1. Using the inverted pyramid
most important stuff
not-so-important stuff
Using the inverted pyramid
Getting Your Message Across Faster
fluffy
stuff

2. What is the inverted pyramid?
most important stuff
What is the inverted pyramid?
Puts the most newsworthy information at the beginning
The remaining information follows in order of importance
The least important information is at the end
not-so-important stuff
fluffy
stuff

3. Where did it come from?
Telegraph operators in the early 1900’s had to send a message quickly, so they picked the most important information
An AP reporter wrote the following lead after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865:
To The Associated Press
Washington, Friday, April 14, 1865
The President was shot in a theater to-night and perhaps mortally wounded

4. Benefits of the inverted pyramid
Simplifies communicating the most important information
What’s the gist?
Makes intro writing easier for the reporter and posting to the web easier for the marketing team

5. The order of things Lead Lead nut graph “nut” graph
Supplemental information
nut graph
supp
info

6. What is the lead?
Who, what, where, when and why (5 W’s)
Ridge Point varsity football defeated district rival Kempner on Friday night at Hall Stadium.

7. What is the nut graph?
The “so what” paragraph of the story
This district win takes the Panthers to 3-0 in district and secures a three-way tie in first place.

8. What is supplemental information?
The supporting details that continue the story
Includes the closing paragraph
Ridge Point led 27-0 after the first quarter.
Terry Petry caught a 22-yard touchdown from Aaron Allen. BJ Rainford ran for two touchdowns and Ar’mani Johnson returned an interception for a score, all in the first ten minutes.
Rainford amassed 174 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries. Cameron Edmonson racked up 83 yards on nine carries. Allen threw two touchdown passes, the second to Mustapha Muhammad.
“I’m so proud of these guys and what they accomplished this year. Making it to the playoffs is huge in our first year,” said head coach Brett Sniffin. “We still have Stratford next week, so we don’t want to look too far ahead.”
The Panthers take on Clements on Friday at 7 p.m. at Hall Stadium.

9. what part of the pyramid?
A Seabrook dad has been charged with child endangerment after his daughters were found in his apartment last week with no food, police said.
Lead

10. what part of the pyramid?
It appeared that the girls had not eaten in days, police said.
Supplemental

11. what part of the pyramid?
Worried about her weight, Sarah swore off dessert and cut back on meal portions. Eventually, she began skipping breakfast and was just nibbling at lunch and dinner. Within six months, she dropped 13 pounds.
Nut/Supplemental

12. what part of the pyramid?
Children such as Sarah, a Philadelphia 4th-grader who’s too embarrassed to let her real name be used, are at the forefront of a disturbing new trend affecting the health of U.S. children: dieting.
Nut Graph

13. what part of the pyramid?
Attitudes that parents hold about obesity must change, Berg said. “They’re conveying the message: There’s something wrong with your body, and we’ve got to fix it. They need to give the message that you’re great the way you are, and we love you.”
Supplemental

14. what part of the pyramid?
A Northwestern University professor of hearing sciences was shot and seriously wounded in a university parking lot Thursday.
Lead

15. what part of the pyramid?
“Texting and driving is just as bad as drinking and driving,” said senior John Smith. “This behavior has to stop.”
Supplemental

16. what part of the pyramid?
A University of Florida law student suffering from amnesia after mysteriously disappearing in July has recalled her abduction under hypnosis, authorities said.
Lead

17. assignment: Saturday night questions
Partner up, and have your partner briefly (in 30 seconds or less) tell you what they did last Saturday night
Go back to your own computer, and each partner will individually write five open-ended and five close-ended questions that they will ask their partner about their activities
The assignment is just for the questions, not for the answers
Title the Word document [your last name] Saturday questions, and save it inside your new subfolder inside your “Broadcast Journalism” Google Drive folder titled “Saturday Night”
Assignment must be shared with Mrs. J by midnight on Tuesday, October 3, 2017.

18. Assignment: Saturday night article
Sit down with your partner and ask them the questions you wrote on Tuesday. Make a note of their answers
Using these answers, write an article in Word using the inverted pyramid format
Clearly identify the three sections of your article (“LEAD”, “NUT GRAPH”, “SUPPLEMENTAL”)
Ensure you have a solid close and a quote
Title the document [your last name] Saturday article, and save it inside your “Saturday Night” folder
Assignment must be shared with Mrs. J by midnight on Thursday, October 5, 2017.

19. Friday Assignment: Saturday night peer critique
Share your “Saturday night” article with someone in class who was not your original partner via Google Drive
Open the document, and “save as” [your last name] Saturday critique, and save it inside your “Saturday Night” folder
Read their article carefully. Now read it again. Below their original article, answer the following questions:
What is the lead? Is it clearly identified?
What is the nut graph? Is it clearly identified?
Is there clearly identified complementary information?
Is there a quote?
What would you rate the grammar on a scale of 1-10?
What is your overall impression?
Assignment is due at midnight on Friday, October 6, 2017 to Mrs. J via Google Drive
Also share it with the original writer