Writing a News Article

Writing a news Article When you think about where you find news articles, you probably think about the news that you read in newspapers and magazines, hear on the radio, and see on television. However, you also hear or report “news” when you talk to your friends, parents, siblings, teachers, or others. You can improve your ability to write a good news article by studying the characteristics of news articles and reading, viewing or listening to well written news items.

Main Functions of News ARticles There are three main functions of news articles: To inform To entertain To persuade Your news article should contain objective, factual information and be written in the third person (he, she, it, they). Your writing should be simple, clear and to the point.

The structure of a News Article Most Important Less Important Least Important

The structure of a News Article A news article usually consists of: A headline A byline A dateline A body Generally, a narrative will build up to the climax, or the most important part, of the story. A news article, on the other hand, begins with the most important information and then proceeds to the less important information, leaving the least important to the end. The structure of a news article can be compared with an inverted pyramid. A news article begins with a lead paragraph that contains the most significant information in the story and then continues through the middle paragraphs to the concluding paragraph of the article.

The Headline The headline is the title of your news article. It is a very brief summary of your news article. The heading must grab the reader’s attention by using exciting and vivid words. It often contains a noun and a verb. All important words are capitalized and there is no punctuation at the end of the title.

The Subhead Sometimes a subhead, or secondary title, appears immediately after the headline. A subhead provides additional information about the story. You do not have to include a subhead; it is optional.

The byline The byline is positioned after the subhead. As the name suggests, it is the line that tells who the story is by; that is, who wrote the article. You will be provided with a pseudonym (an imaginary name) for your news article. Use this name; do not use your own name.

The Dateline The dateline usually appears at the beginning of an article; it is included at the start of the lead paragraph. It tells the reader where the story happened. It does not tell the date.

The Lead Paragraph The beginning of a news article is called the lead, and it sets the structure for the rest of the article. The most important ideas of the article are included in the lead. A good lead usually answers the following questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

5WH Who: the subject of the article. The article could be about a person, place, idea, event or object – basically anything about which an article can be written. What: the action of the article. What has happened or what is currently happening. Where: the place the action is happening. When: the time frame of the article. Did the action take place last night, last week, or over the course of a month? Why: explains the “what,” or the actions that occurred. How: describes the sequence of events or actions that occurred.

First Sentence The first sentence of your lead, in particular, is very important. It must hook readers and encourage them to continue reading. In most news articles, the first sentence gives answers to as many of the 5WH as possible, in as few words as possible. The first sentence should provide a good lead into the rest of the paragraph and article. Eg: Thousands of students marched in the streets of Ottawa today to protest violence in schools.

Writing a lead sentence Try to create an original and captivating lead. You might consider introducing your topic using a lead that: Asks questions Includes surprises Creates suspense Uses a quotation Provokes a thought or idea Describes who, what or where Think of a topic for a news article and try to develop a variety of leads. For example, what leads could you write about the circus coming to town?

The Middle paragraphs The middle paragraphs of a news article provide the reader with more details about the topic. There should be smooth transitions from one paragraph to the next to keep your article coherent. Remember to be objective – do not state your own opinion. The purpose of your article is to convey facts. You may include quotations from people involved in the story, and these quotations can express their opinions. Make sure that you properly identify who is speaking.

Quotations If the speaker has a title or a specific role in the event, you may want to draw attention to it. For example: “The kids wear clothes that look just like ours,” Tara Clarke, a participant in the exchange, commented. “We have just invested a great deal of resources into this program,” said Norma Jacob, Minister of Education. If you have already referred to the speaker at some point in your article, you may subsequently refer to the speaker by their last name only. “As much as I enjoyed the trip, I am happy to be home,” Clarke said.

Information in Quotations Remember, you may say what other people think, but you must clearly indicate to whom the thoughts or ideas belong. You can also use information supplied in the prompt to determine what a person involved in the event might say. For example, if the prompt supplies you with information about a lost animal’s habits, you could report this information through an official. For example: “I can’t believe that our cougar is gone! If you see her, do not approach her. Call the police immediately. She is likely frightened and this may cause her to attack,” Terry Seth, the head zookeeper at Happy Ville, remarked.

The Last Paragraph The last paragraph concludes and summarizes the article. It may also provide a call to action – a suggestion of what readers can do in response to the article. For example, the last paragraph of an article about an earthquake could include information about where readers could donate money, clothes, or blankets to help those affected. If the article were about a lost cougar, you might provide a phone number that people could call should they spot the lost animal.

Writing Tips for your Final Paragraph Do not use phrases such as “In summary” or “To conclude.” These are ordinary and overused phrases. Furthermore, they do not fit the tone of an objective news article. Do not leave the reader hanging. Bring closure to your article.

Organizing your News ARticle You should spend about 10 minutes planning before you begin writing. There are several organizational tools you may wish to use when planning your article.

Tool 1: rafts Model RAFTS Example R – Role Student reporter A – Audience Parents, teachers, students F – Format News article T – Topic Cougar has escaped S – Strong Verb To inform

Topic Tool 2 Important Idea 1 Supporting Detail 1 Supporting Detail 2

Tool 3 Topic: Headline: Byline: Lead:

Tool 4 Questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

A Final Note on Your News Article When you have completed your first draft, take time to read over your work. Ask yourself the following questions: Is my purpose for writing clear? Does my opening encourage the reader to learn more? Have I provided enough information? Have I provided details to explain my purpose? Have I considered my audience by using an appropriate tone? Have I used accurate and effective words and expressions? Have I used the correct format for my purpose? Have I used proper sentence structure, grammar, spelling and punctuation?