Writing template for journalism students at JEA China Duke Kunshan University conference, August 2017

1. How to write a three-paragraph news story
Use for: beat reporting, breaking news
Graf 1: The lede — Associated Press summary or other. Who, what, when, where, what and why, in
roughly that order
For example:
Jason Zhu, executive director of JEA China, was hospitalized Monday with a broken leg and suspected
duck bites after he got lost after a late-night journalism class and fell into a duck pond at Duke
Kunshan University.
Graf 2: QUOTE that connects/provides support for the lede
For example:
“Zhu works hard and apparently forgot about the pond between the classroom building and the
dorm,” said Jieru Shen, a student attending the JEA China conference at Duke Kunshan. “And
obviously, the ducks were not pleased when he fell into the water.”
Graf 3: Next steps, upcoming deadline, future event, additional information
For example:
JEA China has offered a prize for a new plan for solar-powered lighting for the ponds in order to
make sure that Zhu stays on the right path. For more information, email JEA China at
avoidtheducks@jea-china.org.
Want to make this longer?
• Add one paragraph of background/context, e.g., “The JEA China conference includes 70
students from schools across China, including …”
• Add a nut graf, e.g., “(This story is important because) the narrow walkway connecting the
classroom and dorm buildings and bordered by the duck ponds has been the scene of other
midnight accidents, including …”