Types of News Stories

What goes into a newspaper? Newspapers use a variety of material to create a readable and informative product. The placement and the writing style of articles typically follows a predictable format. The placement of articles depends on the size / page count of the newspaper, but typically proceeds as: Front Page - Headlines - Top World and State/Regional, or major Local news stories above the fold, followed below the fold with less important State/Regional and Local news, Page 2 and on continue with less important news, mixed with "local interest" stories., Opinion or Letters to the Editor may appear in any section, but most papers establish the column's location as a set feature., Feature Stories - Often longer than a News article, but appears anywhere after the Front Page., Community News -- Births, Engagements, Weddings; a prominent person's death may appear on the front page or following pages as well as in the Obituary Section if the person was a local resident., Local Obituaries and Funeral Notices, Classifieds and Advertisements - Larger ads may appear anywhere after the Front Page, Any item, including Ads may be used as "fillers", e.g. used to fill a space left at the end of a news story, a Community News item, or any column Newspapers must balance newsworthy stories with community events/ community interest stories, and for-fee classifieds and ads. Newspapers ensure that local people will want to buy a paper by including the community's news. People order or buy extra copies of newspapers when the family is shown in a school honor roll, school graduation, a wedding engagement, a (post) wedding announcement, an obituary, or when a person/family or even a business is chosen to be featured in an issue. Through the combination of fee-items and community items, newspapers ensure people will buy newspapers. The only other driving force for individuals to buy extra copies or that more people will buy one issue is when a paper focuses on a major local event (example: Bicentennial of the town) or major national event (example: the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy)

Advice Advice columns give readers the opportunity to ask questions and seek guidance in areas of their life. Common topics include relationships, work, home repairs and automobile maintenance. Advice columnists are typically considered experts in their field so that the reader is assured of receiving competent advice

Editorial The editorial column or op-ed piece is a forum for the columnist to express an opinion on a topic of great interest to readers. The topic may be political in nature, or it may allow the columnist to simply sound off on something he feels is wrong and needs to be corrected.

Reviews Review columns are used to provide readers with information about a product or service from the point of view of the columnist. Movie critics will view new films, often before they are available to the public, then offer their opinions in their column. Food critics dine at restaurants and provide a review of an establishment's food and service.

Gossip Gossip columnists provide the latest scuttlebutt concerning celebrities and other prominent people. The columnist often speculates about what may be occurring in celebrities’ private lives or what they may do in the future. Gossip columnists often walk a fine line between engaging in relatively innocuous innuendo and actually libeling and defaming the name and reputation of their subjects.

Humor A newspaper writer who displays a knack for wit may find an opportunity as a humor columnist. Humor columnists may poke fun at people in the news such as politicians and celebrities or draw from personal experiences in their everyday life. Some humor columnists specialize in areas such as parenthood or the workplace.

Sports Sports columnists present their opinions on games, developments and controversies in the sports world. These columns occasionally are written by former star athletes or coaches as well as by journalists. Sports columns are common in most newspapers.

Opinion Angry at your city council's decision to raise taxes? Or eager to give your two cents about an important, upcoming vote in Congress or your state legislature? Writing an opinion column for your local newspaper or favorite news magazine is a good way to express your views and possibly help shape the public discourse. Space usually is at a premium in most publications, so you have to state your opinion in a tightly written, forceful manner that is supported by facts.

Entertainment One of the most popular columns in any given newspaper is the entertainment column. Entertainment columnists review movies, restaurants and attend local cultural events. They are recognized as knowledgeable members of the community and provide newcomers with useful information. A good entertainment column should communicate expertise and interest in the topic at hand. Since not everyone can write a good column about movies or food, those who can will find lucrative, vibrant opportunities available.

Feature Feature articles provide readers with a written analysis of a certain topic. These articles are intended to serve readers with the writer's interpretation of a story, unlike news stories, which simply provide the facts. Feature articles appear in several different forms. A journalist might feature a person (personality profile), a place, or a current trend.

State, Regional, and Local News Report what is happening locally to keep your readers. Be on the lookout for hot topics in the area (school, town, and state). Attend school board meetings and review the local paper to keep up with what is happening in your area.

Report Hard News It’s not just about local news, but seek out what is happening nationally and internationally. Research important news but localize it by showing how it affects our school, our students and our community. Hard news reporting is, well….hard. It requires research and knowing about current events. It requires reporting BOTH sides of an issue while staying neutral. It requires knowledge and is supported by facts.

Be Consistent Your readers should know where to find your columns. Once they expect to see an column, it should be there regularly, so don’t change your layout every time you publish. People should feel comfortable, at ease when reading, not surprise with every new page because there is something unexpected there.

So, get out there and gather up your facts, interview and write. Tell your readers what they want to know. Always report the truth.