Types of News Stories

1. Types of News Stories 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.

2. 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

3. Inverted Pyramid • top-loading the essential and most interesting elements of a story, with supporting information following in order of lesser importance. • Lead and body

4. Inverted Pyramid cont.

5. Characteristics of 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.

6. 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 • Needs a neat ending that wraps up the story (conclusion)

7. 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

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