News Basics

Inverted

Pyramid

Adapted by Mrs. Gregory from…..

Dianne Smith, CJE

Alief Hastings HS

Houston, TX

In daily newspapers, most timely and featured news stories are written in the traditional form—the ______________form (the order of decreasing importance).

inverted pyramid

Inverted Pyramid

Most important facts

Next most important

Next most important

Next

•Enables the hurried reader to get all the important facts in a very short period of time.

•Gives the reporter a quick format to follow.

•Allows the editor to cut from the bottom.

Reasons for the Inverted Pyramid:

The ___ or first paragraph of a news story contains the most important information.The ___________is the most common of the news leads. The other two types are the ________and the ___________.

lead

summary lead

blind leadcomposite

lead

What are the Ws and H •Who

•What

•When

•Where

•Why

•How

Characteristics of a good Summary Lead

•Usually only one paragraph but may be more.

•Usually starts with the _______or most important ___of the story.

key ideaW

How to find the Key Idea•Use your knowledge of news

values.

•Ask yourself: “What would be the first question a reader would ask about this event?”

•Know who your readers are.

• Quickly summarizes in the first few words the most important fact of the story.

• The What is usually the most used feature of a lead, followed closely by the Who. (The Who should be used only when the name itself is clearly the most important fact.)

Characteristics of a Good Summary Lead

•Usually avoids beginning with such words or phrases as a, an, at a meeting, yesterday, last night, last week, recently, days of the week, according to, in the opinion of; it is, was, will be; there is, was, will be.

Words to avoid in a good Summary Lead

Begins with specific, interest arousing words.

Poor:For several years it has been the custom…

Good vs. Bad Leads

Good:A two-day vacation is in store for...

Poor:

Lincoln’s basketball season came to an end March 2 when the Maroons were defeated by Bridgeport, 45-44, in an overtime in finals of the Regional Tournament at Rockford.

Whoa! Too much info!

Better:

An overtime in the semifinals ended Lincoln’s basketball season Wednesday in the Regional Tournament at Rockford.

MUCH better!

Thanks!

Bridge

The bridge is the _______ paragraph.

Its functions are

second

-More Ws and H

-Attribution and ID

-Tie back or recap

The body of the story gives the other facts in decreasing order of importance.

Most important facts

Next most important

Next most important

Next

Summary lead

Body of the story

Through alternating direct quotes (which contain opinions, feelings or information that cannot be measured by some standard) and transitional statements (which contain facts), the reporter tells the story.

What is a transition?Transitions are words or phrases which keep the story flowing smoothly and let the reader know you are either talking about the same thing as before or you have changed subjects.

What is a transition?•Word or phrases such as meanwhile; also; nevertheless; accordingly; at the same time

•Repetition of a word or phrase from a previous paragraph

•Use of a synonym for a key word from a previous paragraph

Summary Lead

Direct QuoteFact

Direct Quote

Direct Quote

Direct Quote

DQ

Fact

Fact

Fact

Alternating paragraphs of quoted opinions, feelings or thoughts and factual transitions The last

paragraph should be a direct quote.

Example of a Typical News

Story

The Summary Lead:Students who are chronically tardy to class may find themselves suspended if a policy being considered by the Glendale School Board and faculty is passed.

Yikes! I’d better read further!

Quote #1: (Bridge)

“Being on time is a virtue,” Principal Tammy Hall said. “Students today, however, don’t seem to think it is important.”

Transition #1:

The school board discussed the policy Sept. 11 and will bring it up again in December. VVHS faculty discussed the proposed policy Wednesday.

Quote #2:

“It is about time this district did something about the tardy problem,” Erin Lynch, social studies teacher, said. “It has gotten so bad that more students are out in the hall than in class.”

Transition #2:The proposed policy states that students will be considered tardy if they enter the room after the bell has rung. The tardy will be unexcused unless an excuse signed by an assistant principal or counselor is presented to the teacher.

Quote #3:“Too many students are still wandering around in the halls or using the restrooms when the tardy bell rings,” said Steve Pierce, assistant principal of discipline and attendance. “Teachers have asked that these students receive some sort of penalty.”

Transition #3:That penalty would come in the form of a 30-minute detention to be handled by the teachers, according to the new policy.

Quote #4:“We would also be rewarding those students who regularly get to class on time and who set a good example,” Pierce said.

Transition #4:Ten percent “punctuality points” would be averaged into a grade at the end of each quarter if a student has fewer than three unexcused tardies. If a student has three or more unexcused tardies, the punctuality points would not be given, Pierce said.

Quote #5:“There would be some tougher penalties for those who don’t seem to understand that we mean business with this new policy,” Pierce said.

Transition #5:By the fourth unexcused tardy, a student would be referred to the principal’s office, and the parent or guardian would be notified. One-day suspensions would result if the student continues to be tardy, according to the policy.

Quote #6:“The proposed policy provides the incentive to students to be in class on time,” Hall said.

Transition #6:Hall said administrators hope that the new policy, if adopted, will eliminate the majority of unexcused tardies, which have been numbering in the hundreds each day.

Final Quote“The policy change is a step in the right direction,” she said. “It’s a positive program to deal with a negative problem.”

Summary Lead

Direct QuoteFact

Direct Quote

Direct Quote

Direct Quote

DQ

Fact

Fact

Fact

The lead told readers a new tardy policy was being considered by the school board and that students who did not comply might be suspended.

Summary Lead

Direct QuoteFact

Direct Quote

Direct Quote

Direct Quote

DQ

Fact

Fact

Fact

It summarized the most important facts:

Students might be suspended if they are tardy all the time if the new policy goes into effect.

Summary Lead

Direct QuoteFact

Direct Quote

Direct Quote

Direct Quote

DQ

Fact

Fact

Fact

The body gave further details about the proposed policy, using facts about tardies and opinions from various sources to tell the story.