1st Place, Alternative Story Form
2024-25, Division 3, News Writing
By Jensen O’Brien
InPrint
Fenton HS
NW-18. Alternative Story Form
An ASF consists of a whole story told in an alternative way. It can consist of anything that is not a traditional story form. Key features include: visual destinations, strong use of typography, easy to scan, well organized, can provide quick facts and deep context. It should not include traditional narrative. Examples include (but are not limited to) fast-fact boxes, lists, glossaries, quizzes, polls, charts. An ASF submitted in this category should not be connected to a story or be part of a story package. It should stand alone. Note: A story submitted in this category may NOT also be submitted in ND-06: Story Package. Submit a PDF of the print page(s) on which the ASF was published or the URL to the ASF on an online news site.
JUDGING CRITERIA
- Should be a story told in a unique, alternative way
- This is not a traditional story as in inverted pyramid, news, anecdotal, analysis or feature narrative
- Story is told with quick facts—it’s a quick read that provides readers with a unique approach to a story
- While the read is quick, ASF should provide the reader with complete information. Readers should not be left asking questions
- Organization is such that story is easy to follow and logical, even though it’s in an alternative way
- ASF is visually engrossing, bringing readers in through strong use of typography and other types of visuals
- Should not be packaged with another story or part of another story.
- Stands totally alone as a storytelling device
- Submission only considered if submitted with entire page on which it was featured