News reports present a factual account of an event or issue in a concise, objective, and informative manner. They provide readers with important details about who did what, where, when, why, and how and avoid personal opinions or jargon. A well-written news report includes a clear, catchy headline that highlights the main event, a nut graph that summarizes the most critical information using the 5Ws (Who, What, When, Where, and Why), and a conclusion that provides additional details, quotes, or statistics in order of importance.
The nut graph, or lead paragraph, should grab readers’ attention with an interesting angle, dramatic anecdote or surprising statistic. It then explains the news story’s relevance and importance by answering the who, what, when, where, why, and how questions.
If you’re interviewing sources, use a mix of formal and casual language to keep your writing interesting and engaging. Avoid jargon and technical terms, as they can confuse or distract your audience. If you’re not sure whether a word or phrase is appropriate, check its usage in the dictionary to make sure it’s correct.
Always use the third person in news writing to maintain objectivity and prevent bias. Exceptions to this rule are when you’re quoting someone who is directly involved in the story, or when you’re using first or second person for a sarcastic tone or humor. It’s also a good idea to cite your sources when using their names in a story, and to avoid abbreviating them where possible.