Daily Times

‘Guidelines for writing’ appeared on the editorial page of Daily Times on August 12, 2011. I shared ‘rules of one’ for journalism. Since the piece was published, I have received Urdu poetry for review. There is not a word of Urdu in my vocabulary. I also received a request from a writer and poet whose native tongue is the Sindhi language. He sought a few professional guidelines for journalism. Others write seeking advice. Whether it is copy-editing manuscripts, business proposals or reading through a government policy draft, I remain willing to assist if time constraints are not too heavy.

So allow me to share a few more ideas and my personal tools for effective print journalism communication. My style has flowered within the soil of human liberty. The freedom of expression bestowed by my forefathers is the gift I extend to you. Gifts must not be hoarded but shared with friends.

Writers jot down their thoughts constantly. Do not be afraid to take baby steps first. It can take years to identify personal style. Some possess a natural talent for writing. The rest of us work patiently to develop artistic communication craftsmanship that speaks to our audience.

Oh heart, be thou not proud! If journalists have a counterpart in the animal kingdom it is definitely the peacock. When I was a child we had neighbours who kept a peacock in a large cage in the backyard. It was fun to walk by the cage and observe a sudden fanning of feathers accompanied by a haughty strut. Journalists are happiest when preening in public.

This morning I scrubbed toilets, swept the house and hauled trash to the curb for pick-up. But in Pakistan today I am a star! You imagine me seated at a desk drinking gourmet coffee. You envision the box of hand-dipped Belgian truffles on my lap. My life is a song! There is a reason peacock tongues are a highly prized culinary delicacy. It is all we deserve and more for our elevated sense of importance.

But back to the topic at hand! Pride is always the subtle enemy when embarking on a career of journalism. To keep myself in check I always remember our talented plumber. If my faucet leaks or a malfunctioning toilet becomes a death-spewing volcano, I can write about it all day. But I do not have a clue about how to fix the problem. I am grateful for the plumber. I am grateful for electricians, architects, farmers, builders, ditch-diggers and the men who ride on the back of the garbage truck and pick up my trash twice a week. My heart is not proud. I have a talent. Others have a talent. Together, we make the world a better place.

When writing Sunday op-ed commentary under the umbrella of a major news outlet in the US, I made an initial commitment. I would not write to impress. I would write to communicate a clear message! Under the tutelage of three different editors, I slowly learned a few tricks of the trade.

Writing with clarity requires adherence to a few basic grammar rules. Topic sentences should be strong. Paragraphs should transition nicely. Unnecessary words are deleted. Redundancy must be avoided. To avoid redundancy, purchase a yellow highlighter. Then highlight all the words which are the same or similar. Once, I used the word ‘distinctive’ five times in a column. I would not have caught the redundant communication loop had I not scanned the piece with a highlighter.

The first two paragraphs are the most important to keep the reader on track. My writing style is what I label as ‘hook, bait and reel’. The first paragraph hooks the reader into the topic at hand. The second paragraph adds the bait to engulf them in the action. If my words do not attract your attention by the end of the second paragraph, move onto the next article. Your time is being wasted.

The final paragraph is meant to bring the topic to a close, cause the reader to seek out further information or reinforce the theme of the discussion. It should be firm, unequivocal and unapologetic if the discussion is one of personal conviction. One of the worst things a journalist can do is write with passion and then shoot themselves in the foot by grovelling about in an insecure manner. I abhor the popular ‘balance of opinion’ articles. It is like drinking a cup of weak and lukewarm tea.

Journalists should minimise the use of sarcasm. It is the inverted anger of the powerless. Use humour sparingly. And handle the grieving tenderly. Their pain should never be our opportunity. When writing on societal trauma, violent acts, natural disasters, we must carefully consider the impact of our words. The grieving subject must never feel as if they are being handled like a wooden object.

Journalists should always tell the truth. Several years ago, the Dallas Morning News had a beloved female writer who was caught inventing scenarios and bringing to life fictitious individuals. She was placed on permanent leave. Her dismissal brought two columns to the page. The writer blamed her health issues for her lapse in professionalism. More importantly, the editor of the Dallas Morning News tried to contain the damage in his own column to the readership. Falsehoods were found in a review of 35 columns stretching back over the last two years during which she wrote. In the world of ideas there is no need to invent a backdrop or a cast of characters to support a conviction or manipulate the public. State your case, take your bow, and exit the stage.

Write with clarity. Avoid arrogance. Use good grammar. Be completely truthful. You are on the road to good journalism. Best of luck!

The writer is a freelance columnist. She can be reached at tammyswof@msn.com