Writing a News StoryOrganizing the News Story

Inverted Pyramid

• The organizational pattern in which information is presented in most news stories. Information is organized from the most important to the least important.

Testing the Inverted Pyramid• Crop test – a test by which journalists

determine whether a story is organized in inverted pyramid style.– The journalist begins at the end of the story and

decides, on a paragraph-by-paragraph basis, whether the paragraphs can be cropped off without losing essential information.

The Storytelling Pattern• An organizational pattern that invites the

reader in with an indirect news lead, goes on to give the pertinent (important) facts and information, and ends with a clincher– Clincher – a statement in a news story that returns

the reader to the opening paragraph or that reaches a conclusion necessary for complete understanding of the event or story

Choosing an Organizational Pattern• All leads and stories can be organized in more than

one way.• The journalist must determine the organization during

the planning stages of the story.• Hard news stories (such as accidents, fires and

meetings) are most often written with direct leads and inverted pyramid organization.

• Features and timeless stories most often lend themselves to indirect leads and storytelling organization.

Writing the News Story• Accuracy – You must be accurate. Check and

re-check all your facts (spelling of the names, identification of the people). – Verify your information with at least three

sources. – Any information that cannot be verified should not

be used.

Writing the News Story• Objectivity – Report only the facts, not your

opinions• Your job as a journalist is to look at news from

a distance and from all sides.• Journalists should let the readers draw their

own conclusions.

Objectivity• Adjectives and adverbs describe things and events,

but some of them imply opinion.• Be very careful of words such as:– Definitely -really– Largely -wonderful– Quickly -just– Eagerly -tragic– Unfortunately -greatly– Especially -finally– Only

Point of View• News is written in 3rd person point of view.

(use words like he, she, they, it)• Use NO 1st or 2nd person pronouns. (you, I, me,

us)

Readability• Newspaper readers don’t want to work hard

at reading and understanding when they read the paper.

• Short sentences and short paragraphs make news appear inviting and easy to read.

• Standard reading material for a newspaper audience averages 17 words per sentence. Varying the length makes it more interesting.

Pronouns• Using a pronoun to refer to a person named in

an earlier sentence or paragraph simplifies the writing.

• If a story has more than one subject or source, pronouns must have clear antecedents to avoid confusion.

Transitions• They are the threads and glue that hold a

story together.• Could be a key word, phrase, theme or

paragraph that links together the sentences and paragraphs of a story

• Lets the reader know when a story moves from one idea, place or time to another.

• Could set up contrasts or comparisons

Key Words, ideas or themes• Most stories have one or two key ideas which

are identified in the lead.• The same words, ideas or themes appear

throughout the story to remind the reader that the story is still about the same subject.

Transitional terms• All kinds of words serve as connectors.• I. Transitions– A. Glue that holds story together– B. Help reader understand story

• II. Types of Transitions– A. Key Words

• 1. Definition• 2. Example

– B. Pronouns– C. Transitional Terms– D. Quotations and paragraphs

Transitional Terms• Conjunctions:

• and, but, or– Usually connect ideas that go together, or they set

up contrasts that tell the reader that there is another side to the story

• Additives• also, in addition, again, further, moreover, finally, in

conclusion, next, so, thus– Help the writer move on to the next piece of

information

Transitional Terms• Contrasts and comparisons:

• But, however, on the other hand, yet, instead, likewise, similarly– Tell readers that there is another side to the story or issue

and that now the reporter is going to tell them about that other side

• Place indicators:• Near, here, there, adjacent to, across, by, alongside, opposite

– Any word that tells the reader that the scene is changing and adds information that enlarges or adds detail to the picture in the reader’s mind may be a transition.

Transitional Terms• Time indicators:

• later, that evening, after, meanwhile, soon, next, finally– A word or phrase that moves a story forward or

backward in time helps the reader keep track of the sequence of events.

– Help the reader organize the information chronologically

Outside Assignment• Find five examples of stories written in inverted pyramid

form. Cut out or print each story, and affix it to a piece of paper. Write an explanation of why you think each story is in inverted pyramid form.– Apply the crop test to each story you chose. Draw a line between

paragraphs where you think the story could be cut without losing vital information.

• Find five examples of stories written in storytelling form. Cut out or print each story, and affix it to a piece of paper. Mark the lead, and draw a line where you think the lead ends. Draw an arrow back to the lead from each paragraph that refers directly to it.

February 7-8, 2011• Using the following facts, write a story in inverted pyramid style.

– He is in fair condition at the hospital in Springfield. Cassville is about 50 miles southwest of Springfield.

– He has Down’s Syndrome.– Hundreds of volunteers have been looking for him– Two stray dogs apparently kept him alive by curling up with him and keeping

him warm. The temperature was 2 degrees overnight.– He had been lost for three days.– One of the dogs chased the ambulance as it drove away with Josh, but then

the dog ran off. Neither dog has been found since the rescue.– His name is Josh Carlisle.– A 10-year-old boy has been found.– The dogs’ barking got the attention of a searcher on horseback.– Josh was found about one and one-half miles from his home.– He was lost in the woods near his home in Cassville, Missouri.– Josh has frostbitten toes.

February 9-10, 2011• Using the same facts, write a story in the storytelling pattern.

– He is in fair condition at the hospital in Springfield. Cassville is about 50 miles southwest of Springfield.

– He has Down’s Syndrome.– Hundreds of volunteers have been looking for him– Two stray dogs apparently kept him alive by curling up with him and keeping

him warm. The temperature was 2 degrees overnight.– He had been lost for three days.– One of the dogs chased the ambulance as it drove away with Josh, but then

the dog ran off. Neither dog has been found since the rescue.– His name is Josh Carlisle.– A 10-year-old boy has been found.– The dogs’ barking got the attention of a searcher on horseback.– Josh was found about one and one-half miles from his home.– He was lost in the woods near his home in Cassville, Missouri.– Josh has frostbitten toes.