The Structure of a News Story

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The Structure of a News Story

• Journalism Notes

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Parts of a news story

• Headline
• By-Line
• Lead Paragraph
• Sources
• Interview
• Wrap-Up / Conclusion

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Headline

• The title of the story (in bold, large print
  above the story).
• Good Headlines
• WORD ASSOCIATION Good wordplay makes good use of
  contrast, or delightfully twists a phrase or is
  somehow pleasing to the ear. Think also of
  rhyming words, or words that sound like they
  look. The reader can almost hear the headline.
• MENTAL PICTURE What picture comes to mind as you
  read the story? Use that in your headline.
• PERFECT VERB A verb can make for a good
  headline.
• Ex. Summer muscles its way into spring
• Ex. Deputies inch toward unionization
• PERSPECTIVE Look at it from a different
  viewpoint.
• For example, instead of writing the headline from
  the government's perspective
• Ex. Officials consider later high school starting
  times
• write it from the affected person's perspective
• Ex. High schoolers, don't reset alarm yet

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Headline Cont.

• More tips for good headlines
• EMOTION Go for the emotion in the story. Is
  there anger, love, frustration, desperation, etc?
  Readers respond to emotion.
• QUOTE Is there a great quote that sums up the
  story? Don't overuse this technique, but it can
  be effective.
• Ex. He never had a chance.
• FORESHADOWING Give readers a compelling detail
  that foreshadows the action and makes them
  wonder, but doesn't frustrate them with
  vagueness.
• SPECIFICS Sometimes, just making a headline more
  specific really helps. If you have a rather vague
  head, make a subhead to specify.
• Instead of Slain woman mourned at service, try
  1,500 attend funeral for slain woman.
• How many people have that great a number of
  mourners show up for their funeral?

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By-Line

• The author of the story. This will be listed
  under the headline of the story and be listed as
  
• By Jamie Starrett

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Lead Paragraph

• Typically the first paragraph or few sentences of
  the story.
• Answers who, what, where, when, why, and howbut
  briefly.
• Its goal draw the reader in and make you want to
  continue reading.

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Lead Paragraph cont.

• Make sure the first ten words of your lead are
  effective, as they are the most important.
• Don't use fancy language or too many adjectives.
• It's easier to write bad leads than good ones...
• Properly crafted, the lead answers questions
  before they are asked, and promises more answers
  to follow...
• Getting it right means finding the phrase, the
  quotation or the fact that reaches the essence of
  the story.

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Sources / Interview

• Sources
• The people interviewed in the story.
• provide information on the topic of the story.
• Interview
• This is where the sources are answering questions
  and providing information.
• not listed as a question and answer format, but
  rather part of the story.

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Conclusion

• Wrap-up / Conclusion
• Typically the last paragraph in a story.
• This paragraph makes sure the author did not
  leave the reader hanging.
• It can also provide information on where the
  reader can learn more about the topic.