Organizing a News Story

Journalism COMM 3333

Inverted-Pyramid Style

The lead The body of the story The conclusion

When to Use Inverted-Pyramid

If your story demands that you get to the point ASAP

Breaking news stories frequently use the inverted-pyramid lead

Body of the Story

What comes after the summary lead in breaking news?

Present the news in order of descending importance

Body of the Story

After the lead, you introduce other important elements

– Additional facts– Background – Quotes– Paraphrased information– Transitions

Prioritizing Paragraphs

Significant supporting facts placed in order of importance

Include strongest quotes higher than peripheral or paraphrased quotes

Organizing the Story

After your lead, you will need to add necessary background to the story

Is there important information that the reader needs to know from previous reporting?– Summarize key details so that the story makes

sense to a new reader

Example

As summer vacation approaches, the West Los Angeles Police Department will implement extra security measures to combat problems with overcrowding and loitering in Westwood.

Beginning the first weekend in May, West LAPD will resume periodic curfew sweeps and mounted patrols, said Linda Arneal, coordinator of the Westwood Village Merchants Association.

Arneal added that officers on horseback are part of a special task force designed to increase security and ensure the safety of Westwood Village merchants and visitors.

Quotes vs. Paraphrasing

Direct quotes– Use if the statement is

clear and does not need clarification

– Use if it is particularly memorable or striking

– Use if the person is well-known and it adds credibility to the story

Example

“Westwood has become a beacon that attracts people who have nothing to do,” said Sgt. John Bradbury of the West Los Angeles Police Department. “Minors cause problems with overcrowding, drinking, drugs and fighting.”

Quotes vs. Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing– Use when statement is hard to understand or

technical– Use when statement can be summarized better

for the flow of your story

Example

Beginning the first weekend in May, West LAPD will resume periodic curfew sweeps and mounted patrols, said Linda Arneal, coordinator of the Westwood Village Merchants Association.

Hourglass Style

An alternative type of writing news

Begins with summary lead where main news is high in story

A few paragraphs later, the story contains a turn that transitions into a narrative style

Hourglass Style

A turn is a transitional paragraph that is used to tell the chronology of the story

– Example: “Police gave this

account of the latest domestic violence:”

“According to police, eyewitnesses describe the event this way…”

After the Turn

The rest of the story is written in chronological order

The narrative may repeat some of the lead info, but it also expands it

Example of Hourglass Writing

Police today accused a handyman who once worked in the home of Elizabeth Smart with burglary and theft.

   The charges, filed against Richard Ricci, are not related to the disappearance of 14-year-old Elizabeth. On June 5, the teen was taken from her bedroom at gunpoint as her younger sister watched.

   Ricci is charged with one count of theft  for allegedly stealing $3,500 worth of items - jewelry, a perfume bottle and a wine glass filled with sea shells - from the Smart’s home in June 2001. The articles were found during a search of Ricci’s home last month, said police.

   Here is what happened. the turn    After Elizabeth disappeared last summer, the …