The Inverted Pyramid & News Writing

INVERTED PYRAMID Structure BEGINNING OF ARTICLE Why is this article important? What will make me continue reading? What is the “WOW” element? BODY OF ARTICLE Secondary Information: details that support and amplify the main point, reaction quotes from various interested parties, or historical background that may put the story in context. Try and connect any new facts to the “WOW” at the top of the pyramid. CLOSING OF ARTICLE Less crucial information that may be fascinating to the readers with special interest in the story. To the general reader it may be more than they would want to know.

The Questions to Ask  WHAT  WHO  WHEN  WHERE  WHY  HOW  happened/ are the implications/ are the facts/ will happen next  is responsible/ gains/ loses/ are the victims/ will be affected/ developed the idea/ said something/ was involved  did it happen/ will it happen  did or will it take place/ was it developed/ will it be built  did or will it occur/ was there no warning/ was it covered up/ was it developed/ was it used/ are there no safeguards/ were safeguards ignored/ this course of action  did it happen/ much did it cost/ many people were involved/ will it be prevented/ will it be implemented.

Producing Your NEWS Story Writing the inverted pyramid news piece follows a logical sequence:  First, get your information together – what you have collected from press releases and discussion, interviews and a couple quotes that will shed light on the event, additional research you have carried out. what you have collected from press releases and discussion, interviews and a couple quotes that will shed light on the event, additional research you have carried out.  Now ask: 'What is the story?', "What is the theme?'. This is what your story will be about. State it in as few words as possible. This is what your story will be about. State it in as few words as possible.  Ask: 'What are the main facts and why are they significant?'. These will be about the main events - what happened - and include people, organizations, dates, times, quantity, places and so on. This is the information that will appear in your first few paragraphs - the critical facts of the story. These will be about the main events - what happened - and include people, organizations, dates, times, quantity, places and so on. This is the information that will appear in your first few paragraphs - the critical facts of the story.  Ask: 'What are the other facts?'. These will appear lower in the body of your story and expand on the main points These will appear lower in the body of your story and expand on the main points

News Story Parameters To enhance readability and comprehension:  keep paragraphs short  provide no more than one or two ideas per paragraph  include at least 3 quotes made by the main people involved; these should refer to and explain the key facts.

Generating News Story Ideas WWWWatch the News RRRRead the News SSSSee the News FFFFind the News Papers (National, Local, Other Schools) Online Word of Mouth