It’s important to know – trust me How to Write A Newspaper Article

Newspaper articles require a different style of writing from what is used when writing a story. When writing a newspaper article, picture a triangle like the one shown.

The newspaper article has all of the important information in the opening paragraph. This information includes who, what, when, where, why and how. It is written this way because most people do not read an entire newspaper article all the way through. So newspaper writers put the most important information at the beginning.

A typical newspaper article contains five (5) parts:

Part 1: Headline : This is a short, attention-getting statement about the event. When writing a headline, eliminate the verbs is, are, was, and were. Replace them with action verbs. Original: Three people were injured by a tornado in Illinois Revised: Illinois tornado injures three Original: Baseball’s Opening Day was cancelled because of rain Revised: Rain cancels baseball’s Opening Day Original: Competency exams are required for all future graduates Revised: Future graduates must pass competency exams **Do not capitalize any words except the first one and any proper nouns. No period at the end of a headline.

Also, when writing a headline, make sure there are no slip-ups… Here are some examples of actual newspaper headlines that just shouldn’t have been: Here are some examples of actual newspaper headlines that just shouldn’t have been: Grandmother of eight makes hole in one Grandmother of eight makes hole in one Queen Mary having bottom scraped Queen Mary having bottom scraped Is there a ring of debris around Uranus? Is there a ring of debris around Uranus? Prostitutes appeal to Pope Prostitutes appeal to Pope Panda mating fails – veterinarian takes over Panda mating fails – veterinarian takes over Eye drops off shelf Eye drops off shelf Squad helps dog bite victim Squad helps dog bite victim Miners refuse to work after death Miners refuse to work after death Never withhold herpes from loved one Never withhold herpes from loved one If strike isn’t settled quickly, it may last awhile If strike isn’t settled quickly, it may last awhile War dims hope for peace War dims hope for peace Child’s death ruins couple’s holiday Child’s death ruins couple’s holiday Blind woman gets kidney from dad she hasn’t seen in years Blind woman gets kidney from dad she hasn’t seen in years Something went wrong in jet crash, experts say Something went wrong in jet crash, experts say Typhoon rips through cemetery; hundreds dead Typhoon rips through cemetery; hundreds dead

Now you try it! Original: Music director is casting Oklahoma! Original: Music director is casting Oklahoma! Revised: Music director casts Oklahoma! Revised: Music director casts Oklahoma! Original: James is appointed Transportation Secretary by governor Original: James is appointed Transportation Secretary by governor Revised: Governor appoints James Transportation Secretary Revised: Governor appoints James Transportation Secretary

Part 2: Byline: this tells who wrote the story Part 3: Lead paragraph: this has the who, what, when, where, why and how in it. A writer must find the answers to these questions and write them into the opening sentence(s) of the article. Part 3: Lead paragraph: this has the who, what, when, where, why and how in it. A writer must find the answers to these questions and write them into the opening sentence(s) of the article. *The “why” and the “how” often appear only in the following paragraph.

Part 4: Explanation:  the writer must decide what other facts or details the reader might want to know  the writer must make sure that he/she has enough information to answer any important questions a reader might have after reading the headline and the lead paragraph.  this section can also include direct quotes from witnesses or bystanders. Part 5: Additional information:  this information is the least important. Thus, if the news article is too long for the space it needs to fill, it can be shortened without rewriting any other part. This part can include information about a similar event. Part 4: Explanation:  the writer must decide what other facts or details the reader might want to know  the writer must make sure that he/she has enough information to answer any important questions a reader might have after reading the headline and the lead paragraph.  this section can also include direct quotes from witnesses or bystanders. Part 5: Additional information:  this information is the least important. Thus, if the news article is too long for the space it needs to fill, it can be shortened without rewriting any other part. This part can include information about a similar event.

Always remember… When writing an article: Paragraphs are to be 2-3 sentences in length You must remain unbiased. You are giving facts only, not your opinion!!

Being objective Fact or opinion? The strikers rushed the company car and forced it to turn back. The strikers rushed the company car and forced it to turn back. Fact Fact Jim Watson’s request for a raise is certainly reasonable. Jim Watson’s request for a raise is certainly reasonable. Opinion Opinion Jim Watson requested a raise. Jim Watson requested a raise.

Now you try it! The pilot, an arrogant, cold person, didn’t inform the passengers about the reasons for the bumpy ride. The pilot, an arrogant, cold person, didn’t inform the passengers about the reasons for the bumpy ride. The pilot didn’t inform the passengers about the reason for the bumpy ride. The pilot didn’t inform the passengers about the reason for the bumpy ride. Central High deserved the overwhelming victory it achieved in the tournament. Central High deserved the overwhelming victory it achieved in the tournament. Central High achieved an overwhelming victory in the tournament. Central High achieved an overwhelming victory in the tournament.

Example Headline: High flying escape ends in death Headline: High flying escape ends in death Byline: By Robin Sloan Byline: By Robin Sloan Lead paragraph: Icarus, son of the famous inventor, Daedalus, plunged into the Aegean Sea and drowned while attempting to escape from the island of Crete early yesterday afternoon. His body has yet to be recovered. Lead paragraph: Icarus, son of the famous inventor, Daedalus, plunged into the Aegean Sea and drowned while attempting to escape from the island of Crete early yesterday afternoon. His body has yet to be recovered.

Explanation: Icarus and his father had made wings from wax and bird feathers they had collected over the years while imprisoned on the island of Crete. They attached the homemade wings to their arms and, using a flapping motion, lifted off from the island shortly before noon. While making their escape, Icarus flew too close to the sun. As a result, the heat melted the wax on his wings which caused the feathers to drop off. The wings collapsed and Icarus fell into the sea and drowned. Explanation: Icarus and his father had made wings from wax and bird feathers they had collected over the years while imprisoned on the island of Crete. They attached the homemade wings to their arms and, using a flapping motion, lifted off from the island shortly before noon. While making their escape, Icarus flew too close to the sun. As a result, the heat melted the wax on his wings which caused the feathers to drop off. The wings collapsed and Icarus fell into the sea and drowned.

Additional Information: Daedalus, sobbing from the distant shore where he had landed safely, said, “My last words to Icarus before we left the island was to stay close and not fly too high! He just didn’t listen! Why didn’t he listen to me?” Daedalus and Icarus had been held prisoner by King Minos on the island of Crete, and had been forced to build a labyrinth at the palace of Knossos. It was known to be the most difficult maze in the world to navigate successfully. Additional Information: Daedalus, sobbing from the distant shore where he had landed safely, said, “My last words to Icarus before we left the island was to stay close and not fly too high! He just didn’t listen! Why didn’t he listen to me?” Daedalus and Icarus had been held prisoner by King Minos on the island of Crete, and had been forced to build a labyrinth at the palace of Knossos. It was known to be the most difficult maze in the world to navigate successfully.

High flying escape ends in death By Robin Sloan Icarus, son of the famous inventor, Daedalus, plunged into the Aegean Sea and drowned while attempting to escape from the island of Crete early yesterday afternoon. His body has yet to be recovered. Icarus and his father had made wings from wax and bird feathers they had collected over the years while imprisoned on the island of Crete. They attached the homemade wings to their arms and, using a flapping motion, lifted off from the island shortly before noon. While making their escape, Icarus flew too close to the sun. As a result, the heat melted the wax on his wings which caused the feathers to drop off. The wings collapsed and Icarus fell into the sea and drowned. Daedalus, sobbing from the distant shore where he had landed safely, said, “My last words to Icarus before we left the island was to stay close and not fly too high! He just didn’t listen! Why didn’t he listen to me?” Daedalus and Icarus had been held prisoner by King Minos on the island of Crete, and had been forced to build a labyrinth at the palace of Knossos. It was known to be the most difficult maze in the world to navigate successfully.

Who? Icarus, son of famous inventor, Daedalus Who? Icarus, son of famous inventor, Daedalus What? drowned What? drowned When? yesterday When? yesterday Where? the Aegean Sea Where? the Aegean Sea Why? He tried to escape from the island of Crete Why? He tried to escape from the island of Crete How? He got too close to the sun and the heat melted the wax on his wings How? He got too close to the sun and the heat melted the wax on his wings