Writing Newspaper Articles

Writing Newspaper Articles

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April 20. 2016

Vol XCIII, No. 311

Create a List of Facts

How to Write a Newspaper Article

The 5W's

Before you write a news article, create a list of all the important information that needs to be included in the article. First, start with the 5W's (who, what, where, when, and why). Then create a list of interesting facts outside of the 5W's that are important to the article.

Lead Paragraph

• The lead paragraph is the article's essential information.
• This paragraph includes the 5W's and How.
• The paragraph should begin with a lead sentence to grab the reader's attention. This paragraph sets the tone for the news article.

Writing a newspaper article is different from writing other articles or informational pieces, because news articles present information in a specific way. It's important to be able to communicate all of the important information in a limited work count.

EXAMPLE

Any mention of teenagers and police officers in the same setting generally conjures up images of wild house parties getting busted—which is precisely the image Sgt. Karin Occino wants to change

Headline

Byline

Concluding Sentence

The name of the article's author.

A catching phrase to inform reader what your article is about.

Tips

• Make sure your news article is complete and finished by giving it a good concluding sentence. This is often a restatement of the leading statement or a statement indicating potential future developments relating to the article topic

1) Remain unbiased.

• A news article is meant to report direct facts, not the opinions of it's writer.
• Do not express emotions in your writing.
• Avoid any language that is overly positive or negative.
• No "I" statements
• Remain objective: not influenced by personal feelings or opinions.

Additional Information Paragraph

Explanation Paragraph

• This paragraph includes information that expands on the previously mentioned information.
• This paragraph could include information about a similar event.
• Direct quotes from witnesses or bystanders could also be added to this paragraph.

2) A newspaper tone is matter of fact. Be creative with your sentence structure and ideas, but do not write your article as though it is a story.

3) A newspaper article should accurately inform readers about a single event. Be sure to check your work for spelling and grammar errors.

• This paragraph further describes the events of the article.
• It is the largest paragraph in your newspaper article.
• The explanation paragraph should include the other facts or details that the reader should know.
• The explanation paragraph must also include direct quote from witnesses or bystanders.

Starting September 1, the Alberta Police Station is organizing daily office hours, officially known as “Officer Hours,” that place a designated sergeant at the high school for an hour each day in an effort to improve relations between teens and the police in town. “There wasn’t always such a strained relationship with the kids in this town,” said Occino. “A few years ago, the majority of teens and youths knew most of the officers by name and viewed them as a source of protection. Now it seems like we’re distrusted—seen only as the bad guy that comes out and ruins their fun. That’s not how it’s supposed to be.”

Senior class president Carly Roy fully endorses the idea: “Having access to an officer who can answer our questions and just maintain a presence in the school will be a really great step toward keeping things friendly between us and the cops. They won’t just be these stiff, mean people who are out to get us. It won’t be an ‘us vs. them’ thing anymore.”

Senior class president Carly Roy fully endorses the idea: “Having access to an officer who can answer our questions and just maintain a presence in the school will be a really great step toward keeping things friendly between us and the cops. They won’t just be these stiff, mean people who are out to get us. It won’t be an ‘us vs. them’ thing anymore.”