Inverted
Pyramid
--Important information always
goes first.
--Information declines in value
as reader continues through article.
--Provides structure of
article
--Requires evaluation of news
values of information in the article.
--Allows deletion of least
important information due to space restrictions.
--Lead: First paragraph of
article
--Leads are concise and contain
the basic news story.
--Generally 30
words
--News lead essentially is the
“story.”
--Elements: Who, what, where
and when
--Types:
Straight news
lead
Summary
lead
Blind
lead
Direct address
lead
Question
lead
Direct quote
lead
Quotations
--Direct quotes: Exactly what
source said with quotation marks
--Indirect quotes: Paraphrase
of what source said without quotation marks
Direct quotes
provide:
--Information
--Color
--Context
Indirect quotes may provide
more information.
Attribution identifies source
of information.
News Story
Characteristics
--All news articles have
unifying theme.
Tools
--Summaries
--Lists
--Linking
Nutshell
Structure
--Headline
--Summary
(optional)
--Lead
--Bullet points of
information