1. The News Story Deconstructed

2. What is the goal of a news story?

3. GIVES READERS, VIEWERS, LISTENERS, USERS THE INFORMATION, NEWS, FACTS, IN A SUCCINCT, CLEAR, COHERENT WAY. A news story:

4. What’s the difference between a news story and feature story?

5. (news story) Oscar Pistorius Guilty, But Not of Murder Oscar Pistorius has been found guilty of culpable homicide, after yesterday being cleared of murdering Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year.

6. (feature story) Reeva Steenkamp’s Mother Speaks Out in Wake of Oscar Pistorius Murder Trial The manslaughter conviction of Oscar Pistorius Friday did nothing to ease the seething anger of his victim’s parents who raged at his acquittal on murder charges a day earlier. Reeva Steenkamp ripped into the judge for buying the South African sprinter’s argument that he thought a burglar had hidden in his master bathroom.

7. (news story) California wildfires prompt more than 1,000 residents to evacuate About 1,000 California residents and visitors were evacuated from the path of a raging wildfire on Sunday, just weeks after an earlier blaze destroyed eight homes in the area.

8. (feature story) Mega fires are wake- up call to prep your wildfire plan Stop, drop, and roll. People in the West will become more familiar with these three fire safety directives as drought and development put more of us in harm's way. The recent wildfire in California is just the latest mega fire to raise awareness of the dangerous climate conditions and what to do to stay safe.

9. The vast majority of news stories use this structure:

10. Inverted pyramid The most important information--who, what, where, when, why and how--goes at the top. Less important details go at the bottom.

11. Inverted Pyramid

12. What are the parts of a news story?

13. Parts of a story… Headline Lede Body Kicker

14. Headline The headline is at the top of the story. Tells the reader or user what the story is about. It’s brief; a quick summary of what’s to come. Written after the story.

18. Some famous, memorable headlines:

22. Lead or Lede Generally the first paragraph of the story. The hook that tells you what the story is about. Think of it like the marquee of a theater or a billboard. Has the facts--the “w”s.

23. Examples A 53-year old Westchester man died on Saturday after the motorcycle he was riding struck a deer, the Dutchess County Police said. Police arrested a New York couple on Tuesday after they allegedly photographed their two young boys posing with guns, authorities say.

24. Body Contains the rest of the story. Explains the “why” if known States the rest of the facts. Generally one point per paragraph Contains quotes. If there’s controversy, goes back and forth.

25. Ending or Kicker Wraps up the story without being repetitive. May point toward the future Sometimes witty or cute. Often a quote—a good quote.

26. Who: A nun What: Arrested by police for driving drunk Where: Long Island When: Sunday Source: witnesses Write a headline and lede with these facts….

27. Headline: Oh Lord! Cops Pick Up Drunk Nun on Long Island Lede: Police arrested a nun for drunk driving on Long Island on Sunday, witnesses said.

28. Write a headline and lede Who: Cheerleader, Cami Collins, 16 What: used a pistol to shoot a 10-foot long, 350 pound alligator Where: Miami When: over the weekend Why: it attacked her in a swampy area near her high school Quote: “It was self defense. I did what I had to to save my life.”

29. Teen Cheerleader Shoots Big Gator A Miami cheerleader killed a 10-foot long alligator after it attacked her over the weekend. Cami Collins, 16, shot the 350-pound gator with a pistol in a swampy area near her high school. “It was self defense,” said Collins. “I did what I had to to save my life.”

30. Tips for better ledes Prioritize what’s most important in your story. Be economical with your language. Edit out extra words. Short, tight, straight to the point is generally best. Don’t either embellish--or leave out details like the size of the alligator and age of student. Don’t repeat words unless absolutely necessary; never say them more than twice. (Alligator the first time then gator, for example.)

31. One more lede Who: Two bystanders injured What: student protest turns ugly Where: at City College When: yesterday Why: angry over problems with the CUNYfirst system Source: local police What else: bystanders treated at Harlem Hospital; they are in stable condition

32. CCNY Demo Takes Violent Turn A student protest at City College over problems with the CUNYfirst system turned violent yesterday. Two bystanders were injured and taken to Harlem Hospital. They remain in stable condition, local police said.

33. Assignment due Thursday! Find 2 recent news stories. (Not more than a week old.) Print them out. Identify the headline, lede, body and kicker—and a source. Write your name on them; you’ll turn them in.