Sa lugar na binabalak tayuan ng PMC, ibinaon ni Mrs. Marcos ang isang time capsule sa panulukang bato na
naglalaman ng detalyadong plano para sa Center. Siya ay tinulungan ni Dr. Gabriel Carreon, Metro Manila Action
Officer na siyang magiging direktor ng Center at ng arkitektong si Jorge Ramos, ng contractor na si Vic Esguera at
project engineer at Undersecretary Aber P. Canlas ng Department of Public Works, Transportation and
Communications.

Sa isang talumpati sa Abelardo Hall, sinabi ni Mrs. Marcos na ang center ang siyang “pisikal na pagpapahayag ng
ating paningin sa tao bilang sentro ng ating pagsisikap," at isang mahalagang bahagi ng pambansang “kaaysan ng
mga institusyong pangkalusugan na magsisilbi sa ating mamamayan maski na sa napakaliblib na lugar."

Sinipi sa Pilipino Express. Hunyo 26,1976

Masagot Mo Kaya?
1. Ano ang isinasaad sa balita?
2. Kailan ginanap ang seremonya sa Medical Center?
3. Bakit kailangan ng bansa ang PMC?
4. Sino ang nagsiganap sa seremonya?
5. Paano itatayo ang binabalak na sentro?
6. Saan naganap ang seremonya? Naakit ba kayo ng balita? Ilahad ang lagom nito sa ilang pangungusap.

MGA SALIGAN SA PAGPILI NG BALITA

Suriin ang kababasang balita kung tumutugon sa sumusunod na mga pamatnubay:

1. Kaangkupan
Sa pagpili ng mga balita, ang edad, karanasan at kakayahan sa pang-unawa ng klase ay dapat isaalang-alang.
Nararapat na malinaw ang pagkakasulat at may sapat na impormasyon.
2. Mapagkakatiwalaan
Ang ikalawang batayan sa pagpili ng balita ay kung ito'y maaaring mapagkatiwalaan. Ang nasasaad na mga
impormasyon ay kailangang magtaglay ng ganap na kawastuan, tamag-tama at naaayon sa mga pangyayaring
pinagmulan ng balita. Ang mambabasa nito’y kailangang suriing mabuti kung totoo o hindi, palagay lamang at di
katotohanan, propaganda at di matapat na palagay ang nilalaman ng binasa. Isalang-alang din ang sariling kuru-kuro
na maaring nais ipahayag o ipahiwatig ng isang tao, samahan, institusyon o sangay na kaugnay sa balitang ito. Ang
pagtuklas sa katunayan kung ang baIita ay may mapanghahawakang katotohanan ay gagamit ng di lamang isa kundi
maraming mapagkukunan ng impommsyon.

3. Lawak
Ang lawak na nasasakop sa isang balita ay isang katangian na mag-papahayag ng kahalagahan nito. Mga
halimbawa ng ulo ng balita na may kaukulang lawak na sakop. Pambansa: SULIRANIN SA POPULASYON;
Pandaigdig: KAWALAN NG HANAPBUHAY NG KARAMIHANG TAO AT KAKULANGAN NG PAGKAIN.

Maraming pangyayari sa ating paligid ang walang hanggahan ang abot na saklaw. Ang isang mapaminsalang hayop,
sunog, lindol, pagputok ng isang bulkan, baha na nagbigay lagim at pinsala at sumira sa mga pananim at kumitil ng
maraming buhay ay sumasaklaw sa pamuhayang pambansa. Subalit ito'y may lawak din na sasakop sa pakikipag-
ugnayang pangkalakalan sa ibang bansa at kaugnay pa rin ng suliraning pandaigdig. Kung magkaminsan ang isang
balitang nangyari sa isang bansa ay nagiging pandaigdig ang sakop. Sa pagkilatis ng isang balita, ayon sa lawak
nito, ang bilang ng tao at mga bansang maaaring masaklaw nito’y narampat bigyan ng kaukulang pansin.

4. Naayon sa Takdang Panahon

Ang katangian ng isang mabuting balita ay naaayon sa bilis ng pagpapahayag nito matapos na ito ay maganap.
Kahalintulad nito ang isang apoy na biglaan ang paglaganap at pagbibigay liwanag. Ang isang pangyayari na
matagal na naganap ay wala nang kawilihang ibibigay sa isang mambabasa. Sa panahon ngayon ng atomo at
mabilis na pag-unlad sa agham at teknolohiya maraming pagbabago ang naganap sa paligid. Mahalaga,
samakatuwid, ang maging mabilis sa pagbibigay ng mga balita ukol dito at an pagpili ng Inga pangyayari na
napapanahon.

5. Kagamitan
Lahat ng balita, pangulong tudling at iba pa ay may kanya-kanyang kagamitan sa buhay. Ang ilan ay mahalaga para
sa mga magsasaka, ang iba sa mga mangangalakal at marami pang iba ay nauukol sa mga karaniwang
mamamayan. Kung panahon ng halalan, maraming impormasyon ang lumalabas na hinggil sa iba-ibang kandidato.
Mga balita ukol sa mga welga, kapahamakan, patayan, sunog at mga pangyayari ay nagbibigay rin ng mahalagang
kaalaman sa mga dapat kaukulan nito. Samantalang may ilang balita na maIawak ang taglay na kahalagahan at
kagamitan, marami rin ang may kapakinabangang dulot sa ilang mambabasa lamang.

6. Kahulugan
Ano ang ibig sabihin ng isang pangyayari? Ano ang nais niong ipahiwatig, ano ang kahulugan nito sa atin? Maraming
interpreter, sa ngayon ang nagbibigay pakahulugan sa mga balita tulad ng mga manunudling o kolumnista,
manunulat, tagasuri, tagapaglahad ng kuro na siyang kumikilatis at umuuri upang tayahin ang kahalagahan ng balita.
Ang kanilang pala-palagay at pasiya ay karaniwang mapagkakatiwalaan at kapaki-pakinabang. Subalit madalas din
na ang kanilang kuru-kuro ay nalilihis sa tunay na mga pangyayari. Nararapat na magkaroon ng sariling pagpapasiya
at palagay ang isang mambabasa ayon sa kahulugan ng balitang binasa sa sariling buhay at di nararapat umasa
lamang sa naging pala-palagay ng iba.

7. Kabuluhan
Karaniwan nating napapansin na kaalinsabay ng pagbasa sa isang balita ang ilang katanungan na ninanasa nating
mabigyan ng kasagutan, ang kabuluhan ng ating binasa sa darating na araw. Tayo ba’y masasangkot sa isang
digmaan? Patuloy ba ang pagtaas ng halaga ng mga bilihin? May panganib ba ang naging tuyot na ani? Ito 'y ilang
katanungan na pilit nating inihahanap ng kasagutan at ang kabuluhan nito sa kinabukasan. Bagaman at ang
batayang ito’y naaangkop lamang sa balita sa pahayagan, ito’y isang mahalagang salik na nararapat bigyang pansin
na siyang magbibigay kahulugan sa mga isasagawa pa ng mga tao at mga patakaran ng mga bansa.

8. Mga Inaasahang ibubunga

Ang saligang ito ay nagsasaad ng kalalabasan ng mga pangyayari. Nababahagi sa apat na pangkat tulad ng (a) di-
maiiwasan (b) makabuluhan (k) mahigpit na pangangailangan at (d) maselang kalagayan.

Mga Halimbawa: Isang balita ukol sa isang nangyaring sakuna ay di-maiiwasan. Ang paglalahad ng ulat ukol sa
bagong gawang patubig ay lubhang makabuluhan. Ang balita na nagbabadya ng mga bagong batas at kautusang
dapat palaganapin ay isang mahigpit na pangangajlangan at ang hinggil sa isang nalalapit na bagyo ay
nagpapahayag ng maselang kalagayang dapat pag-ingatan. Ang ganitong mga kalagayan ay karaniwang nalalagay
sa unang dahon ng pahayagan at tumatawag ng madaliang pansin at nararapat basahin.

9. Katanyagan
Ang saligang ito ay binibigyan ng pansin ang katanyagan at impluensiya ng mga tao, pangkat at mga bansa. Kapag
ang pangulo ng isang bansa ay may ginawang pahayag at gumawa ng pagpapasiya, makabuluhan at kagyat na
nagiging isang pangunahing balita. Gayundin ang buhay at mga gawain ng isang tanyag na artista, paham, batikang
manunulat at manlalaro at mga dakilang tao, lagi silang nasa ulo ng mga balita. Ang mga ulat ukol sa
makapangyarihang mga bansa ay nakatatawag ng pansin kaysa mga maliliit na bayan.

I0. May Kaugnayan sa Patuloy na Pangyayari

May tatlong uri ang ganitong mga balita. (a) nauukol sa isang patuloy na pangyayari. (b) nagbubunga ng mga
maaaring mangyari at (k) may panibagong hakbang na ikatutulong ng mga pangyayari. Ang isang welga, digmaan,
kampanyang panghalalan, ay mga halimbawa ng isang patuloy na kalagayan na sumasaklaw ng mahabang
panahon.

Aralin 2: MGA BAHAGI NG PAHAYAGAN

Maraming mga nakawiwiling bagay ang matatagpuan aa isang mahusay na pahayagan. Hindi lahat ay pate-pareho
ang uri ng nilalaman subalit karaniwang makikita ang sumusunod ng bahagi:
1. Ulo ng Balita
Ang unang dahon ang katatagpuan ng pinakamahalagang balita. Ang bawat puwang ay makabuluhan kaya ang ilan
lamang unang talata ng artikulo ang nakasulat doon at ang karugtong nito'y nasa ibang dahon o pahina na. Ang
kaugaliang ito ay ginawa upang makapaglahad ng maraming ulo ng balita at maraming artikulo sa unang pahina na
katatagpuan ng mga pangunahing pangyayari na dapat mabasa.

2. Pangulong Tudling (column)

Ang pahina nito ay nasa panloob na dahon. Dito’y nasasaad ang mga pala-palagay ng patnugot ukol sa mga
mahahalagang pangyayari na may kaugnayan sa palubhang mga suliraning pampurok, pambansa at pandaigdig.
Dapat tandaan na ang pangunahing tudling ay mga palagay lamang at hindi isang matapat na ulat ng tunay na
pangyayari na naganap. Ang mambabasa ay may karapatang sumang-ayon o sumalungat sa mga sumulat nito.

3. Pahinang Pampalakasan
Ang karamihan sa mga balita ay ukol sa mga larong pampalakasan. Ang ilang artikulo ay tumutukoy sa mga larong
naganap sa ibang bansa at sa paligid. Likas ang pagkagiliw ng marami sa mga larong ito kaya lagi itong tumatawag
ng pansin.

4. Pahina ukol sa mga komiks

Ang ilang pahayagan ay may isang pahina ukol dito. Ang iba ay may higit na maraming dahon ang nakaukol dito.
Karaniwang ang mga larawang katatawanan ay guhit ng mga piling karikaturista na may kanya-kanyang kakanyahan
sa gawaing ito. May pang-akit ang pahinang ito.

5. Pahina ukol sa pagpapaanunsiyo

Ang mga anunsiyo sa pahayagan ay nagbibigay ng malaking pakinabang at tulong mga namamahala nito. May
dalawang ng uri ng pag-aanunsiyo. Ang unang uri ay ang pagpapalagay ng mga malalaking larawan o anunsiyo na
maaaring isang buong pahina, kalahati o sumasakop sa maliit na hati ng pahina. Dito’y ilinilalahad ang mga uri ng
paninda, kalakal, mga gamit sa bahay na nais ipagbili sa mamamayan, Kung panahon ng halalan ang mga kandidato
ay nagpaylagay rin ng ganitong uri ng mga anunsiyo.

Ikalawang uri ng anunsiyo ay karaniwang binabayaran ayon sa nagamit na mga linya sa pahinang ito. Ang ilan sa
mga halimbawa nito'y ukol sa mga bahay, lote, mga kagamitang nais ipagbili, mga bahay na paupahan, mga
subasta, mga nawawala at nais ipahanap at marami pang iba.

6. Pahinang Panlipunan
Ito ay karaniwang isinusulat ng mga babaeng reporter. Ang mga balita ay ukol sa mga kasal, handaan, pulong at
mga gawaing sosyal. May mga larawang panlipunan na kalakip ito.

Iba pang mga Natatanging Bahagi

Ang ilang mga pahapyaw na balita ay nagtataglay ng mga natatanging mga seksiyon tulad ng pang-araw-araw na
palatuntunang panradyo at telebisyon, mga palabas sa sine at mga teatro. May mga pahina rin na nauukol sa mga
balitang panlalawigan at pangnayon. Sa dahilang maraming tao ang iba iba ang mga kinagigiliwang paksa na
babasahin, naglalagay ng mga natatanging pahina na magdudulot ng ninanais na pang-aliw sa mga pihikang mga
panlasa ng mambabasa.

Aralin 3. MGA PARAAN NA PAGPAPABUTI NG PAGBASA AT PAGSULAT NG MGA BALITA

1. Maingat at masusing pagpili ng balita. Ang mga batayan ukol sa pagpili ng mga balita ay kailangang sundin sa
bawat araling ukol dito.

2. Mahusay na Pagbasa ng Ulo ng mga Balita

Marami sa atin ang halos wala ng panahon na basahin ang lahat ng balita dahil sa kaabalahan sa mga gawain.
Kadalasan ang ginagawa na lamang ay isang pahapyaw na pagbasa ng mga ulo ng mga balita sa isang paraan na
madali ang nagiging pang-unawa at kaalaman sa mga pangyayari sa araw na iyon.

3. Pag-alam sa mga Bahagi ng Pahayagan at mga Pahinang ukol Dito.

Ang isang bihasang mambabasa’y alam kung saang pahina dapat buksan ang isang pahayagan upang dagliang
makita at mabasa ang nais na malaman sa araw na iyon. Alam nila kung saan naroon ang ulat ukol sa mga larong
pampalakasan, ang mga anunsiyo at dahong panlipunan.

4. Kaalaman sa Karaniwang Padron ng Artikulo

Ang isang balita ay nahahanay ayon sa nakatuwad na piramid. Ang mahalagang ulat ay nakapaloob sa mga unang
talataan na kung tawagin ng mga reporter ay pinakaulo ng balita. Ang ibang talataan na kasunod nito ang nagbibigay
ng ibang detalye ukol sa naganap.

Unang talataan
Ang ulo ng balita nagtataglay ng pinakamahalagang ulat

Ikalawang talataan
Naglalaman ng iba pang mga mahahalagang ulat

Ikatlong talataan
Naglalaman ng ilang detalye

Ikaapat na talataan
Naglalaman ng ilang detalye

Ikalimang talataan
Naglalaman ng ilang detalye

Ikaanim na talataan Naglalaman ng maliliit na detalye

5. Regular at Maayos na Pagbasa ng Pahayagan

Ang isang pahayagan ay naglalaman ng iba’t ibang uri ng balitang nagaganap sa araw-araw. Karamihan sa mga ito
ay patuloy ang nagaganap na mga pangyayari na inilalahad ng mga tagapagbalita na isang serye. Ang mambabasa
na maging pabaya sa pagsubaybay sa mga pang-araw-araw na mga balitang ito’yhind1‘ magiging ganap ang
kaalaman sa mga bagay-bagay na nais matalos sa paligid.

Aralin 4: PARAAN NG PAGSULAT NG BALITA

Matapos makalap ang mga tala ng tunay na pangyayari, maaaring sa tulong ng anim na tanong, dapat isulat agad
ang balita. Narito ang ilang hakbang:
1. Itala ang pangyayari, unahin ang pinakamahalaga pababa.

2. Buuin sa sarili ang pamatnubay (lead), unahin ang pinakamahalaga sa anim na tanong.

3. Isulat ang pamatnubay na pangungusap.

4. Isulat ang katawan ng balita. Kalimitang dito itinatala ang mga detalye ng tatlo o apat na tanong, bago isinusunod
ang detalye ng tanong na bakit-paano, o paano-bakit?

Patnubay sa Pagsulat ng Balita

1. Isulat agad ang balita pagkalikom ng mga tala.

2. Itampok ang pinakamahalaga.

3. Maging tumpak sa petsa.

4. Iwasan ang paliguy-ligoy na pagtatampok.

5. Banggitin ang pangalan o pinagmulan ng mga balita kung kinakailangan.

6. Isulat ang buong pangalan ng tao sa unang banggit.

7. Sumulat ng mga talataang iisahing pangungusap.

8. Iwasan ang pagsusunud-sunod ng mga talatang napakaikli.

9. Gawing maikli at payak ang mga pangungusap.

10. Paghiwalayin ang talataan ng tahasan at di-tahasang-sabi.

11. Ang haba ng balita ang nagpapasiya sa kawilihan ng mambabasa.

12. Kailangang ipakilala ang mga taong nabanggit.

13. Gumamit ng panuntunan ng paaralan.

Gabay sa Paghahanda ng Balita

1. Makinilyahin sa karaniwang sukat ng papel.

2. Simulan ang pagmamakiuilya sa ikatlong bahagi ng papel mula sa itaas.

3. Gawing tatlong puwang ang pagitan ng mga taludtod o linya.

4. Isulat sa may kaliwang sulok sa itaas ang pangalan ng may-ulat at paksang isinulat.

5. Tapusin ang mga talataan at pangungusap sa bawat pahina.

6. Sa ibaba ng bawat pahina, maliban sa huling pahina, ay sulatan ng "PA" (katapat ng More) at bilugan.

7. Iwasang putulin ang salita sa dulo ng linya.

8. Sa ibaba ng katapusang linya ay imarka ang “No.” o “30".

Magsanay Ka
1. Magsuri ka ng isang pahayagan ayon sa itinatampok na pangyayan o ang pagkakaayos ng mga pangyayari sa
balita.

2. Lumikom ka ng balita sa pamamagitan ng pakikipanayam.

3. Mangalap ka ng balita sa palatuntunang gagawin sa paaralan na ang magsasalita ay isang tanyag na panauhin.
Pagkatapos ay isulat ang iyong balita.

4. Sumulat ka ng sariling balita batay sa balita sa pahayagan. Pagkatapos ay ihambing mo ang nagawa mo sa
nakalimbag.
Hango sa: Ang Pamahayagan nina Matienzo, Manalo, at Monteyola.

Pagsulat ng Ulo ng Balita

Ang pagsulat ng mga ulong-titik, gaya ng pamagat ng isang komposisyon katha, sanaysay, at iba pa, ay
nangangailangan ng masusing paglilimi. kaalaman o kasanayan, at kahusayan sa kahulugan ng mga salita.

Alaming ang mga ulo ng balita ay nakatutulong an mga mambabasang nagnanais makapagtipid ng panahon sa
pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng kabatitan at maiklig buod ng balita o salaysay.

Narito ang mga unang hakbang at pamantayan sa pagsulat ng ulo ng balita, ayon sa Ang Pamahayagan nina
Matienzo, Manalo at Monteyola:

1. Basahin nang buong hinusay ang pamatnubay (lead) ng balita.

2. Salungguhitan ang mga susing kaisipan (key thought-word) na naglalarawan ng diwa ng salaysay.

3. Sa pamamagitan ng mga susing kaisipan, sumulat ng maikli, parang telegramang pangungusap na nagsasaad ng
mensahe.

4. Hatiin ang pangungusap sa bilang ng linya na kailangan sa ulo; hatiin ito nang halos magkasinghaba.

5. Bilangin ang bawat titik, numero at ispasyo na kailangan sa linya. Kung hindi magkakahusto, palitan ang
mahabang salita ng singkahulugan nito.

6. Sikaping ang pandiwa ay nagbibigay ng bigat o diin sa balita.

7. Huwag hatiin ang salita sa dulo ng talata.

8. Umiwas sa pasalungat na pagpapahayag, sa pagdaglat at pag-ulit ng mga salita.

9. Pumili ng mga salitang magkakasiya sa puwang.

Upang makatiyak, kailangang magkaroon ng saligang kabatiran tungkol sa mga uri ng tipong gagamitin sa pagsulat
ng mga ulong-titik.

Gawin Mo
Pag-aralan mo ang iba’t ibang anyo at istilo ng mga ulong-titik sa mga pahayagan. Suriin mo ang ilan at alamin mo
kung makatutugon sa mga pamantayang inilahad sa itaas.
ANG ARTIKULONG “FEATURE"
Ngayong magkaroon ka ng pahapyaw na kaalaman sa pagsulat ng mga balita, ang isunod mo namang pag-aralan
ay tungkol sa pagsulat ng mga artikulong feature o tampok na salaysay. Ayon kina Dangalio at Mariano sa Ang Wika
Natin 4, ang uring ito ng sulatin ay yaong hindi nabibilang sa kuwentong-balita (News story) at sa pangulong-tudling
o editoryal. Ito ay maaaring may layong umaliw, magpaliwanag, magpatawa, umakit ng damdamin, o magbigay ng
kaalaman.

Ang ilang katangian ng feature na madaling mapansin kaagad ng isang mambabasa ay ang sumusunod:
1. Nagbibigay-aliw. Na ito’y kawili-wili kung magagawang malaman ng mambabasa hindi lamang kung ano ang
nangyari kundi yaong maaari niyang makita, marinig, madama, at malasahan habang ito'y kanyang binabasa.

2. Nagbibigay-kaalaman. Maaaring ito’y mula sa mga balitang nagiging batayan ng masikhay na pagmamasid at
pagsisiyasat sa ganitong uri ng lathalain. Isiping ang feature ay nakaaantig ng emosyon at naghahandog
impormasyon o kaalaman sa pamamagitan ng imahinasyon ng isang manunulat.

3. Malapit sa damdamin ng tao. Malimit maging paksa nito‘y yaong nakatatawag-pansin sa mga mambabasa.
Nakapupukaw o nakahihikayat basahin sapagkat maaaring akma sa kanilang panlasa at malapit sa kanilang
kalooban lalo pa’t may kaugnayan sa kanilang interes, hilig o anumang nakaantig sa kanilang karanasan-kaisipan.

4. Paglalarawan ng katauhan. Na ito’y maaaring tungkol sa mga mag-aaral, guro; magulang o mga taong
namumukud-tangi sa iba’t ibang larangan dahil sa pag-aangkin ng mga katangian o kaangkinan.

Mga Kailangan sa Pagsulat ng Feature

1. Sumulat ng isang paksang magbibigay ng lugod o kawilihan as Inga mambabasa.
2. Iwasang maging malawak ang paksa. Makabuluhan lamang at malapit sa karanasan ng tao ang dapat talakayin.
3. Gumawa ng balangkas upang malaman kung alin ang lalong mahalaga at ayusin ito ayon sa magandang
pagkakasunud-sunod.

4. Bumanggit ng mga halimbawa at mga paghahambing kung kinakailangan.

5. Isaayos ang talataan ayon sa kaisipang nais paksain.

6. Gumamit ng mga salitang naglalarawan o nagsasaad ng kilos o galaw.

7. Sikaping maging maliwanag, tiyak at mabisa ang paraan ng pagpapahayag.

8. Maging makatwiran at makatotohanan sa pagsulat.

Magsanay Ka
Batay sa mga sumusunod na paksa, sumulat ka ng isang tampok na sa laysay:
1. Mga libangang pampaaralan.
2. Kaakit-akit na karanasan ng mga kamag-aral o ng mga guro.
3. Mga alagang hayop sa inyong paaralan o bayan.
4. Kinagigiliwang gawain ng mga mag-aaral.
5. At iba pa.
BALITANG PAMPALAKASAN
Sa pagbabalita, ang isang mamamahayag na mag-aaral ay magkaroon ng sapat na kaalaman sa seksiyong
pampalakasan ng pahayagan. Bukod sa kanyang kahusayan at kasanayan sa kategoriyang ito, siya'y kailangan ding
magkaroon ng kabatiran sa laro o may hilig siya sa mga larong pampalakas. Gayundin, kailangan niyang malaman
an pangyayari at/o mga pangalan ng mga atleta ng bawat sangay ng palaro at kung paano niya ilalahad ang
kanyang likas na pagkukuro sa pamahayagan.

Upang maging mabuting reporter, kailangan niyang subaybayan ang paglalaro ng isang koponan o ng mga koponan
nang walang kinikilingan. Kailangan niyang maging maagap sa pagsulat ng mga balitang kawili-wili sa mambabasa.
Para lalong maging maganda at mabisa ang kanyang pag-uulat, kailangan niyang isaalang-alang ang mga
sumusunod na pamamaman sa pag sulat ng ganitong uri ng balita:

1. Ang resulta ng laro.

2. Kahusayan sa paglalaro.

3. Pag-unlad ng isang koponan.

4. Mahigpitang paglalaban ng dalawang koponan.

5. Mga kalagayang may kinalaman sa paglalaro.

6. Ang bilang ng mga nagsipanood.

7. Ang teamwork ng mga manlalaro.

8. At iba pang maaaring makaganyak sa mga mambabasa.

Gawin Mo
1. Magkliping ka ng iba’t ibang uri ng balitang pampalakasan.
2. Gumawa ka ng isang pananaliksik tungkol sa mga tuntunin ng bawat lamng sumusunod: basketbol, balibol, putbol,
sopbol, beisbol.
3. Sumulat ka ng isang balita hinggil sa isang paligsahan ng laro sa inyong paaralan.
 Lecture 8: Feature Writing Exercises and Samples
FEATURE WRITING EXERCISES

Describe vividly your seatmate in a two-sentence paragraph.

Write a short (at most five paragraphs) feature article about abortion. It doesn’t matter if you are for or against it.
What is important is you remain factual yet entertaining, convincing and informative. Provide your own title. Show
your work to your group mates.

You are the feature editor of your school paper. This morning while you were on your way to school, you saw a
Grade 4 pupil helping an old woman cross the street. Fourth year boys, who were playing nearby saw the old woman
but did not care to help her.

You interviewed the young boy. Now write a feature story on the boy or on the incident. Supply the facts you
gathered from the interview. Remember, you are not writing an editorial. Note also that like an editorial, a feature
article is hung on a natural or artificial newspeg. Give an interesting and entertaining title.
***
Feature Examples

Topic: Abortion

COME TO me, Mama. Come, touch me and feel my pain. Don’t be afraid now, Mama. You weren’t when you killed
me.

Here, touch this… can you feel it now, Mama? The excruciating pain that consumed my helpless body? You inflicted
that, remember?

Look at my body, now a mass of rotting flesh and coagulated blood. The dregs of what was a tiny human body. A
body that was soft with a tiny head matted with a sheen of baby hair. A tiny body with a tiny heart that pulsated in
time with yours. These were my fingers and ohh!... Here’s my thumb which I sucked while snugly tucked inside you.

You see, I had long lashes just like Dad’s. My sensitive mouth was just like yours. And here are my ears that heard
your quickening heartbeat when you’re afraid.

I could have been a wonderful child if you’ve let me live.

I could have been baby boy, just what Daddy wanted. A strong, healthy and bubbly bundle in your arms. My
hypersensitiveness would have exasperated you.

Daddy? Hmmm… He could have coached me in playing basketball. He’ll be the passer and I am the shooter. I could
have grown into a writer. You would be proud of me coz I’m gonna join contests.

Mama, see I was alive but not anymore. So, please let baby brother live. He could also be as wonderful as me. His
life wouldn’t be like mine. A life that never was.

Topic: Abortion

LISTEN TO the cry of the unborn.

Listen carefully and see. He is there—frail, delicate, heart beating with the glorious thump of life. Blood running in his
anemic veins, smooth hands, dainty feet, pink flesh, unseeing eyes all in the protective shell of his mother’s womb.
His soul’s voice cries out in joy as he looks forward to the bountiful harvest he will reap in life. A fresh breath of life; a
new creation carefully molded by the hands of God.

But listen. He is there. Crying out in excruciating pain. He feels the sharp tingle of needles tearing his flesh. His
unseeing eyes roll up. In confusion and rage. His once joyful soul now crying for the need of life. But no one heard
him. No one heeded his call as he plunged into the world of nullity. His last breath reeked of revenge. The unborn
was silent.

Listen to the cry of the unborn.

They stare at you and contemplate their sweet revenge.

Look around you. The guilt-ridden eyes of women carrying this burden state back at you. They know their child will
not be able to feel its parts during the first recital. They know she will not be able to play Chinese garter or beat up
the boys next door because she is gone. They are gone. Millions of unborn children are presented with the gift of life
only to be taken away by selfish ambitions.

The burden they carry is their revenge. The guilt that is locked in their hearts is their revenge—the revenge of the
unborn.

Listen to the cry of the unborn.

Their chances in life were selfishly taken away. Their rights as human beings were unjustly abused. Their hearts and
souls yanked out and were swallowed up in a cloud as dark as ebony. They lust for death as revenge but they have
no voice. They cannot scream.

Listen to the cry of the unborn. They need you.

***
Tomorrow
By Pamela Joy Go, AdI-SMCS
· 700 words in 1 hour
· First Prize masterpiece, DSPC 2002
· Theme: Environmental Problems
· No. of participating schools: 25

HEAL the world,

Make if a better place
For you and for me
And the entire human race
There are people dying,
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place
For you and for me

I could only stare at the third-grade pupils as they interpret this Michael Jackson classic for their presentation during
the flag ceremony. They seem to be so full of life, so vibrant. Nothing in this world could seem to break the
unbeatable character they have glowing brightly inside them.

I sigh as my thoughts fall on the degrading society that we are having now. How long will these naïve tots have the
overwhelming spirit in them? How will they manage to smile?

Look around you, human. What do you see? The pressing issues concerning the destruction of Mother Earth is too
real…too hard to ignore.

The huge forest fires that terrorize countless of species both here and abroad. The perennial garbage problem that
embraces the government like a cold pack of harsh ice. The dwindling population of all sorts of mammals and
reptiles…the endangered species. The red list is getting longer and longer. Soon, I doubt if we’ll ever be able to keep
track of all the creatures that have disappeared from the face of the earth forever.

Yes, we want to escape from these enigmas. We really want to. But listen. It’s also we who are keeping ourselves
chained to the enslaving powers of material riches. We are blinded by the glitter of gold every time we cut down
trees.

However, there are better realities in this issue our ancient mentality should just think about. The contemporary
ambience of people all over the world getting more humane, more environment-friendly, more real is embracing us.
Any maybe, just maybe, we could start from here.

A year ago, I came across this Reader’s Digest article that suggested a different view of this dilemma. While
countless others would rather stick to the old, hopeless sense of presenting these inevitable facts, the article
examined the optimism that, surprisingly, never left us.

We still have a chance. At least, that’s what the article said. People are becoming civilized. We are no longer a
heartless breed of warm bodies out for nothing but earthly wealth. Through time, we have evolved to be persons with
some sense. And Mother Earth is pretty much depending on it. Her whole life, her whole existence is actually relying
on this so-called sensitivity that we are starting to acquire.

These are not made-up facts, ladies and gentlemen. No, this isn’t escapism. We are not merely creating this news for
the sake of lessening the parables that grasp us by the throat. This is reality.

And this is where we could start. Instead of being a wet blanket, why not take a positive paradigm shift? This maybe
is the breakthrough we have been waiting for. And this could take us somewhere in renovating our home, to say the
least.

Yes, the predicaments around us are more than enough to last us a lifetime. There’s no way they’ll be solved the
moment we put our acts together. They may not even be solved in the entire life of this generation. They may not
even be solved at all. But let us begin. Let us start now.

In John F. Kennedy’s words, “United there’s little we cannot do. Divided, there’s little we can do.” If we hold hands
now, if we open our hearts to one another and disregard those barriers that keep us from being who we truly are,
then maybe we could still hang on to life.

As I watch the children hold hands and dance about the stage, I recognize in their eyes what we almost lost—hope.
The smiles pasted on their innocent faces spell a promise that there will be a tomorrow. And that tomorrow will surely
be better.

Tomorrow, the world will be healed.

Tomorrow, the world will be a better place.
For you and for me and the entire human race.

***
Lathalaing naglalarawan (Description)

Pagdalaw sa Lawa ng Bulusan

Ni Perlegio Paderes
Mataas na Paaralan ng Samar
Unang Gantimpala, NSPC 1993

KUNG sinasabing ang pluma ay higit ha pakapangyarihan kaysa anumang snadata, sa pluma man ay may higit pang
makapangyarihan. Ito ang ganda ng kalikasan.

Kahanga-hanga, makapitlag-puso, makalangit, kapita-pitagan at walang pinag-iwan sa isang tunay na paraiso. Ito
ang Lawa ng Bulusan, lawa para sa sinumang nilalang na ibig mapag-isa upang lasapin ang biyaya ng tunay na
katahimikan sa buhay o dili naman kaya’y upang lunasan ang hapdi ng puso sa pamamagitan ng walang sawang
pagmasid sa mapang-aliw at masaganang kagandahan ng buong pusong inihain ng kalikasan.

Sa aking nasaksihan sa una kong pagdalaw sa lawang ito na matatagpuan sa dakong timog silangan ng lalawigang
Sorsogon na may apatnapu’t limang kilometro mula sa punong bayan ay ang mga sumusunod:

Isang likas na daan o pilapil na maaring mapagdaanan na tuloy-tuloy sa buong paligid. Sa pampang naman ito ay
nakapalibot ang malilin na punong-kahoy na pawing nangayuko at animo’y nahihiyang nagbubulungan.

Sa paligid pa rin ay ang mgaburol na siyang nagsisilbing muog sa sinuman o anumang ibig magsamantala sa walang
batik na kagandahan nito. Sa libis naman ng burol ay para-parang inihasik and naglalakihan at nag-papaligsahang
mga magagandang bulaklak.

Tunay na kawili-wili at kahanga-hanga. Ang malamig na simoy nghangin ay nakapagpapadama na waring ang buhay
ay walang katapusan. Ito ang mga pangunahing katangian ng lawa ng Bulusan na may labing anim na hektarya ang
lawak at may tatlumpu’t dalawang metro ang lalim. Ang lawa ay tatlong daan at animnapu’t limang taong gulang na.
Ito’y maaaring marating sa pamamagitan ng bus o anumang sasakyang pangkalsada sa loob ng may humigit-
kumulang sa dalawa at kalahating oras.

Ibig ba ninyong dumalaw doon? Kayo’y malugod na inaanyayahan at buong pusong tatanggapin ng mapang-akit na
lawang nakahimlay sa tuktok ng higanteng bulkan.

***
Human Interest Feature Article

George, he’s a hero!

By Emilyn Martinez

IT IS “natural” for women to be lavanderas if that is the best thing that they can do for a living, but have you heard of
a guy who does laundry to support his family? Well, there is such an unusual guy in our school.

George Francis, a 17-year-old junior, has taken on the difficult responsibility of providing for his little sister and
brother. He is father and mother to them, since both his parents are deceased. His three other sisters have their own
families. Fortunately, his youngest brother is cared for by an aunt.

To be able to feed his siblings and send them to school, George does the laundry of a family in Moriones. Saturdays
he washes their week’s laundry and Sundays, he irons them, a back-breaking job that assures him P400 a week.
And for schooldays, at 5 p.m., when his classes are over, he cleans the house of his amo for a monthly wage of
P500. In one month, he earns a total of P2,100 which he says is enough for their food, daily baon and monthly rent of
P300.

“I’ve been doing this for three years now,” he says. “Mahirap, pero nasanay na ako (It’s hard but I’m already used to
it).” Despite his work, he manages to get good grades. And although he has so much to do, he does his share of the
housework because he doesn’t want to tire out his brother and sister “I want them to concentrate on their studies,” he
says.

George Francis is only one of our many students who must struggle daily in order to survive. If Rhona Mahilom, the
girl from Negros who saved her younger sisters and brothers when their house caught fire, is a hero, George is a
hero for saving his sister and brother from starvation, for giving them a home and family to afford them the security
they badly need in their formative years.

George’s touching story serves as an inspiration to us. We give you, George, a big round of applause. We are proud
of you and may your tribe increase.

Tips for Writing Feature Articles

Once you've mastered the general rules for effective writing, you'll need to incorporate specific tips for feature writers
into your work. The most important part of any feature is its story. An engaging narrative is what will hook your
readers and keep them reading.

 Keep in mind that the purpose of a feature article is to add depth and color to the news. For example, a
magazine that prints a story about a new type of hearing aid in one issue may also run a feature about how this
technology has changed the life of a hearing-impaired child.
 Remember that a feature doesn't usually follow the inverted pyramid structure of the typical news story. A
feature article is written using storytelling techniques that grab the reader's attention instead of simply providing
facts.
 Use quotes and anecdotes to add color to your story, especially if your feature is a profile of a specific
person. To get the best quotes, conduct your interviews in person whenever possible.
 Incorporate details that use all five senses. Describe how things look, feel, taste, touch, and sound to make
the reader believe he or she is actually part of the story.
 Don't include all of your research material. Reporters often feel obligated to include quotes from everyone
they've interviewed and statistics from every secondary source they used when they researched the article.
The best features only make use of material that is interesting and relevant.
 Although feature writers can be more creative than news reporters when structuring their articles, it's still
important to get the facts right. Don't forget that your work is supposed to be nonfiction.
Sports journalism is a form of writing that reports on sporting topics and games. While the
sports department within some newspapers has been mockingly called the toy department,
because sports journalists do not concern themselves with the 'serious' topics covered by the
news desk, sports coverage has grown in importance as sport has grown
in wealth, power and influence.
The Lede

The lede of your story should include the final score and some details about what made the game
interesting. Generally this means focusing on the efforts of an individual player.

Let’s say a team’s star athlete is injured and a previously unheralded player comes into the game as
a substitute. Not much is expected of this rookie but he defies expectations and plays a great game,
leading the team to victory.

Example:

Second-string quarterback Jay Lindman, who had never played a down for Jefferson High School,
came off the bench after star QB Fred Torville was injured Friday night and threw three touchdown
passes to lead the Gladiators to a 21-14 victory over the McKinley High School Centurions.

Or maybe the game is a close, seesaw battle between two evenly matched opponents, and is won in
the final seconds by an especially dramatic play.

Example:

Second-string quarterback Jay Lindman threw the game-winning touchdown with just 12 seconds
left to lead the Jefferson High School Gladiators to a 21-14 victory over the McKinley High School
Centurions Friday night.

Notice that in both examples we focus on the efforts of an individual athlete. Sports is all about the
human drama of competition, and focusing on a single person gives the game story a human
interest angle that readers will enjoy.

The Body of the Story

The body of your story should basically elaborate on the lede. If your lede was about the
benchwarmer becoming the game’s star, then the body should go into more detail about that. Often
a simple chronological account works best.

Example:

Torville’s ankle was sprained when he was sacked in the first quarter. Lindman came into the game
with low expectations but threw his first touchdown pass in the second quarter with a high, floating
ball that receiver Mike Ganson snagged in the end zone.

In the third quarter, Lindman was forced to scramble out of the pocket to avoid the rush but
managed to fire a bullet to receiver Desean Washington, who made a diving catch at the goal line.
The Wrap Up

The wrap up or ending of your story usually centers on quotes from the coach and players gleaned
from post-game interviews or press conferences. Getting great quotes for sports stories can
sometimes be tough – coaches and athletes often speak in clichés – but a snappy quote can really
be the icing on the cake of your game story.

Example:

“I knew Lindman could play but I didn’t know he could play like that,” said Gladiators coach Jeff
Michaelson. “That was one heck of a game by a young guy who showed a lot of heart.”

Washington said Lindman exuded confidence even in the huddle before his very first snap.

“He just said, ‘Let’s do this to win,’” Washington said. “And he went out there and did it. That boy can
throw the ball.”

Different Kinds of Sports Stories

The Straight-Lede Game Story The straight-lede game story is the most basic story in all of
sportswriting. It's just what it sounds like: an article about a game that uses a straight-news type of
lede. The lede summarizes the main points - who won, who lost, the score, and what the star player
did.

Here's an example of this kind of lede:

Quarterback Pete Faust threw thre touchdown passes to lead the Jefferson High School Eagles to a
21-7 victory over crosstown rival McKinley High.

The rest of the story follows from there, with an account of the big plays and playmakers, and after-
game quotes from coaches and players. Because they often focus on high school and small-college
teams, straight-lede game stories tend to be fairly tightly written.

Straight-lede game stories are still used for coverage of high school and some college sports. But
they're used less nowadays for pro sports. Why? Because pro sports are seen on TV and most fans
of a particular team know the score of a game long before they read about it.

The Feature-Lede Game Story Feature-lede game stories are common for pro sports. Readers
usually already know the score of pro games as soon as they're done, so when they pick up a sports
section they want stories they offer a different angle on what happened and why.

Here's an example of a game story feature lede:

It had rained all that day in the city of brotherly love, so when the Philadelphia Eagles took the field
the ground was already a soggy mess - much like the game that would follow.

So it was somehow fitting that the Eagles would lose 31-7 to the Dallas Cowboys in a contest that
was one of the worst of quarterback Donovan McNabb's career. McNabb threw two interceptions
and fumbled the ball three times.

The story starts out with some description, and doesn't get to the final score until the second
paragraph. Again, that's fine: readers will already know the score. It's the writer's job to give them
something more.

Delayed-lede game stories tend to be a bit more in-depth that straight-lede stories, and as a result
are often longer.

Profiles The sports world is full of colorful characters, so it's no surprise that personality profiles are a
staple of sportswriting. Whether it's a charismatic coach or a young athlete on the rise, some of the
best profiles anywhere are found in sports sections.

Here's an example of a profile lede:

Norman Dale surveys the court as his players practice layups. A pained look crosses the face of the
coach of the McKinley High School basketball team as one player after another misses the basket.

"Again!" he shouts. "Again! You don't stop! You don't quit! York work 'till you get it right!" And so they
continue, until they start to get it right. Coach Dale wouldn't have it any other way.

Season Preview and Wrap-up Stories Season previews and wrap-ups are fixtures of the
sportswriter's repertoire. These are done any time a team and a coach are preparing for the coming
season, or when the season has just ended, either in glory or infamy.

Obviously the focus here isn't a specific game or even individual, but a broad look at the season -
how the coach and players expect things to go, or how they feel once that season is done.

Here's an example of a lede for this kind of story:

Coach Jenna Johnson has high hopes for the Pennwood High School women's basketball team this
year. After all, the Lions were city champions last year, led by the play of Juanita Ramirez, who
returns to the team this year as a senior. "We expect great things from her," Coach Johnson says.

Columns A column is where the sportswriter gets to vent his or her opinions, and the best sports
columnists do just that, fearlessly. Often that means being very tough on coaches, players or teams
who don't meet expectations, particularly at the pro level, where all concerned are being paid huge
salaries to do just one thing - win.

But sports columnists also focus on those they admire, whether it's an inspirational coach who leads
a team of underdogs to a great season, or a mostly unheralded player who may be short on natural
talent but makes up for it with hard work and unselfish play.

Here's an example of how a sports column might begin:

Lamont Wilson certainly isn't the tallest player on the McKinley High School basketball team. At 5-
foot-9, he's hard to spot in the sea of mid 6-footers on the court. But Wilson is the model of an
unselfish team player, the kind of athlete who makes those around him shine. "I just do whatever I
can to help the team," the ever-modest Wilson says.
CHARACTERISTICS OF EDITORIAL WRITING

An editorial is an article that presents the newspaper's opinion on an issue. It reflects the majority vote of the editorial
board, the governing body of the newspaper made up of editors and business managers. It is usually unsigned. Much
in the same manner of a lawyer, editorial writers build on an argument and try to persuade readers to think the same
way they do. Editorials are meant to influence public opinion, promote critical thinking, and sometimes cause people
to take action on an issue. In essence, an editorial is an opinionated news story.

Editorials have:

1. Introduction, body and conclusion like other news stories

2. An objective explanation of the issue, especially complex issues
3. A timely news angle
4. Opinions from the opposing viewpoint that refute directly the same issues the writer addresses
5. The opinions of the writer delivered in a professional manner. Good editorials engage issues, not personalities and
refrain from name-calling or other petty tactics of persuasion.
6. Alternative solutions to the problem or issue being criticized. Anyone can gripe about a problem, but a good
editorial should take a pro-active approach to making the situation better by using constructive criticism and giving
solutions.
7. A solid and concise conclusion that powerfully summarizes the writer's opinion. Give it some punch.

Four Types of Editorials Will:

1. Explain or interpret: Editors often use these editorials to explain the way the newspaper covered a sensitive or
controversial subject. School newspapers may explain new school rules or a particular student-body effort like a food
drive.
2. Criticize: These editorials constructively criticize actions, decisions or situations while providing solutions to the
problem identified. Immediate purpose is to get readers to see the problem, not the solution.
3. Persuade: Editorials of persuasion aim to immediately see the solution, not the problem. From the first paragraph,
readers will be encouraged to take a specific, positive action. Political endorsements are good examples of editorials
of persuasion.
4. Praise: These editorials commend people and organizations for something done well. They are not as common as
the other three.

Writing an Editorial

1. Pick a significant topic that has a current news angle and would interest readers.
2. Collect information and facts; include objective reporting; do research
3. State your opinion briefly in the fashion of a thesis statement
4. Explain the issue objectively as a reporter would and tell why this situation is important
5. Give opposing viewpoint first with its quotations and facts
6. Refute (reject) the other side and develop your case using facts, details, figures, quotations. Pick apart the other
side's logic.
7. Concede a point of the opposition — they must have some good points you can acknowledge that would make you
look rational.
8. Repeat key phrases to reinforce an idea into the reader's minds.
9. Give a realistic solution(s) to the problem that goes beyond common knowledge. Encourage critical thinking and
pro-active reaction.
10. Wrap it up in a concluding punch that restates your opening remark (thesis statement).
11. Keep it to 500 words; make every work count; never use "I"
A Sample Structure

I. Lead with an Objective Explanation of the Issue/Controversy.

Include the five W's and the H. (Members of Congress, in effort to reduce the budget, are looking to cut funding from
public television. Hearings were held …)

 Pull in facts and quotations from the sources which are relevant.
 Additional research may be necessary.

II. Present Your Opposition First.

As the writer you disagree with these viewpoints. Identify the people (specifically who oppose you. (Republicans feel
that these cuts are necessary; other cable stations can pick them; only the rich watch public television.)

 Use facts and quotations to state objectively their opinions.

 Give a strong position of the opposition. You gain nothing in refuting a weak position.

III. Directly Refute The Opposition's Beliefs.

You can begin your article with transition. (Republicans believe public televison is a "sandbox for the rich." However,
statistics show most people who watch public television make less than $40,000 per year.)

 Pull in other facts and quotations from people who support your position.
 Concede a valid point of the opposition which will make you appear rational, one who has considered all the
options (fiscal times are tough, and we can cut some of the funding for the arts; however, …).

IV. Give Other, Original Reasons/Analogies

In defense of your position, give reasons from strong to strongest order. (Taking money away from public television is
robbing children of their education …)

 Use a literary or cultural allusion that lends to your credibility and perceived intelligence (We should render
unto Caesar that which belongs to him …)

V. Conclude With Some Punch.

Give solutions to the problem or challenge the reader to be informed. (Congress should look to where real wastes
exist — perhaps in defense and entitlements — to find ways to save money. Digging into public television's pocket
hurts us all.)

 A quotation can be effective, especially if from a respected source

 A rhetorical question can be an effective concluder as well (If the government doesn't defend the interests of
children, who will?)
Cartoon Symbols

Common Political Cartoon Symbols

Philippine Government     -     president, Philippine flag

freedom and democracy  -     flying eagle

warfare                               -     hawk

fetus, baby                         -     new generation

peace                                 -     dove, olive branch, peace symbol

victory                                 -     wreath of laurels

time                                    -     hourglass, big clock

death                                  -     skull and crossbones

danger                               -     cliff, falling objects, skull and crossbones, dark shades

hope                                   -     rainbow

slow pace                          -     snail, turtle

wealth and power             -     money bags, large and fat people

weak                                  -     small, thin people

court                                   -     bench

corrupt                               -     crocodile

typewriter                          -     press