NEWS WRITING

A. What is News Writing?

News writing is a type of journalistic writing that describes events by answering

basic questions such as who, what, where, when, and why. News writing often requires
some investigation on the part of the writer, which can include obtaining quotes or data
to make the article as accurate and thorough as possible. This type of writing is usually
objective and expository, reporting and explaining the facts of an event rather than
providing an opinion or analysis.

B. Elements of News
1. Timeliness – News has a shelf life. It spoils if kept too long. Current news has
more impact than something that happened yesterday or last week. The
public and news media lose interest quickly, and past events become stale
when there's always fresh news somewhere.
Ask yourself: Did this story happen recently enough that people will still
be interested in it?
2. Consequence- News affects people. It impacts their lives. If the impact of an
event may directly affect readers, they'll want to know about it.
Ask yourself: To what degree will people’s lives change when they read
this story?
3. Proximity- News value increases when the event takes place nearer to the
reader. Proximity can be geographical or emotional. If an event is happening
nearby, it will impact the audience more than if it were happening somewhere
else that doesn't affect them as much, such as in another state or country.
Ask yourself: Is this story near or dear to my students?
4. Conflict- Audiences are always interested in disagreements, arguments, and
rivalries. If an event creates conflict, many consumers will be interested
based on that alone. Let's not forget that it's human nature to choose sides
and stand up for their opinions, views, and preferences. Conflict news stories
include religion, politics, legal disputes, sports, business, trials, wars, human
rights violations, politics, and even struggles against nature, animals, and
outer space.
Ask yourself: Does this have a sense of drama produced by some sort
of conflict?

5. Names- People like to read about people they know or know of, especially if
those people are themselves.

Ask yourself: Is this story about someone many people know, or could
it include quotes from people that are well known?

6. Variety- News often involves a deviation from the norm. People would rather
read about the unexpected than about routines events. If something is
unusual, shocking, or bizarre, the strangeness and novelty alone could make
it newsworthy.

Ask yourself: Is the subject of this story extraordinary or unexpected?

7. Human Interest- People identify with stories that involve them emotionally.
They like to read stories that make them sentimental, nostalgic, sympathetic,
etc.

Ask yourself: Will this story involve my reader on an emotional level?

8. Humor- People like to laugh. A story that finds humor in an otherwise gloomy,
mundane world will attract their interest.

Ask yourself: Is there appropriate humor to be found in this story?

9. Progress- People like to read stories about new or changing technology or

other developments and how they affect their lives.
 Ask yourself: Does/ could this information affect the lives of my
readers?

10. Drama- People like to read stories about dramatic situations.

Ask yourself: Does this story contain details that would excite or
energize the audience?

C. Pyramid Structure in News Writing

For decades, the “inverted pyramid” structure has been a mainstay of traditional mass
media writing. Following this structure, the “base” of the pyramid—the most fundamental
facts—appear at the top of the story, in the lead paragraph. Non-essential information
appears in the following paragraphs, or “nut” graphs, in order of importance.

Essential information generally refers to the oft-cited “Five Ws” of journalism: Who,
What, When, Where, and Why. A successful lead paragraph communicates, on a basic
level, the essential facts of who did what, when, where, and why.
The “nut” graphs that follow contain additional details, quotes from sources, statistics,
background, or other information. These are added to the article in order of importance,
so that the least important items are at the bottom.

D. TYPES OF NEWS

1. Local News- covers news from a certain area. For example, if you live in Tagum
the local news you would here would be the news that has been happening in
the area.
2. Hard News- covers news on serious crime (ex. terrorist attacks), politics,
disasters (ex. earthquake), foreign affairs
3. Soft News- covers news about entertainment, human interest stories and less
serious crime

E. TYPES OF NEWS LEADS

1. SUMMARY LEAD
The summary lead is the most common and straightforward type of news lead. It
answers the basic questions of who, what, when, where, why, and how in one or two
sentences. It is usually used for hard news stories that report on breaking events, facts,
or figures.

For example:
"President Joe Biden signed a $1.9 trillion stimulus package into law on Thursday,
delivering on his promise to provide relief to millions of Americans struggling amid the
COVID-19 pandemic."

2. ANECDOTAL LEAD
The anecdotal lead is a type of news lead that starts with a story, example, or quote that
illustrates the main point of the article. It is usually used for feature stories that focus
on human interest, emotions, or perspectives. It can create curiosity, empathy, or
suspense among the readers and draw them into the story.

For example:
"Every morning, Maria Lopez wakes up at 5 a.m. to make breakfast for her three
children. She then walks them to school, takes the bus to her cleaning job, and works
until 6 p.m. She is one of the millions of essential workers who have been excluded
from the stimulus checks."
 3. QUESTION LEAD

The question lead is a type of news lead that asks a question that relates to the topic of
the article. It is usually used for opinion pieces, analysis, or commentary that aim to
provoke discussion, debate, or reflection among the readers. It can also be used to
challenge a common assumption, reveal a contradiction, or address a controversy.

For example:
"Is democracy in danger in America? After the violent attack on the Capitol by a mob of
Trump supporters, many people are wondering if the country can heal its deep divisions
and restore its democratic norms."

4. CONTRAST LEAD

The contrast lead is a type of news lead that compares or contrasts two different
situations, scenarios, or opinions that are relevant to the article. It is usually used for
stories that highlight a contrast between expectations and reality, past and present, or
different viewpoints. It can also be used to show a change, a trend, or a problem.

For example:
"While many countries are struggling to contain the spread of the coronavirus, New
Zealand has been praised for its successful elimination strategy. The island nation has
reported only 26 deaths and 2,379 cases since the start of the pandemic."

5. DESCRIPTIVE LEAD

The descriptive lead is a type of news lead that describes a scene, setting, or situation
that sets the tone and context of the article. It is usually used for stories that rely on
sensory details, imagery, or atmosphere to capture the attention and interest of the
readers. It can also be used to create a mood, a theme, or a character.

For example:
"It was a cold and foggy night in London. The streets were empty and silent, except for
the occasional sirens and footsteps. A man in a trench coat and a hat walked briskly
along the pavement, clutching a briefcase. He was about to uncover a secret that would
shake the world."
F. THE LTQTQT format in newswriting
G. BASIC RULES IN NEWSWRITING

1. Stay consistent with news values.

2. Practice thorough and ethical reporting.
3. Follow the inverted pyramid.
4. Write a strong lead.
5. Read more news writing.