Needle's Points: Tips for Top Stories
Reporters, keep this pamphlet handy. Ettvard Needle's three key points on what makes a good story for Baldur's Mouth. First, does it have a hook that makes it personal - could a reader imagine it happening to them or their neighbours? Second, does it have a controversy that makes it juicy? Would just about everybody have an opinion about what happened? Third, will it have a follow-up that will sell tomorrow's broadsheet? How long can we spin this story out? Before you waste my time with another weak column, ask yourself if it answers these three questions. If it doesn't, use your wits and make something up. They aren't called 'stories' for nothing, you know.