How to Write a News Story
You’ve heard it, and it’s true: a good news story answers the famous “5-W and H.” They are Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How. Sometimes “What” is replaced by “How” and "Why" or "How" is not mentioned (or not applicable) at all but you get the idea. Here is a news story headline that contains all 5-Ws (but not the How): "California Bushfire that Started Last Friday Burned 130,000 Acres and 98 Homes Due to Lack of Rain, Experts Say" 1) WHAT: Bushfire However, I wish writing a new story was as simple as just getting 5-Ws in a row and calling it a day. Actually it’s much more complicated than that. Let’s draw upon a few writing principles that should guide you in your journalism career. PRINCIPLE 1: A news story is not an editorial comment. When writing a news story try to stick to the facts and avoid an interpretation of facts. This is easier said than done given the act that even a headline can openly give away or subliminally telegraph an editorial point of view. But at least the awareness that there is a distinction between description of an event and its meaning is a crucial one to maintain. The more the reader is made aware of the distinction, the more the reading public will trust the gist and facts of your story. PRINCIPLE 2: When you collect your data and interview people, or take part in press conferences, obey the rules of the game and protect the confidentiality of your sources. If a story is divulged in the “background,” it means you can use the information as a general framework to your story but you cannot quote it verbatim by giving the name of the person or the official. If something is shared with you on an “off the record” basis, again it means you can not use it in any way in your story but only as a general background data. If you have “not for attribution” information, you can publish and disseminate it but cannot attribute it to anybody by name. Sometimes you cannot even refer to the organization where your source works. That’s why you frequently hear in the U.S. press that a certain quote was provided by an “Administration source” which can be anybody. If, on the other hand, you have a “for attribution” or "on the record" interview you can quote the person by name, title, and organization. PRINCIPLE 3: Repeat the main idea or message at least 3 times in your news story -- in the headline, first paragraph, and the last paragraph. For example, if you are writing a story about forest fires in California, your headline could be “Wild Fires in California Heat Up the Global Warming Discussion.” Now, repeat this idea in the first paragraph of the story, by adding just a little bit more exposition to it: “The recent fires that damages 130,000 acres in California is partially attributed to warmer-than-usual summer months brought on by Global Warming, according to the scientists at the Fresno State University.” In the last paragraph, repeat the idea one more time, with a different spin, or from a different angle: “Although the devastating fires caused 2 billion worth of property damage in Southern California, the scientists think it could turn out to be a blessing in disguise in terms of providing fresh state grants to examine the relationship between the increasing frequency of forest fires and Global Warming along the Pacific coast.” PRINCIPLE 4: Quote at least two or three experts in every story. If your story is a thousand words or more, you might need more experts and quotations. The best way to quote someone is to repeat his or her name and title in the first quotation and then use the third person singular pronoun instead of the full name. For example, here is a bad way to quote someone: PRINCIPLE 5: For easy reading and higher comprehension, always use your five senses to draw pictures with your words and vary your sentence length. For example, you decide which paragraph is better, sharper, and more pleasant to read: VERSION A) “It was a fine day at the Marimba Hotel's beach and it felt good to be alive. ‘You're one lucky dog, buster!’ Bob Brown thought to himself.” VERSION B) Bob Brown felt how much the cover of the thriller he was reading has absorbed the warmth of the Caribbean sun as he slowly lowered it on his naked chest and turned his head from the hammock to have a good look at the tropical whistler going crazy at the top of the swaying double-coconut palm. He closed his eyes to surrender to the lullaby of... wave after lazy wave of turquoise waters spreading their foamy lace along the ten-mile golden beach strip. Bob was jolted out of his reverie with the invigorating aroma of fresh pineapple pancakes and strong Cuban coffee prepared by the Marimba Hotel's five-star executive kitchen.”
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