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Today, citizens see five times more news than they did in 1986 thanks to the internet and 24-hour news stations. This means they have to be able to discern what is important from what is not. Writers should not confuse readers with too much filler. If there isn’t any way to help readers understand why something matters or what effect it may have on them, they will tune out. The inverted pyramid format is a good structure to follow when writing news stories. It puts the most important information at the top of the story and less important information below it.
The lead on a news story is what gets the reader’s attention. It is often the most important part of the article and should address all of the Ws (who, what, when, where and why) of the story. The lead should also include a quote from someone who has knowledge of the situation and is willing to share it. The Poytner Institute, a journalism training and resource center, describes the inverted pyramid lead as “an upside-down pyramid with the most vital base at the very top.”
Once you have a strong lede, you can use the rest of the story to provide more details on the items first covered in the lead. This will add depth to your story and make it more informative for the reader. It is also important to always cite your sources. This is especially true for a news story because it gives readers credibility and trust that you are telling them the truth.
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