3.1 Structuring News Stories: Inverted Pyramid and Beyond

News writing is all about structure. The inverted pyramid puts the juiciest info up front, hooking readers and letting editors trim from the bottom. It's the go-to format for breaking news and event coverage.

But there's more than one way to tell a story. Alternative structures like the hourglass or chronological format can work better for features or complex topics. The key is picking the right structure to engage readers and deliver info effectively.

Inverted Pyramid Structure

Basics of the Inverted Pyramid

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• The inverted pyramid is the most common structure used in news writing, especially for breaking news and event coverage
• Presents the most important and newsworthy information at the beginning of the story and progressively reveals less critical details
• The lead paragraph, or lede, of an inverted pyramid story contains the who, what, when, where, why and how of the story
  • Summarizes the essential facts and hooks the reader

Benefits of Using the Inverted Pyramid

• Allows editors to cut stories from the bottom to fit available space without losing vital information
  • Important for print layouts with limited space
• Ensures readers get the key points even if they don't read the full article
  • Many readers scan headlines and ledes without reading the entire story
• Transitional paragraphs are used in the body of the inverted pyramid
  • Introduce related but less critical information
  • Provide context and add details that elaborate on the lede

Key Components of a News Story

Headlines, Bylines, and Datelines

• The headline summarizes the main point of the story in a compelling way to grab attention
  • Should be accurate, clear and concise (10 words or less)
• The byline states the author of the article
  • Establishes accountability and allows readers to follow particular journalists
• The dateline indicates the geographical origin of the story
  • Establishes timeliness and relevance
  • Includes the city name in all caps (LONDON, TOKYO)

Ledes and Nut Graphs

• The lede is the opening paragraph that summarizes the key facts of the story and entices the reader to continue
• Several types of ledes, including:
  • Summary lede: encapsulates main points
  • Single-item lede: focuses on one striking detail
  • Delayed identification lede: describes a scene before naming the subject
  • Creative lede: takes a narrative approach
  • Quote lede: starts with a compelling quote
• The nut graph, or billboard paragraph, appears after the lede
  • Explains the news value of the story and answers the question "so what?"
  • Provides context for why the reader should care

Body and Conclusion

• The body contains supporting paragraphs with quotes, details, background information and additional facts
  • Uses transitional words and phrases (however, in addition, meanwhile) to connect ideas
• The conclusion may summarize key points, provide future implications, or give the story a sense of closure
  • Should align with the overall tone of the piece (serious, lighthearted, inspiring)
  • Can look ahead to what's next (upcoming vote, trial, event)

Alternative Story Structures

Hourglass and Nut Graf/Lede Formats

• The Wall Street Journal formula, or hourglass structure, combines a feature lede with narrative writing followed by an inverted pyramid format
  • Works well for business and technology stories to engage the reader before delivering hard facts
• The nut graf/lede format uses an enticing, creative beginning to draw readers in before revealing the central point of the story in the nut graph
  • The rest of the story follows the inverted pyramid structure
  • Effective for human interest pieces and trend stories

Chronological and Five Boxes Structures

• Chronological stories are structured in time order, starting at the beginning of an event and progressing to the end
  • This format works well for storytelling and breaking news (elections, natural disasters)
• The five boxes structure includes a lede, nut graf, quote, main body, and conclusion in a specific order
  • Each "box" can be a single paragraph or multiple paragraphs
  • Provides a template for organizing information

Diamond Structure and Explanatory Stories

• The diamond structure starts with an anecdotal lede, broadens out to discuss the larger issue, then narrows back in to tie the ending to the beginning
  • Effective for trend stories and articles examining societal issues
• Explanatory stories, like FAQs, how-tos, and Q&As, are organized by questions and answers or step-by-step instructions
  • Break down complex topics (science, health, finance)
  • Use subheadings and bullet points for clarity

Organizing Information in News Stories

Planning and Structuring

• Create an outline before writing to organize your thoughts and research
  • Start with the lede and nut graf, then list supporting points
• Rank information by importance and newsworthiness
  • Determines what belongs in the lede vs. lower in the story
• Use clear, logical transitions between ideas so the story flows smoothly
  • Subheadings can chunk information in longer articles

Writing and Editing Tips

• Attribute information to credible sources throughout the story
  • Enhances transparency and trustworthiness
  • Use phrases like "according to" and "said"
• Keep paragraphs short, around 1-3 sentences each
  • Vary sentence length and structure to improve readability
• Cut unnecessary words and details that don't enhance the story
  • Be concise and get to the point
• Read the story aloud to check for awkward phrasing, abrupt transitions, or redundancies
  • Rewrite and reorganize as needed to improve clarity and flow