It is important to distinguish the various types of news stories because the term “news” is very broad. In categorizing news, we have to consider news value and standards of conduct. Types of News Stories

Hard News Hard News includes two concepts: Seriousness: Politics, economics, crime, war, and disasters are considered serious topics, as are certain aspects of law, science, and technology. Timeliness: Stories that cover current events—the progress of a war, the results of a vote, the breaking out of a fire, a significant public statement, the freeing of a prisoner, an economic report of note, etc.

Soft News soft news is sometimes referred to in a derogatory fashion as infotainment and includes two concepts: The least serious subjects: Arts and entertainment, sports, lifestyles, "human interest", and celebrities. Not timely: There is no precipitating event triggering the story, other than a reporter's curiosity. Timely events happen in less serious subjects—sporting matches, celebrity misadventures, movie releases, art exhibits, and so on.

News story attempts to answer all the basic questions about any particular event in the first two or three paragraphs Who? What? When? Where? and Why? and occasionally How? ("5 W's"). Lead and body Ends when the writer runs out of material

Inverted Pyramid top-loading the essential and most interesting elements of a story, with supporting information following in order of lesser importance. Developed during the civil war to insure the main facts of the story would not be lost during communication by telegraph. Lead and body

Inverted Pyramid cont.

Human interest These stories have plight of individuals/families, news that triggers our emotions eg earthquake, a robbery etc Backgrounders As the name suggests provides background information about a particular event, news. E.g. if martial law takes place in Pakistan, there will be background info included about the previous martial laws, army chiefs etc

Breaking news and scoops These are terms that are commonly used In the media world. By breaking news, we mean a report of any sudden news development which was not known so far and which is of utmost importance to a large section of society.

Nowadays, breaking news is a familiar term for those watching television channels. Exclusives or scoops are news reports which are covered by only one reporter. Nobody else gets it. It is considered to be a great journalistic achievement, a ‘score’ of a reporter.

Feature Story article in a newspaper, a magazine, or a news website that is not meant to report breaking news, but to take an in-depth look at a subject. Less urgent, attempts to engage reader Narrative structure (beginning, middle, end),expands on details Longer in length, includes personal perspective Entertaining, often include pictures Hard or Soft?

Editorial Short, persuasive essay which usually contains the writer’s opinion or reaction to a timely news story or event. Influence readers to think or act a certain way Written to either inform, promote, praise, or entertain

Column Personal observations by the writer about a certain subject Includes facts and states a conclusion Written on almost anything