Thuthang Ngandan Bulhram

(Basic News Writing)

Salai Siang Lian Uk (Kianghrol)

Thuthang ngan tikih theih ṭul bulhrambik cu Dikdawhnak (Accuracy), Tawifelnak (Brevity) le Fiangfainak (Clarity) hi an si.

A hmaisabik le thupibik cu dikdawhnak hi a si. Thuthang cu a dik lo ahcun man a nei lo. A ngaingai ahcun man a nei lo timi hnak in a bese sawn. Thuthang dik lo cun thuthangca zalen (free press) a nunsuah theinak ding ih a ṭulbik mi, mipi in thuthang an rinsan ngamnak timi, ih hram a satcat a si. Daan Belhsah Pakhatnak (First Amendment) ah thuthangca hi cozah khonṭhawlnak hnuaiah um lo ding ih hum a sinak san cu mipi in a dik mi le ṭanlam a nei lo mi thuthang an theih ngah theinak ding ah a si timi kha hngilh lo ding a si.

Mipi in vote an pek ding mi anmai’ thluakfimnak hmang ih an hril theinak ding ah ṭanlam a nei lo mi thuthang an ngah ṭul. Himi hi kan ram (U.S) ih democracy ṭhanlennak hrangah a thupi zet mi a si. Mipi in thuthang ih dikdawhnak le hmaizah bul nei lo ih a dinnak (fairness) parah mipi in an zumnak a hloh ahcun, rei lo te ah democracy zum-nawn-lo-nak (rinsan-nawn-lo-nak) in a thlun cih ding.

Nambatpawl, hmin cafangkompawl, zo in ziang a sim timipawl le thuthang pakhat sungih um mi thuhla sirhsan (sources) dangdang khal kha cek (check) ringring aw. Thuthang palai ih ṭuanvo cu ziang a cang rero timi hawlhmuh ding, le lunglutza (interesting) le thuthang peksuahdan ṭha thawi’ cui’ thuhla ngansuah ding kha a si. Dikdawhnak timi hi a hmaisabik ah ra seh.

Pahnihnak cu tawifelnak  a si. Na ngan mi thuthang thuhla ih ṭongfang tin in hna an ṭuan a ṭul. Hna a ṭuan lo mi ṭongfang an um ahcun, hlon mai aw. Thu laimu ah lut cih aw (Get to the point). Vei khat lawng rel aw. A hleifuan belhsah hlah. “Zinglam nazi 8 a.m,” ti’n rel hlah. Ziangahtile 8 a.m. cu zinglam a si cia. 8 a.m. ti lawng in rel aw. Asilole zinglam nazi 8 ti mai. Pyramid Linglet thuthang ngandan kalhmang kha cingkeng aw. Thuhruaitu (the lead) ah thuhla thupibik kha ret aw. Casiartu ih ngaihvennak (aṭention) kha (nga siau bang in) siau aw. Cumi hnu ah thuhruaitu ih na ret mi thuhla kha simfiang awla, cu ṭheh in, pyramid linglet a dot hnihnak ah thuhla thupibik sangtu kha ret aw. Cu thluh in thuhla thupibik sangtu ih sangtu ret leh aw. A cem tiang ih lunglutza si ding in ngan aw. Thuthang na ngan ṭheh hnu khal ah cawl cih mai hlah.

Fiangfainak  cu ca na ngan hlan ihsin a thok zo. Fiangfainak cu a kimcang mi le thiamtlinnak thawi’ hawlsuah mi thuthang thawn a thok. Nangmah lala in na rel mi thuhla kha kimcangtei’ na theihthiam thluh lawng ah casiartu ih thinlung sungah fiangfaite’n a lut thei ding. Na ngansuah mi thuthang ah son lo mi thusuhnak (questions unanswered) tang hlah hai seh. Khawlak ṭong (jargon) hmang hlah aw. Mipi zaran hrangah a fiang lo ding mi thuhla tapoh cu simfiang aw.  Thuthang pakhat ih thuhla na ngah tam vivo rual in, thuhruaitu thawn a pehpar mi ziang pawl an si timi kha na cekfel tam sinsin a ṭul. Na theih tam deuhdeuh le, zamrang le tluangtlam tei’ relsuah a har sinsin ding. Na rel mi kha ziang a si timi na theihthiam lo lawng ah a olsam sawn lam ding. Ti duh mi cu, thuthang hawlthanhdan ṭha (good reporting) timi hi a ol titu an um kel lo tinak a si.

HAUHRUANG KILTU (The Gatekeeper)

Zo in Monitor* thuthangca ah ziangvek thuthang sutsuah (printed) an si ding timi thutluknak a tuah? Channel 2 ih Nazi 10 Thuthang ah ziangvek thuthangpawl an tel ding timi zo in a hril? Thuthangmipawl (journalists) an si ih, cumi an tuah tikah thuthangmipawl cun ‘hauhruang kiltu’ ṭuanvo an ṭuan tinak a si. Hauhruang sangka (kotkhen) ihsin ziangvek thuthangpawl kan suakter ding timi, le ziangmi kan vorh so ding ih, ziangmipawl hnawmbawm ah kan san ding timi thutluknak an tuah.

Thuthangmipawl in ziangvek thuthangpawl cu cahmai pakhatnak ih telh tlak in an thupi ih, ziangvekpawl cu a sunglam cahmai ah ret an si ding timi khal thutluknak an tuah.

Asinan hauhruang kiltu ṭuanvo timi hin thuthang kan ngandan khal a hngong ve cih. Casiartu cun thuthangmipawl cu leitlun hnokbuai zet thawi’ hnawihnih ve lo in an hmu (an beisei). Thuthangmi ih hnaṭuan cu ziang a cang timi hawlsuah ding, le cui’ thilcang ihsin casiartupawl hnenah a thupibik mi thilthlengpawl ih zuk (thuhla) kha tawi le fiangtei’ sim thei ding in a poimawh mi thuhlapawl lawng kha zamrangte’n mai’ hminsinbu ih rak ngan khum thluh ding khi a si. Himi kalhmang hin thilthleng ih thuhla ṭhenkhat cu a hrelh ti a fiang ko. Asinan a thupi mi cu na ngankhum mi ahkhan thuthang ih a thupitnakbik zate’n an tel thluh ti na theihfel ding kha a si.

Asinan (khuimi a thupibik timi) thuṭhennak tuah thei ding in, na luhcilh mi subject thawn a pehpar mi thil hmuahhmuah na zir thluh a ṭul ih, cumi cun thuthang pakhat cangsuakter ding khop ih a thupi lo mi thil tamngaipi theihnak ah a lo hruai thleng ding tinak a si. Thuthang palai ṭha cun thuthang sung vun laihsuah kha a ngaina. Thlun ding kalhmang cu hihi a si: “Na theih mi ih zatek pahra kha ngansuak aw.”

 ‘W’ PANGA PAWL (The Five ‘W’s’)

Thuthang thuhla tin in ‘W’ panga an funkim tengteng a ṭul.

Who (Zo), What (Ziang), When (Ziangtik), Where (Zianghmun), Why (Ziangah) le a cang ah How (Ziangtin) timi le So What (Ziang a hngong vivo) timipawl an si. Thuhruaitu ah an zate’n funkim ding tinak cu a si cuang lo, asinan catluanhlawm hmaisabik ah pakhat lole pahnih tal cu na kawhhmuh ṭheu ding.

A dang in an run thlun cih ding. An zate’n na nganmi thuthang ih khuimawzawn ah si maw cun an tel thluh a si ti kha felfai ding in tuah aw.

THUTHANG MANMUALPAWL (News Values)

Thuthang cu ziang a si? Hman nolh ringring mi simfiangnak cu ‘uico in minung a keu tikah thuthang a si lo, minung in uico a keu ahcun thuthang a si’ timi hi a si. Fakseltupawl in, ziangruangah thuthangca ahhin thuthang sia lawnglawng a khat ringring, tiah an sut ṭheu. A sonnak cu thuthang sia hi thil pangai lo sawn a si ih zohman in thilthleng pangai men siar an paih lo ti hi a si.

 “Monitor thuron upa cu tui zing ih campus a ra thlen tikah mizan ih a hmuhta mi thilpawl a kel in a ra hmu.” Cuvek cu zo in a ngaihsak paih ding? Thuron upa in Building 5 ih cet-kailawn  (elevator) hngaktu keite (mountain lion = cougar) hmu bang sehla cun, thuthang a um ah a cang ding.

Thuthang timi cun a hnuailam tapawl lakah a malbik in pakhat tal cu a keng tel tlangpi.

§  Hmualneihnak (Impact). Hngongnak timi hi thilthleng pakhat in a hngong mi minung zat, a pil mi long zat, a siat mi mawṭaw zat, tivek ihsin tah a si. A hngong mi minung zat a tam, long pil zat a tam, asilen cui’ thuthang cun hmual a nei sinsin.

§  Naivainak (Proximity). Na tarlang mi thilthleng le na ca siartu mipi an naivaiawk (an pehparawk) sinsin rual in, thuthang ih manmaul khal a tam sinsin. Bangladesh ram ah tlangleng pakhat in bus pakhat a pah mi thuthang cun lehpannak thuthang cahmai dunglam ih zungbibok pathum column pakhat a luah fang ding. Asinan tlangleng pakhat in Niles Canyon Lamzin ah bus pakhat a pah ahcun thuthangcapawl ih cahmai pakhatnak ah ret an si ding. (U.S tlawngta hrangih ngan a si ruangah hitin a tahṭhimnak a si – caleṭu)

§  Caankhelhnak (Timeliness). “Tharhlamnak” timi hi thuthang pakhat ih hmun tumpi luahtu a si. Thuthangca suah zawng rori (deadline) ih a cang mi cu kan dung zarh ih a cang mi hnak in thuthang picang sawn a si. Thuthang “picang” hman hi zarh khat maw cuhnak ih luan deuh fang si maw hrawng lawng mipi an hip thei. Thuthang cu nga vek a si, a tharhlam thei poh len a ṭha.

§  Langsarnak (Prominence). Monitor thuron upa hnenih thilthleng hnakin khawpi uktu bawi hnenih thilthleng cu thuthang picang sawn a si. Mipi cun an theih lo mi hnak in milangsarpawl (celebrities) ih thuhla an ngaihven sawn. Ramhotu Clinton cu taksa sawizoiawknak ah tlan bang sehla thuthang palaipawl in an zuk celcel ding. Asinan Monitor thuron upa cu tlan ve sehla uicopawl in an bo ding, zohman in an ngaihsak fawn lo ding. (Cu cu a sidan ding hrimhrim a si ve mai).

§  Tharhlamnak (Novelty). Thilthleng zaran lo, dangdai (bizarre), hmaisabik, netabik, asilole dam sung ih vei khat lawng (once-in-a-lifetime) tivek hin a thleng ringring mi thilthleng hnak in thuthang manmual an nei tam sawn.

§  Buaibainak (Conflict). Ralbuainak, ramkhel (politics) le sualbuar (crime) tivek hi thuthang thuhla zaranbik an si. Thil a feh tluang thluh ahcun thuthang khal a mal ding.

§  Pehparnak (Relevance). Thuthang thuhla in casiartu ziangtin a hngong? Hngong mi a neih lo ahcun thuthang a um lo tinak a si thei (ngan mi thuthang kha thuthang dinhmun tling lo a si thei).

§  Ṭangkainak (Usefulness). Himi thuthan (information) hi ziangtin ka hmang thei? Casiartupawl ih hman taktak thei mi thuthang peksuah tumnak ruangah innsang, hnṭuannak le caan-awl hmandan thawn a pehpar mi thuthang hlawmṭhenpawl (sections) thuthangca ih an tam-ṭheu-nak a si.

§  Minung ngaihvenzawng (Human interest). Thuthang thuhla pakhat cu thuthang manmual dang pawl a keng tel mal cing in ziangtizawng in simaaw lunglutza a rak si ziar thei. Thuthang cu thil dangdai tuah ṭheu, suangtuahnak thawi’ tlangleng ve maimai mi pakhat tonsuhnak tivek, thil naran te men tla a si thei. Asinan cumi cu minungpawl ih rel le theih paih zawng a rak si ahcun, thuthang manmual tahfung kan rel mi dang pawl a ken tel lo hman ah, thuthang a si ve mai.

DIKFELNAK/FELFAINAK (Objectivity/Fairness)

Thuthang palai ih ṭuanvo cu thudik hawlsuah ih rel ding a si, cumi ruangih um nuam lo ding an rak um le um lo ngaihsak ding a si lo. Thuthang palai ih ṭuanvoneihnak (responsibility) cu, Daan Belhsah Pakhatnak (First Amendment) in a tarlang bang in, casiartu rian ding lawng kha a si.

Democracy a hlawhtlin vivo theinak dingah mipi in ṭan lam nei lo thuthan (information) an ngah a ṭul. Cumi cu na thuthang thuhla kha ṭanlam nei lo (unbiased) a si ding tinak a si. Thuthang palai tamsawn cun dikfelnak thianghlim (pure objectivity) timi hi a cang thei lo tiah an ruat. Ṭongfang pakhat ai in a dang pakhat na hril tikah, na thuṭhennak (judgment) cu thuthang sungah a lut tinak a si.

Asinan felfainak (fairness) hi cu a cang thei mi a si ih, felfainak timi hi thuthang palai tin ih hmuitinmi a si khal a ṭul. Felfainak  nei thei ding cun thuthang palai cun thuthang thuhla sungih amai’ ṭanlam neihnak kha amahte a cohlan a ṭul. Cutin a um thei mi hmuhdan dang hmuahhmuah kha a telh thluh ding ….amah thuthang palai in bulpak hmuhdan ih a pompi lo mi pawl tiang in.

Thuthang thuhla tinkim ah “a khatlam zawn” (other side) kha zoh tel ringring aw. Na thuthang thuhla bulhram ih um dan ah mi pakhat asilole pawlkom pakhat cu thil pakhatkhat mawhpuh in um bang sehla mawhpuh a tongtu lam kha va pehtlaih in thuhla khirhsal theinak canvo pek ding ṭuanvo cu lo theih lo ih na tuah ding mi a si. Himi hi khirhsalnak thuthang (response story) ah si lo in, thuthang hmaisabik (first story) ah tuah thluh ding a si.

Ṭong lailak (neutral language) hmang aw. Mangbang hmuhsaknakpawl (exclamation points) hmang hlah. Ohlone college na kawhhmuh tikah “kan college” ti’n rel hlah. Ohlone ti’n rel men aw. Kan awphawi cu thuthang thuhla ih lunglut ve lo pakhat ih awphawi vek, tlaitluangtei’ thlirtu (honest observer) ih awphawi vek, a si a ṭul.

Thuthang palai ih rintlaksinak (reporter’s credibility) hi casiartu in thuthang ih dikdawhnak hrangah amkhamnak (guarantee) an neihsun a si. Thuthang pindan (newsroom) ah thuthang dikdawh ngan ding ih normawhtu ding palik an um lo. Daan Belhsah Pakhatnak in cumi cu a siang lo ding. A dik lo mi asilole ṭanlam nei thuthang kan ngan ahcun casiartupawl in in rinsannak a tawp ding. Cuvek a can pang ahcun, kannih khal kan zate’n hnaṭuannak hmun dang ih kan feh thluh a ṭha sawn hial ding.

THUHRUAITU (The Lead)

Thuhruaitu hi thuthang pakhat ngan tikih a harnakbik a si tlangpi. Thuhruaitu cu thuthang pakhat ih ṭongfang hmaisabik, catluan hmaisabik asilole catluanhlawm hmaisabik khi a si. A cancan ahcun catluanhlawm pahnih lole pathum a si cang khal a um ve.

A saulam cu ziang can khal va si sehla, thuhruaitu hin ṭuan ding ṭuanvo thupi tam zet a nei. A pakhatnak ah, casiartu kha thuthang thuhla tang lai mi ih lunglut ding in a tuah a ṭul. Casiartu kha thin sau suah thei lo, na thuthang a siar ai in thil dang a tuah thei mi tampi um ah vun suangtuah aw.

Casiartu cu, “A laimu tak ah feh mai hnik! Ka caan hlon lak men hlah! A thuhla rel lohli hnik!” ti ih ṭong vek in vun suangtuah aw. Na ca siartu cu tikulh rocar (desert island) pakhat ah tartahak in na ngan mi thuthang bak cu siar ding dang zianghman nei lo si bang sehla cun thuhruaitu cu thuhla tarlang fiangfai hnai lo in simaw, a helkualter zawng in simaw na tuah thei ko. Asinan tuini ahcun casiartu cu BART tlangleng bawh in an mansahlap, nauhakpawl an rak to aw lala ih, TV len cat bang lo in a rak au-kio fawn. Na ngan mi thuthang cun a harsa zet mi zuamawknak a hmaton a si.

Hliakhlainakpawl in minung tamsawn cun thuthang cu TV ihsin an thei, asinan mi tampi cu thuthang thulupawl (headlines) dung ih um mi thuhla cipciar ngah ding in thuthangca an siar bet ṭheu ti’n an tarlang.

Na ṭuanvo cu TV ih “awn ciahneh” thuthang ngah cindan (“sound bite” journalism) a run ṭhanlenpitu casiartupawl a hiptu ding thuhruaitu tawi, hmual nei ṭha, thuthang tarlang ṭha ngan ding kha a si. Cuihleiah TV in caan pe ih a tuah thei lo mi thuthang thuhla cipciar, a sunglam murilpawl, le a kiangkap boruak pawl kha na phorhsuak hai ding a si.

Thuhruaitu ṭha ih kalhmangpawl cu ziang an si?

§  Tawiter aw (Keep it short). Thuthang ngan timi hrimhrim hi a sa a hnget (tight) ringring ko nan, thuhruaitu ahhin a hleice ih ngaihsak a ṭul cuang. Na thuthang thuhla kha catluan pakhat ah sawrte aw (condense), cu thluh in catluanṭhen (phrase) pakhat ah, cu thluh in ṭongfang pakhat ah. Cui’ ṭongfang cu thuhruaitu ih kiangnai ah umter tengteng aw. Kalhmang tlangpi vek ih hman mi cu, thuhruaitu catluan cu ṭongfang pahra hnakin an sau lo pei, timi hi a si.

§  A laimu ah lut cih aw (Get to the point). Thuhla cu ziang a si? Casiartu kha thuhruaitu ah sim aw. “Khawpi khonsil (council) upapawl mizan ah an tong aw,” ti’n sim hlah. Khawpi khonsil upapawl in ziang an tuah timi kha sim sawn aw. “Ṭuanrian siahpawl (business taxes) cu mizan ih khawpi khonsil an tonak ah vote 6-1 hmu in zatek 30 kaisohter an si.” Himi ah thuthang thuhla cu ziang a si? Siahpawl. Curuangah thuhruaitu ah ‘siahpawl’ timi ret aw.

§  Cetcangnak kha hmuitin aw (Focus on the action). Awphawi ṭuanrang (active voice) hmang aw. Thil pakhatkhat a can (thlen) thu rel men lo in, zo in ziangmi kha zo hnenah a tuah timi rel sawn aw. Cetcangnak tarlangtu ṭongfang (action word) hmang aw. Thil pakhatkhat tuahtu zohman an um lo ahcun, thuthang thuhla khal a um lo a si thei men sokhaw.

§  Casiartu kha siau aw (Hook the reader). Thuhruaitu ah a thupibik mi, lunglutza a si bik mi, thin a ṭhawng theibik mi kha ret aw. Nunthuleng pakhat cu thuanthu ih vawrtawp (climax) thleng ding in cahmai 100 a awh tla a si thei; asinan thuthang ahcun thuhla vawrtawp kha a hmasabik ah ret a si ih, cumi hnu ah ziangmi in cui’ thuhla vawrtawp a suahter timi kha simfiang sal a si.

Himi kalhmangpawl hi kawhhmuh ding mi thu laimu hrangih thlirmual (scene) rak tuahciatu thuhla malte thawn a thok mi thuthang cahram (feature) ih thuhruaitu asilole “thuhruaitu bultawi pawl” (anecdotal leads) ahcun hman lo cang khal an um. Asinan a tamsawn ahcun thuhruaitu thazang ṭha le hmual nei hin hna a ṭuan ṭhabik thotho ding.

SIMFIANGNAK THUHLAWM (The Nut Graph)

Thuthang thuhla tin in thusuhnakpawl sonsalnak a si mi “simfiangnak thuhlawm” an neih a ṭul: Ziangruangah himi hi ka ngan, ih casiartu in an siar a ṭul ti’n ziangruangah ka ruat? Na ngan mi thuthang thuhla in siar tlak thu a fun ti langternak ṭhabik cu, tluangtlamtei’ rel cun, na ngan mi thuthang ih tlunlam kiangnai hmun pakhatkhat ah cui’ thuhla relsuah (tarlang) kha a si mai ko. “Himi thuthang ih thu laimu cu…..” ti ih rel a ṭul tinak cu a si lo. Thuthang cu tinh-sum (budget) daihawk lo thu rak si bang sehla, simfiangnak thuhlawm ṭha cun tinh-sum daihawklonak in zirnaklam liamkuan (tuition) a punter phah ding le punter lo ding thu ah pengpi zungbawi (disctrict official) ih hmuhdan a tarlang cih men thei.

Thuthang in casiartu ziangtin a hngong? Himi hi simfiangnak thuhlawm ih a um ding mi a si. Casiartu a hngong lo a si ahcun, cui’ thuhla cu thuthang pakhat ih ngai tlak a si lo tla a si thei.

ṬONGKAMPAWL (Quotes)

Ṭongkampawl in thuthang kha nun an neihter. Na ngah mi sirhsanpawl (sources) kha thuthang relter aw. Thuthang sungih thuthang palai ih aw cun thuhla laimupawl a duansuah a ṭul ih, ṭongkampawl hrangah donsang (stage) a timtuahsak a ṭul. Ṭongkampawl in na sirhsanpawl kha casiartu hnenah thu an relter. Cumi in na thuthang le casiartu kha bulpak ih tong aw vek in hmual a neihter. Sutsuah mi ca ah bulpak ih thuhla simtheihnak kalhmang umsun cu himi lawng a si.

Asinan ṭongkampawl kha a tling hleice mi (special) an si a ṭul. Nangmai’ ṭongfangpawl thawi’ na simfiang felfai thei sawn mi thuthan hrangah ṭongkampawl va hmang hlah aw.

Direct ih lak mi ṭongkampawl lawng kha khihhmuh hminsinnak (quotation mark) sungah telh ding an si. Khihhmuh hminsinnak sungih ret mi thuthan cu thuhla sirhsan mi thawi’ a deng fuh aw ciahciah mi si hai seh. Asinan dikdawhnak um thei ding in karbak dang pakhat a ṭul lai: Khihhmuh hminsinnak sungih ṭongkampawl cun a reltu ih tumtah mi an funkhawm thei a ṭul. Thureltu ih ṭongkam ciahciah a va si hman ah, a rel tum mi a tarlang theilotu ṭongkampawl khihhmuh hminsinnak sungih ret cu khihhmuhnak hman ṭhelh a si. Himi hi sirhsanpawl in nasa zet ih an phunzai (complaint an tuah) leuhleuh ṭheu mi a si. Tonsuhnak a cem tikah, na hman tum mi ṭongkampawl kha cekfel ringring awla, thureltu in a rel mi na theihfiang ciah lo tikah, sut sal mai aw.

Direct ih ṭongkam lak tikih hmandan ṭha tluangtluam: “Ramhotu sinak ka cuh lo ding, asinan mallai cu ka feh peh men thei,” tiah Dan Quayle in Nilaithai ah a sim.

Ṭongkampawl punctuation sungih an um kha hminsin aw. Hmaihruaitu catluan a um hnu ah ṭongkam a ra.

Ṭongkam a ṭhen a zar lawng ih tuah tum ahcun hitin: Ramhotu zuamawknak hrangih a ruahmannakpawl thuhla sut tikah, Quayle cun “a cuh lo ding” thu a sim. 

Tahṭhimnak hmaisa deuh, ṭongkam a kim ih hman mi khi, lung a lut sawn in a dikdawh sawn. A ṭhen a zar lawng lak mi ṭongkam khi cun sullam theihsualnak a umter thei.

Direct si lo ih ṭongkam hman ahcun a reltu ih hman mi ṭongfang ciah kherkher hman a ṭul cuang lo, asinan (ziangvek ṭongfang a si khalle) a reltu in a sim duh mi kha a funkhawm a ṭul.

Ṭhimnak ah: Breṭ Favre Thursday cun himi lehpan caanbi (season) a cem cun bawhlung lehpannak ihsin a cawl ding timi thuthang cu a el, asinan a kum in a hngong thlang ih a theih thu cu a sim. 

Direct si lo ṭongkam hi direct ṭongkam hrangih thuhla hmeltheihtercianak ah hman a theih. Ṭhimnak ah, Favre ih thuthang ahkhan, a ra bet ding mi catluan cu hitin a si thei:

“Zingpit ih ka hung ṭhanghoi tikah lehpannak ka luhcilh caan ih ka zuamnak tinkim ka tongtuar (feel) ṭheu,” tiah a sim.

Casiartu in zo in thu a rel ti theifel ding in tuah aw. Catluanhlawm tampi sung mi pakhat ih ṭongkam na kawhhmuh rero hnu ah, midang pakhat ih ṭongkam na kawhhmuh sal duh asile, ṭongkam pakhat le pakhat karlak ah ṭhawnkainak cahlawm (graph of transition) pakhat hmang aw. Ṭhimnak ah:

Culaiah, khawpi khonsil upa dang pakhat cun hmuhdan ralkah (opposite view) a nei. 

“Ruahman mi ṭhansohnak cu a ṭoih se zo ah ka ruat,” tiah Khonsil upa Joe Smith in a sim. 

Ṭongkam pakhat na hman cem hnu ah casiartu kha theihter ta lo in a dang na hman thok cih ahcun, thuhla a hnok ding. Minung pakhat in a rel mi kha dikdawhte’n na than (report) hman ah, na khihhmuh mi minung kha a rak sual thei lai timi kha cingkeng aw.

Thusuhnak um thei mi tinkim kha sirhsan dang pawl hmang in let fel vivo aw. Lehhnu lam ih, “Amai’ reldan ciah silawm,” ti leh meimei kha a tawk lo.

Na hmuitin mi cu na casiartupawl hnenih thuhla theihter ding a si ti kha na thinlung ah ret ringring aw. Ziangtikhmanah sirhsan pakhat lawng rinsan hlah. Thuhla sirhsan na neih mi lak ihsin na ṭul mi thuthang a keng tel lo tu sirhsan pakhat na hmu asile, sirhsan dangdang zoh vivo sawn mai aw.

ṬHAWNKAINAKPAWL (Transitions)

Na thuthang sungih catluanhlawm tinkim cu pakhat hnu pakhat a sidan ding dikte’n (naturally) an luan thlak vivo a ṭul. Daihcang (enough) ko in thuthang na ngah ih, thuhruaitu khal a thazang a cak tawk a si ahcun, na thuthang cu “amahte ngan aw” vivo vek in, a thok in a cem tiang tluang zuahzo in, a feh ti na hmu ding.

Asinan thuthang ṭhenkhat cu pehzomawknak um lo in a belcawng hlir umkhawm vek an si ih, thuhla duansuah tik khal ah caisartui’ theihthiam theih lo asilole casiartu hnokbuaiter theitu ding thuhla biboh an um.

Cui’ thuhla bibohpawl cu ṭhawnkainakpawl in an tluangter ih thuthang kha siar a olsamter. Ṭhawnkainak tuahdan kaihhruainak kalhmang ṭhenkhat cu a hnuailam tapawl an si:

§  Na thuhla ih thu  remkhawmawkdanpawl kha talhton khawruahnak mil (logical order) vivo ih duan mi siter aw. Thuhla duansuahdan hman tambik mi cu a thleng hmaisasa ngan hmai duansuahdan (chronological order) a si. Himi a cang, cu ṭheh in himi a cang, cu ṭheh in himi. Asinan ṭongfang dangdang hmang ih na ngan mi thuthang hmel na thuam mawi duh ahcun ‘cu ṭheh in’ timi ṭongfang cu vei khat bak na hmang duh lemlo ding.

§  Thureltupawl ih karlak ih ret ding mi ṭhawnkainakpawl hrangah thuhla hmeltheihnak pawl (introductions) hmang aw. Ṭhimnak ah:

Ed Smith, Ohlone ih cinungphung (biology) professor, cun daihkhaltermi yogurt (frozen yogurt) in sam zim ṭekpawl (split ends) a rehter thei timi ruahnak cu a pompi lo. 

“Ka theih dah mi ruahnak lakih aṭthlakbik a si,” tiah a sim. 

(Hminsin: yogurt hi cawhnawi thawi’ suansuah mi zuu ci khat a si- caleṭu). 

§  Relsuahnak (discussion) thar a ra ding mi hrangah thlirmual (scence) timtuah sak aw.

Casiartu ralrinnak pe ta lo in hoinak thar ah feh cih mai hlah. Ṭhimnak ah:

Culai ah, Onlone College ih zirhhruaitu (instructors) bur khat cun, banhlapawl zirhliahnakpawl parih a ṭhum aw mi, theory dang pakhat an timlam rero. 

“Thil pakhatkhat cu kan pan rero ah kan ruat,” tiah Professor Harold Foote in a sim. 

NETKHARNAKPAWL (Endings)

Thuthang ngandan kalhmang hin, casiartupawl hnuklut thei ding in, a thoknak ih thuthan thupibik ret a tum ṭheu ko nan, netkharnak ṭha tuah thei ding khal in hminsin ding thupi an um ve.

Netkharnak ṭha cun thuthang kha ‘helkual kim thluh’ timi tontuarnak a pe. A hleice in a cemnak in thuhruaitu ih um mi thuthan a kawhhmuh asile ‘helkual kim’ timi tontuarnak a pe cuang. Ṭhimnak ah Monitor thuthangca ih hnaṭuantu pakhat in a ngan mi thuthang thuhla pakhat ah, mino pakhat cu a huho ih sualbuarnak (gang crime) bansan tum in a nun a ṭhin thu um bang sehla, a netkharnak cu:

Valle cun college ihsin zircawilu ngah (graduate) na tum maw timi thusuhnak cu theithiam zet awphawi thawn “aw e” tiah a let. 

Cumi in a kawhhmuh mi cu, tui’ caan ah Valle cu donsang parah luhkhuh le thuamfual (gown) thawn, diploma keng ih a din lai a nu in a hmu cing hman in, Valle cun a nui’ ṭah veihnihnak a hmu sal lala ding tinak a si. 

Thuhruaitu in thawnginn ihsi Valle a suah pekte ah, Valle ih college kainak hrangah scholarship (bomnak) an ngah ruangih a nu lungawi tuklam ruangih a ṭah thu a rel lang zo. Netkharnak in thuhruaitu kha tluang zuahzo in a hun kawhhmuh ta ruangah, a thuhla kha a sihcih aw khawm thluh.

BUNGRUA DANGDANG (Other Stuff)

Sirhsan-pakhat thuthangpawl hrial aw (Avoid one-sources stories). Thuthang na lak lai ah minung a tam thei tawk in be aw.  Ngan ding ih na hril mi thuthang hrangah kimcangte’n caan pe aw. Thuthang kimcang na la ngah zo, sirhsan kimcang na be ngah hai zo, thuthan kimcang na siar zo tivekpawl ziangtin na theithei ding? Tontehnak in a sonnak (answer) a lo zirh ding, a thoknak ih na rak ruahdan hnak ih tam na zir ngah ding.

Thuthang palai ih ṭuanvo ah hmunṭhen pathum a um: Thuthang lak (reporting), ngansuah (writing) le thuthang netabik pawl ton/ngaican (meeting deadlines) a si. An pathum in an thupi ṭheh,, asinan thuthang netabik pawl tel lo cun thuthang laknak timi hi a um thei lo. Thuthang netabik ngaican hi na hrangih thlun ṭul mi daan (discipline) a si. Thuthang netabik ngahdan ding zir aw, thuthang khonkhawmdan zir awla, a ngandan kalhmang cu a netabik ah a ra ding.

Thuthang Ngan le Thehlarnak (advertising) karlakah a kau in a fiang mi danglamnak a um.Thehlartupawl ih thuhla na ngan tikah, annih in somsohnak thuhla (“positive” story) ngan ding ih lo normawh in cuti ih na tuah lo ahcun an thehlarnak hnuk kir sal ding tiang ih an lo hro hman ah, nangmai’ dikfelnak le felfainak (objectivity and fairness) zaran kha hmang aw. Kan hmuitin mi cu casiartu a si. Kan ṭuanvo cu a dik thluh mi, a felfai mi thuhla ngansuah ding kha a si ih, cumi cu hlirso mi thuhla thawi’ thehlarnak tuahtupawl (sensible advertisers) in an ngaisang ding a si.

Kan college ukhruaiawknak (administration) khal ah cuti thotho a si. Thuhla ih kil tin kha kan tarlang ringring ding a si. A ngihventu miburpawl hmuahhmuah hnen ihsin an hmuhdan kan dil ko ding nan, kan ṭuanvo cu, zo an va tel a si hman ah, dikfel zet ih thuthang thansuah ding kha a si ko.

Azatpawl ruatdan thiam aw (Make sense out of numbers). Nambat (azat) cu khaikhinnak um lo cun sullam a nei lo. Tui’ thlatang tlawngkai caan ah hminpetu zatek panga an pung si bang sehla, cumi le kan dung thlatang tlawngkai caan kha ziangtivekih khaikhin a si? Thlatang tlawngkai caan ih hminpetu zemrual thawn ziangtin khaikhin a si?

Thuhla simtheihawk timi hi minung sinak ih hngetek a si (Story-telling is part of being human). Tontehnak kha thuhla (story) pakhat ih canter in theihthiam kan tum ṭheu (thuhla umtudan kan talhton ṭheu). Kan tontehnak kha cingkeng thei ding in, le midangpawl va hlawm thei ding in, thuhla ah kan canter. Thuhlapawl hmang in kan zir. Thuthang hi, thuanthureltui’ thuṭhennak (storyteller’s judgment) tel lo in thuhlanghpawl (facts) a pholangtu thuhla phun dang hleice ci khat a si.

Thuthang Pakhat ih Thuhruaitu Ngandan Ding (How To Write A News Lead)

§  Thuthang thuhla kha ṭongfang pakhat asilole pahnih ah sawrte (condense) aw. Cui’ ṭongfangpawl kha catluan hmaisabik ih a thoknak thawi’ a naivai theinakbik ah, thuhruaitu catluan ih luandan (flow) siatsuah lo ding in, ret aw.

§  Thuhruaitupawl kha tawiten ngan aw – Catluan hmaisabik hrangah ṭongfang 20 ihsin 30 lawng hmang aw. Asilole cuhnak ih mal in.

§  Thuhruaitu in casiartu kha ziangmi thuthang a si ti a sim a ṭul ih, thuhla um vivo pawl siar duh ding ih casiartu hip thei ding in lunglutza sinak a neih kimcang a ṭul. Nangmah in thuthang thuhla na sim hlan sung cu casiartu in ziang a si ti an thei lo ding timi kha cingkeng aw.

§  Thuthang thuhla sungih cetcangnak (action) kha hawl aw. Cetcangnak um mi kha thuhruaitu ah ret aw.

§  Hmin le nambat pawl kha vei hnih cekfel sal ringring aw. Cafangkom, cangandan ningkhawng (style) le ṭongkalhmang (grammar) cekfel aw. Ziangkim kha a dotdot in (a umtudan ding ciah in) ret aw.

§  Hmuhdanpawl kha talhton in ruaṭon (aṭribute) vivo aw. Thuthanghpawl (facts) thawn erh khawm aw.

§  Cipciarte’n tarlang aw. Thuthang la khawm hmaisa awla, cumi hnu ah ngan aw. Ziangkim zir awla, zatek 10 relsuak sal aw.

§  Thuhla sungih ziangmi thuthang manmualpawl ah khuimibik kha thuhruaitu ah ret a ṭha ding timi ruatcat (thutluknak tuah) aw. Thuthang manmual a khihhmuh theibiktu kha thuhruaitu ah ret aw.

§   Awphawi ṭuanrang (active voice) in ngan aw.

§   Hmin, caan asilole hmunram kha thuthang thuhla ih lunglutzabik/thupibik a si lo ahcun thuhruaitu ah hmang hlah.

Thuhruaitu Tuahnak ih Hrial Dingmi (What Not To Do in Leads)

§  Hnoktuk in thuhruaitu tuah hlah. Hmin tamtuk, hmelhmang (figures) tamtuk asilole cipciar tuk in ben ciamco hlah. Thuhruaitu catluan cu tawiter aw – ziangtik hman ah ṭongfang 35 luan hlah seh.

§  Caan, ni lole nithla (day or date), lole hmun thawn thok hlah. Cetcangnak, zo a si asilole ziang a si timi lam hmuitin kha a ṭha sawn.

§  A lawnglak men mi, ziang simfiangnak hman tuah mumal lo asilole himi thuthang le thuthang dang ih danglamnak langter thei lo ding khop ih tidan pangai leh lutuk tivek thawn thok hlah: ………An um…….…….Tuini ih suahmi thuthan (report) ah …… … .. … ….Cumi thawn pehpar in…………

§  A thuthang thuhla sungah thusuhnak sonsalnak a um lo ahcun thusuhnak ṭongkam thawn thokter hlah. Thusuhnak thuhruaitu (question lead) hi hman tamtuk (hman nolh ringring) zo mi thuhruaitu an si (danglamnak an khihhmuh thei mumal lo).

§  Catluan kimcang a si ceng lo ahcun direct ih lak mi ṭongkam (direct quote) thawn thokter hlah. Ṭongkam cuangmuar hleice a si hran lo ahcun ṭongkam thawn thokter hlah.

§  Tuahtu (verb) hmandan ah, na hrial thei sung ahcun “to be” hmang hlah. Cetcangnak tarlang thei tuahtu (action verb) hmang aw.

§  Thuhruaitu ah thuthang kha a taktak ih a sidan hnak ih thinṭhawng thei vek in porh aw hlah. “Siatsuahtu” ṭongfangpawl (“disaster” words) lakah ralring aw.

NGANCA ṬHA IH BUNGRUAPAWL (Elements of Good Writing)

§  Cekcinak (Precision). A dikciah mi ṭongfang (the right word) hmang aw. Na sim duh mi kha a ciahciah in (exactly) rel aw. Tum fukfi mi nei aw (Be specific). Na nganca ah mipa nunau thleidannak (sexism) telter hlah. Cikiphuap ṭongfangpawl (generic terms) hmang aw: firemen aiah firefighters, mailmen aiah leṭer carriers. (Himi zawn ahcun Chin ṭong cu ralrin ṭul a tam lemlo – caleṭu).

§  Fiangfainak (Clarity). Catluan tluangtlam hmang aw. Noun, verb. Fiangfaite’n ruat ta awla, cumi hnu ah ngan aw. Ṭongkalhmang le ca hminsinnak (punctuation) zohfel aw.

§  Fehṭhawnnak (Pacing). Catluanpawl ṭhawnawknak (movement) in awn (tone) a sersuak ih, cumi in thuthang thuhla a thawter. Catluan sau cun cawlhdamnak lam a hoih ih thinlung a hngong dan a muang. Thuhla pholang hluahhlo catluan tawi pawl (short declarative sentences) cun cetcangnak, sosannak (tension), ṭhawnawknak an keng tel. Catluan saudan phun dangdang hmang aw. Thuthang thuhla ih cetcangnak um deuhnak zawn, thuhla sosannak zawn ah catluan tawi deuh pawl hmang aw.

§  Ṭhawnkainakpawl (Transitions). Thu laimu pakhat hnu pakhat kha talhton thuruahnak thawi’ mil in ṭhansohter vivo aw. Ziangkim a dotdot te’n ret aw.

§  Theihzung lemthlemnak (Sensory appeal). Kan theihzung panga (five senses) a si mi hmuhzung (sight), theihzung (hearing), rimzung (smell), thawtzung (taste) le daizung (touch) lak ih pakhat lole cuhnak ih tam lemthlem thei tum aw. A awn cu ziangvek a si? Pindan a rak satuk maw? A lenglam lamzin ihsin rawlsuan mi rim theih theih a si maw?  Thureltu cun nuamnaite’n le khimkhuahte’n thu a sim maw, asilole rang zet in, maw rinsanawknak thawn?

§   Thil bangrep pawl hmannak (Using analogies). Na rel mi thuhla kha casiartu in an theih nel cia mi cumi khami “vek” asilole “tluk” a si ti’n tarlang aw.

CEKFEL DING PAHRA CAZIN (Ten-points Chekoff List)

1.     Dikdawhnak (Accuracy)

2.     Tawifelnak (Brevity)

3.     Fiangfainak (Clarity)

4.     Hmuitin fukfi mi nei aw (Be specific)

5.     A laimu ah lut cih aw (Get to the point)

6.     A dotawkdan dik in ret aw(Put things in order)

7.     Ṭongkam hmang dik aw (Get quotes right)

8.     Mamte’n (ngilte’n) ngan aw/awphawi ṭuanrang hmang aw (Write smooth/active voice)

9.     Ṭongkalhmang/cafangkom/AP style (Grammar/spelling/AP style)**

10.                        W panga/thusuhnak zate’n let thluh aw (Five Ws/answer all the questions)

THUTHANG THUHLA ZOMKHAWM (Story Organization)

Ka rel duh mi ziang a si? Khui ah ka ret?

1.     Thuhruaitu (The Lead).

2.     Thuhruaitu a simfiangtu le a pharhkautu thilpawl (Materials that explains and amplifies the lead).

3.     A ṭulmi dungkhar thil (Necessary background material)

4.     Thuhla thupi doṭu asilole a thupitdan nep deuh mi thil (Secondary or less important material).

5.     Pyramid ṭum thla vivo. Duansuah mi Thuhla. (Descending pyramids. Narrative.)

6.     Ṭhawnkainakpawl (Transitions)

7.     Kawhhmuh ṭongkampawl (Quotes)

8.     Netkharnak (Ending).

Ruang-am ralkah Thufun (Form versus Content). Ruang-am cun thufun ih hmunṭhen a run luah. Ruang-am um lo cun a thufun a hlo thei. Ziang na rel duh ti kha theifiang aw. Cu thluh in rel aw. Na rel duh mi tak a hruai peng thei ding ti ih na ruat mi thawn thokter hlah (Khawpi khonsil upapawl mizan ah an tong aw). Thluak sungah ruah cia mi zianghman nei lo pi’n ziangtik hman ah ca ngan thok hrimhrim hlah. Thuhla sau le hnok zet pawl hman catluan pakhat lole pahnih ah tarlang theih an si thotho.

TALHTON KHAWRUAHNAK THAWI’ MIL LO PAWL HRIAL AW (Avoid Logical Fallacies)

Huapkim Zuatzo Tumnak (Hasty generalization) – A daihcang tawk lo mi (unsufficient) asilole aiawh hmuhsaknak  tlamtling um lo thilthleng (unrepresentative evidence) parih ṭhum aw mi thukharnak (conclusion) khi a si.

Kan dunglam kum thum sungah Fremont khawpi ah sii hmanluarnak (drug overdose) ihsin a thitu hi a let hnih in an pung. Curuangah sii hmansualnak (drug abuse) ruangih thitu American rammi hi tuihlan hmuahhmuah hnak in an tam thlang tinak a si. 

Huapkim zuatzo tumnak thuthang tam zet ahcun ‘hmuahhmuah, tinkim, ringring le ziangtik hman ah/ih’ ah tivek ṭongfangpawl an tel. Himi zawn ah ‘tamsawn, tam zet, a tlangpithu in, le vei hnih vei khat’ tivek cuangmuartertu ṭongfangpawl (qualifiers) hi a dikdawh sawn ding nan. Na relsuahmipawl (statements) an dik a si timi langter theitu sirhsan thuhla (data) kimcang nei aw. Cumi na neih thei lo ahcun cuangmuartertu ṭongfangpawl khi hmang sawn aw.

Thlunawklonak (Non Sequitur, Latin ṭong a si ih “a thlun lo” tican a si) – A hmaisalam ih relsuah mi thuhla pehparawknak nei zet ih a thlunlotu thukharnak asilole a kahpah aw lo mi sirhsan thuhram (irrelevant data) ih a ṭhum aw mi thukharnak khi a si.

Mary cun rawl a ngaina; curuangah rawlsuangtu cuangmuar a si lai ding. 

Mary ih rawl ngainatnak cun rawlsuan a thiam ding ti amkhamnak (guarantee) a pe thei lo.

Tahṭhim Diklonak (False Analogy) – bangawknak zawn pakhat an neih ruangih, hmun dang khal ah an bangaw ding ih ruah sual mi khi a si.

Thlapi parah minung kan thlenter thei ahcun, sikserh tuamhlawm dam dan khal kan hawlsuah thei a ṭul. 

A pahnih ih dengfelphunglam ngenngiarnak (scientific challenges) an si nan, thil dangdang an si.

Pakhat Sanghsangh… Diklonak (Either…. Or Fallacy) – thuhla dang um lai thei mi thil ah, a kawkalh aw mi thil ci hnih (two alternatives) lawng a um thei timi zumruahnak a si.

49ers in dungtlan thar (new running back) an hawlhmuh thei lo ahcun, Super Bowl cu an ngah dah lo ding…. 

A ngaingai ahcun 49ers team in dungtlan thar nei lo in Super Bowl an ngah thei.

Aruang-le-Ahmual Ruahdan Diklonak (Faulty Cause-And-Effect Reasoning) – thilthleng pakhat in a dang pakhat a thlun ruangah, a hmaisatu kha thil cangsuaktertu (aruang – caused) ih ruat khi a si. Thuhla thlun aw lo (non sequitur) vek thotho in, himi khal hi thukharnak dikdawh tawk lo ih va feh lok mai mi a si.

Ramkulh Uktubawi Smith in zunglam ṭuanvo a kaih hnu in ramkulh sungih hnaṭuan nei lo mipum cu zatek 7 a tla niam. Ramkulh Uktubawi Smith hi hnaṭuan nei lo mipum a ṭumter ruangah sunlawih a phu. 

Himi ah Ramkulh Uktubawi Smith ih hman mi ruahmannakpawl (policies) kha hnaṭuan nei lo mipum maltertu a si ti langter tengteng ding sawn a si.

Ruahdan Herkual (Circular Reasoning) – Thukharnak kha thilthleng taktak (evidence) thawi’ bawm sawn lo in, cangantu in ṭongkam dang hmang in a rel cia mi thu a rel sal men mi khi a si.

Tlawngta khonsil meeting-pawl ah tlawnginn hohatu le ukhruaitupawl (faculty and administrators) tel sian ding a si lo, ziangahtile tlawngta khonsil meeting-pawl cu tlawngta hrang lawng an si a ṭul ruangah a si. 

Cangantu in ziangmi simfiangnak hman a tuah lo, a rel mi thu a nolh sal men.

AWPHAWI ṬUANRANG, AWPHAWI ṬUANMUANG (Active Voice, Passive Voice)

Awphawi timi cu subject (a hmaisa ih rellang mi thil) kha cangvaihnak tuah tu maw a si, amah kha cangvaihnak tuartu sawn, timi langtertu tuahtu (verb) hmandan ah a lang.

Subject in cangvaihnak a tuah ahcun tuahtu (verb) cu awphawi ṭuanrang a si. Subject kha tuartu sawn a si ahcun, verb cu awphawi ṭuanmuang a si.

Awphawi ṭuanrang hi hmual a nei. Awphawi ṭuanmuang hi a hngelhnget (static). Awphawi ṭuanrang cu a huham a cak ih cangvaitu kha a langsarter cuang. Awphawi ṭuanmuang cun cangvaitu relsuah lam ah a hel in a hel kual.

Thuthang timi cu cetcangnak le cecangtupawl ih thuhla a si ruangah thuthang ngannak ahcun awphawi ṭuanrang hi hman ringring deuhthaw a ṭul.

Awphawi ṭuanrang hmusuak thei ding in, catluan pakhat ih subject le verb kha hawl aw. Subject a cangvaih theinak ding ah verb hmai ah subject ret aw.  Jill in bawhlung a thawi, ti ding: Bawhlung thawitu cu Jill a si, ti lo ding.

……………………………..

Hminsin: Theihthiam olsam thei ding zawng in leh-her mi a si.

*Monitor hi Ohlone College ih suah mi tlawngta thuthangca a si.

** AP Style timi cu Associated Press ih ruahman mi cangandan kalhmang a si ih, College ih Journalism zirtupawl in a hmaisabik ih an zir ṭheu mi a si.

Ngantu:
Bill Parks,
Adjunct Instructor
Journalism Department
Ohlone College, Fremont, CA , United States.

Lettu:
Salai Siang Lian Uk (Kianghrol)
Managing Editor
Thuthantu Journal & Saytaman Journal
Bethany Theological Seminary, Bogone, Insein.
Independent Presbyterian Church of Myanmar.