Note-Taking: Listen Like a Journalist!

James 1:19

“Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.”

Why Is Note-Taking Important?

Imagine interviewing someone for an exciting news story. They share important information, interesting details, and a great quote. But when you sit down to write your article, you realize you forgot half of what they said!

That is why journalists take notes!

Good journalists do more than ask questions. They listen carefully, record important facts, and make sure they understand what they hear.

Taking good notes helps you write articles that are accurate, interesting, and trustworthy.

1. Listen First, Write Second

James 1:19 reminds us to be quick to listen and slow to speak.

As journalists, we should practice this by giving people our full attention instead of thinking about what we want to say next.

When listening to someone:

Pay attention to what they are saying.
Avoid interrupting.
Write down important information.
Ask follow-up questions when something is unclear.
Make sure you understand before moving on.

Remember: A great journalist is a great listener!

2. What Should You Write Down?

You do not need to write every word someone says. Focus on the most important information.

Use the 5 W's + H to guide your notes.

Question	What to record
Who?	People involved
What?	What happened
When?	Date or time
Where?	Location
Why?	Reason it happened
How?	How it happened

Example:

Imagine you are reporting on a CHEAR student talent show.

Your notes might look like this:

Who: CHEAR students
What: Talent show
When: Wednesday at 1 PM
Where: Youth Gym
Why: Showcase student talents
How: Students performed music, comedy, and dance

Notice these are short notes, not complete sentences. You can turn them into sentences later!

3. Facts vs. Quotes

Journalists need both facts and quotes to make their articles interesting.

Facts are details that can be verified.

Example: "Twelve students participated in the talent show."

Quotes are the exact words someone says.

Example: "I was nervous at first, but I had so much fun!" said a student performer.

When writing a direct quote, you must use the person's exact words. Do not change what they said just because you think it sounds better.

If you cannot remember their exact words, summarize what they said without quotation marks.

4. Tips for Taking Better Notes

Here are a few tricks professional journalists use:

Use abbreviations: Write "students" as "sts" or "Wednesday" as "Wed."
Write keywords: Focus on important words instead of full sentences.
Mark quotes: Put quotation marks around words you recorded exactly.
Check spelling: Make sure names and important details are correct.
Review your notes: Read them immediately after the interview to fill in anything you remember.

In-Class Activity: News Report Challenge!

PART 1: LISTEN, RECORD, REPORT

Your tutor will play news reports. Your job is to become a journalist and take notes while listening.

Round 1: Listen Carefully

Listen to the news report without talking. Write down important information.

Round 2: Find the Facts

Try to identify the 5 W's + H. Record at least five important details.

Round 3: Catch the Quote

Listen for something interesting someone says. Write down one exact quote if possible.

Round 4: Share Your Story

Using your notes, tell the class what happened in the news report.

Discussion: Did everyone record the same information? What details did some students catch that others missed?

In-Class Activity: November Journalism Planning

PART 2: PREPARE FOR ISSUE #02

We are getting ready to work on our November issue of the CHEAR newspaper!

Each student will share what they plan to contribute to their assigned newspaper section.

Be prepared to explain:

What section are you working on?
What is your article or content idea?
Who might you need to interview?
What information or photographs will you need?
What is your next step to complete your section?

As your classmates share their ideas, practice today's lesson by listening carefully and taking notes on any suggestions that might help your own work.