Whether you are interested in writing for a small school newspaper or you’re fulfilling a requirement for school, you will want to write like a professional if you intend to write a news article. So what does it take to write like a news reporter?
Researching the News Story
First you must decide what to write about. Sometimes an editor will give you specific assignments, but other times you’ll have to find your own stories to write about.
You should select a topic and start conducting research that will give you a full understanding of your story. Go to the library and find background information about people, organizations, and events you intend to cover.
Next, interview a few people to collect quotes that reflect the public’s perception of the even or story.
Parts of a Newspaper Article
Before you write your first draft, you should be aware of the parts that make up a news report.
Headline or Title: The title of your news article should be catchy and to the point. You should punctuate your title using AP style guidelines, which means a few things: the first word is capitalized, but (unlike other styles) words after the first word are typically not. Of course, you will capitalize proper nouns. Numbers are not spelled out.
Examples:
- Lost dog finds his way home
- Debate tonight in Jasper Hall
- Panel chooses 3 essay winners
Byline: This is your name! The byline is the name of the writer.
Lede or lead: The lede is the first paragraph, but it is written to provide a detailed preview of the entire story. It summarizes the story and includes all of the basic facts. The lede will help readers decide if they want to read the rest of the story, or if they are satisfied knowing these details. For this reason, the lede may contain a hook.
The Story: Once you’ve set the stage with a good lead, you follow up with a well-written story that contains facts from research and quotes from people you’ve interviewed. The article should not contain your opinions.
Detail any events in chronological order. Use active voice—avoid passive voice when possible.
In a news article, you would typically put the most critical information in the early paragraphs and follow with supporting information, background information, and related information.
You do not put a list of sources at the end of a news story.
