News articles are recent, clear, accurate and impartial. Because they are often read quickly or in a cursory fashion, the most important information should be presented first, followed by descriptive content that complements the news. Read to learn the essentials for writing news articles.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Structuring the Article
Step 1. Write a title
The title of your article should be a fragment of a sentence that, succinctly, summarizes the main point. Use effective words to attract attention; however, make sure that the title represents the actual content of the article. For instance:
- "Condolences for the death of the football team coach"
- "Strong Earthquake Hits Central Italy"
- "Participation of the Head of State in the Celebrations of April 25"
Step 2. Create an introductory sentence
The first sentence of a news article is called "Opening" and contains the most essential details of the news. Even if people don't read the rest, they should learn the essence of the article right from the opening. It is written in the third person and answers the classic questions of a news article: who, what, when, where, why and how? Examples:
- "A flu epidemic in Rome led to the closure of three elementary schools this week, as reported by the school authorities."
- "The missing girl from Mantua was found in an abandoned shack where she had taken refuge, according to a police release."
Step 3. Continue with the details
Complete the story with the necessary contextual details, the opinions of the people you interviewed, and any other facts or circumstances the reader should know to fully understand what happened. Each subsequent paragraph has its own topic and should not be more than fifty words long.
- Write the next paragraphs according to their importance, rather than in chronological order. Readers should be able to read from the first part of the article, and get the information they need first. If they are interested, they can read to the end to learn more about the topic.
- Create a storyline with statements you have collected in interviews, with relevant statistics, and with historical news to support each concept you express.
Step 4. Conclude with a summary
The last paragraph completes the article, summarizing the main points and reporting the information the reader may need to continue following the news.
Method 2 of 3: Perfecting the Language and Tone
Step 1. Be impartial
Impartiality has long been a fundamental requirement for news reporting. Of course it is impossible to be completely impartial - but after all, everything in the article, from the topic to the choice of words, is up to you - so, you should do your best to give a complete representation of the news, so that readers have the opportunity to form your own opinions.
- Don't let your tendencies shine through in the article. If you are writing about two candidates in an electoral competition, for example, present both candidates without expressing preferences.
- Do not use words full of meaning that can influence the reader's opinions on the subject. Avoid stereotypes and discriminatory and offensive terms.
- Don't overstate the events, actions, or other aspects of the news. Your job is to tell what really happened, not an inflated version of reality.
Step 2. Make it understandable
Use a sentence structure and a choice of words that communicate the information clearly, rather than causing confusion. The goal of a news article is to quickly transfer information, not to impress or entertain people (even if you don't want your article to be boring). Newspapers are read by people from all walks of life, so your article needs to appeal to different categories of readers.
- Use verbs in the active form, rather than the passive one. The reading flows better and goes straight to the point. For example, write "Senator Rossi held a press conference on Thursday" instead of "A press conference was held by Senator Rossi on Thursday."
- Clearly identify the people you interview. Is it a doctor who has done research on an important scientific discovery? A government representative? The mother of a man on trial for murder? A person's role must be clear to your readers.
- Don't confuse your article with unnecessary words. Using uncommon vocabulary only serves to confuse and distract your readers. Choose words that improve the accuracy of the article, rather than the loudest words you can find.
Method 3 of 3: Investigate the News
Step 1. Collect information
Once you have decided what to write, gather the information you need. Presenting news to readers, who may not know anything about the subject, is a great responsibility, so it is best to collect as much accurate and first-hand information as possible.
- Read up on the facts of the story, in order to present it in the exact context. For example, if you are writing an article about a new law to protect forests from indiscriminate logging, check what the law says, why it was approved, by whom it was supported, who were the opponents, and so on.
- If you're writing about an event, get involved, whether it's a Senate inquiry, a football match, or a candidate's campaign breakdown. Take comprehensive notes while you are there so that you can remember what happened later.
Step 2. Conduct interviews
News articles are enhanced through first-hand reports from witnesses and expert opinions. Identify the main players in the story and submit short, specific questions, so that their answers complement the information you report in your article.
- Make an appointment with the person or people you want to interview. You can interview them directly or by phone.
- Use the interview to verify facts you have known about. For example, if you are dealing with a tornado that caused damage in a small town, and you want to know how many houses were damaged, interview the mayor. If you want a report from someone who saw the tornado, interview a witness who was present.
- Do not use the interviewee's words out of context. The people you interviewed for a new article are doing you a favor. If you have to publish someone's words, be sure to respect their original meaning.
Step 3. Check the facts
When you write a news article, you have a responsibility to your readers to present complete and accurate information. Starting from an incorrect fact may seem insignificant, but it has serious consequences; aside from the problems that can arise from posting incorrect information, your credibility as a journalist could be called into question.
- Check the numbers and other important data through specialized sources. If you're writing an article about a heat wave, call specialist government services to check temperatures.
- Verify hearsay information with more than one source.
- Check the spelling of surnames and first names. Above all, make sure you spell the names of the people you interview correctly.
