How to write a newspaper article
Task
You are going to write a front-page article for a national newspaper (either tabloid, broadsheet or children’s) based on one of the stories featured in the current News Bites bulletin.
Guidelines on constructing your report
All journalists should follow the three C’s of journalism (clear, concise and correct). Newspaper articles are written in a different style to that you are used to writing in class. Each article is written in columns that have to fit into a limited amount of space and so is made up of short and direct sentences and paragraphs. Each paragraph usually contains a maximum of three sentences.
Carry out research on your chosen story and write your article based on the following format:
- Headline
This title, or short opening statement, should grab the reader’s attention using key words with the most impact. - Byline
Your name, the author of the article - Lead paragraph
The first, or lead paragraph, should get the reader interested and include the answers to the key questions known as the 5W’s: - Who?
- What?
- When?
- Why?
- Where?
- Details and explanation
This section includes several paragraphs explaining the details of the story. You should write in the third person (he, she, it, or they) and use active verbs so the reader feels that the events of the story are really taking place. Use language and a style that is suitable for your intended audience.A newspaper article should be written without bias. This means that you should report the facts objectively, without including your opinions about the story. However, you can include quotes from people involved in the story or from experts with an opinion about the story. Make sure to include the source of any quotes that you use.
- Background information:
This section includes a brief description of events leading up to the particular event that the article is about. - Last paragraph:
Try using a quote or catchy phrase to finish off your article.
After you have written your article, review the text and check that it fits into the column space provided. If the article is too long, you will need to edit it by rewriting certain sections. Try to shorten your first draft without losing any important information about the story.
