How to write a news story for VNN

1. Download the PlugIn app for IPhone or Android and register your account. Click here to download for IPhone: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/plugin-powered-by-vnn/id1419708542 Click here to download for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.verified.news   This is how you are able to upload content to VNN. Here’s more about how the app works: https://app.verifiednews.network/articles/share/91   2. Take a photo if possible  If you can’t take a photo for your story, that is fine but you will need a photo to upload content. You can find free, generic ones you can use at websites like pexel.com. Just don’t grab photos from places where you don’t have permission to use them. Photos from government sources (like police departments) or any agency that receives tax payer money are free game for everyone.    You can also upload videos you take.    3. Write a headline for your story    Example: Wreck snarls traffic on Highway 51   Only capitalize the first word in the headline, along with any proper nouns.   4. Write the dateline    Example: (TULSA, Okla.)    This is where the story takes place, or where the information was released from. Don’t forget this step! The city is all capital letters, the state is abbreviated. VNN uses “AP style” writing.    You can find out how to abbreviate the states here: https://alicemfisher.wordpress.com/2015/03/14/ap-style-for-states-abbreviations/   5. Write your story    Example: “A two vehicle wreck made a mess of Highway 51 at the South Memorial exit on Tuesday. Police said a car rear-ended a truck just after 2 p.m. Traffic was backed up for miles. No one was injured.”   If you have a quote from someone who contributed to the story, feel free to add that in.    Here’s what it looks like all together: ——————- Wreck snarls traffic on Highway 51 (TULSA, Okla.) A two vehicle wreck made a mess of Highway 51 at the South Memorial exit on Tuesday. Police said a car rear-ended a truck just after 2 p.m. Traffic was backed up for miles. No one was injured. ——————- See? Easy peasy.   And of course sharing news isn’t all just breaking news. A lot of times journalists will find or receive information from official sources like press releases. Then the job is to take the “official” talk they use and rewrite the story to be as conversational as possible.   Shorter is better. The goal is to get as much important information relayed as you can in as few words as possible.    If you ever have any questions about news writing, email us at bharlow@verifiednews.network  Now hit that “PlugIn” icon on your app and start sharing!