How do news writers craft compelling stories that capture attention and convey facts effectively?
AB English Language students of the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) explored the craft of journalism in a special lecture on “Language of Non-Literary Texts: News Article Writing” at USeP-Obrero Campus, held on February 5, 2025.
The session featured Adam B. Morell, Editor-in-Chief of Mindanao Lens and a USeP AB English alumnus from Batch 2013, where he shared his expertise in news writing and the realities of working in the media industry.
Morell introduced students to journalistic best practices, including the inverted pyramid structure, a writing format that places the most vital details at the beginning, followed by supporting facts. He explained how journalists craft strong leads, structure information for clarity, and maintain factual accuracy.
“The first mantra: Never assume,” he advised, emphasizing the importance of verifying information before publishing.
He also shared practical tips on sourcing credible information. โYou should equip yourself, be prepared, and be approachableโalways ready to gather news,โ he said
Beyond structure and writing techniques, Morell highlighted one of the most critical aspects of journalism: objectivity. He reminded students, “Rule in journalism: Take both sides unless you’re a columnist. If you want a news, make sure all sides are taken out.”
Morell shared practical advice on handling sources and direct quotes. “As a reporter, mas dali kung i-text sa inyong source. All you have to do is quote it. Kung gi-shortcut ang ‘d2,’ all you have to do is change it to ‘dito.'” (As a reporter, it’s easier to have your sources as textmates. All you have to do is copy what they texted you and quote it. If they shorten โd2โ (text slang for โditoโ), you just need to write it properly as โdito.โ)
He also reminded them, “If naay quote, you can create another paragraph out of the quote.” (If there’s a quote, you can make another paragraphs out of it.) Morell also addressed the risks journalists face. When asked by student Sebastian Maghinay about journalism’s dangers, he responded, “The riskiest part is covering defense and conflict-related news.”
Sharing a real-life example, he recounted, “In Cotabato, in Shariff Aguak, if there’s gunfire in the area, you still have to be on the beat. You might find yourself on one side of the conflict, but the other side will still call youโand sometimes, they may even threaten you. You need a strong gut to survive.”
He also stressed the importance of persistence in journalism: “I-create ang inyong relentless effort and ang inyong frequent na pagpursue sa ila. Ayaw pagpa affect sa low morale. If taas ang morale sa balay, and low morale sa school, be frequent and persistent. Talo ang magaling sa masipag.” (Develop relentless effort and consistently pursue your sources. Donโt let low morale affect you. If your morale is high at home but low at school, be consistent and persistent. Hard work beats talent.)
When Ms. Krysha Fuentes asked for tips on writing headlines, Morell advised, “Don’t make your headline look like your lead. Because they have the same content. Lead is when it is grammatical. Headline is as short as possible. You can be creative.”
He reassured students about writerโs block, adding, “Naay panahon na miskang almost 10 years na ka nagsulat, ang words dili jud mugawas.” (There are times when, even after 10 years of writing, the words just wonโt come out.)
Discussing the struggles in the industry, Ms. Rachel Gumintad asked about the hardships of being a journalist. Morell was candid: “Finances. Do you know why we don’t call journalism a profession? Because we call it vocation. Sometimes, naa juy corruption/biases ang media is because gamay kaayog kwarta.” (Finances. Do you know why we donโt call journalism a profession? Because we call it a vocation. Sometimes, corruption and biases exist in the media because journalists earn very little.)
He also mentioned the pressure of meeting deadlines: “And deadlines are a daily problem. Sometimes, I’m beating myself [up] and beating deadlines.”
On the topic of AI tools like Grammarly and ChatGPT, Morell had a strong stance: “Don’t be ashamed of using those [tools] but don’t allow yourself to use it (ChatGPT) because you’re insulting yourself. Use it for the most basic stuff like grammar checking and punctuations.”
AB English Language Program Head Assoc. Prof. Sajed S. Ingilan highlighted the importance of sessions like these in preparing students for real-world applications of language and writing. “It’s our commitment to delivering quality education through inviting our alumni, so in this case, we have Mr. Adam Bernabe Morell, to share his best practices in the field of journalism,” he remarked.
By the end of the lecture, students gained a deeper understanding of how news stories are builtโfrom writing compelling leads to verifying facts and maintaining credibility. Morellโs insights gave them a new appreciation for the dedication and resilience required in journalism.
For his final advice, Morell left students with this thought: “My advice as a former AB English student is, number one is to put commitment lang jud sa inyong ginabuhat. It doesn’t matter, for me ha, kung unsa jud [kataas] ang grado. Ang pinakaimportant jud sa ako is to learn it. Especially ang wisdom, ang wisdom jud mismo from your instructors, kung unsay ginatudlo sa inyo. Always get the wisdom. The wisdom is the best. It’s the ‘how’…. Because I am not born with a silver spoon in my mouth but I know that education will pave a better way para sa akoa.” (My advice as a former AB English student is to put full commitment into what you’re doing. For me, grades don’t matter as much. Whatโs most important is learningโespecially wisdom from your instructors. Always seek wisdom, because wisdom is the best. It’s the ‘how.’ I wasnโt born with a silver spoon, but I know that education will open better opportunities for me.)
In partnership with the USeP- Institute of Languages and Creative Arts, this special lecture is just one of many learning opportunities in the AB English Language program, helping students bridge the gap between academic study and real-world application.
Article by Henli Harvey Asueros & Julianne Lomarda
Photos by Henli Harvey Asueros
