1. Citizen Journalism:
The Use of Social Media for Social Orientation
and Career Opportunities for the Youth
Lecture Notes Presented at Bengkel Kaleidoscope programme
Bilik Minda Za’aba, Kolej Pendeta Za’aba
Universiti Putra Malaysia
8:30 – 11:00 am, 11 October 2015
By
Mr. Adamkolo Mohammed Ibrahim
MSc. Dev. Comm.
Dept. of Comm., Fac. of Modern Langs. & Comm., UPM
THE INVERTED PYRAMID STYLE OF NEWS WRITING
Traditionally, when composing an essay, we start with a 'foundation' and gradually build to a
conclusion in a pyramid style. We might write an essay or article using the following structure:
1. Present the problem statement
2. Related or supporting information
3. Methodology- How did something occur?
4. Results
5. Conclusion, outcomes or most important
information
Journalists, on the other-hand, use an inverted pyramid style of writing. They generally start with
the main conclusion or outcomes and get progressively more detail towards the end of the piece.
1. Conclusion or most important
information
2. Supporting information
3. Background and technical details
5. Conclusion
1. Conclusions
1. Problem statement
3. Details

2. 2
Since Web users and email readers typically scan text, using the inverted pyramid form of
writing is a good way to get the most important information in front of your readers –first.
Position your main points (who, what, when, where, why and the how) at the beginning of the
article, and then go into more detail towards the end of your piece.
Example 1: Perpustakaan Sultan Abdul Samda Celebration
(Who, What, Where, When, Why and How: Most Important Information)
UPM Berilmu Berbekti Celebration
Bukhari Hishamudin & Shafilah Yussof
UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA, SELANGOR — In celebration of its 75th anniversary of
Berilmu Berbekti, Universiti Putra Malaysia announces the Putra Sarjana, a season of special
events, lectures and tours between October and December 2016. You can view more information
about any of the anniversary events at http://www.upm.edu.my/75th-anniversary-berilmu-
berbekti or email your questions to anniversary75th@upm.edu.my
On October 3, the first event of the series will be held in the Dewan Besar hall (opposite the
Bangunan Pentadbiran edifice) from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. A schedule of events and activities
throughout the day is listed below.
 Tour of the “Arts of the Book” Collection the Perpustakaan Sultan Abdul Samad library
11:00 am - please register at: anniversary75th@upm.edu.my
 Tour of the Preservation Department – see how rare, old or damaged books are repaired,
restored and conserved 2:00 pm - please register at: anniversary75th@upm.edu.my
 “Arts of the Book” Open House 3:00 – 4:00 pm.
 Manuscripts and Archives Open House – a chance to view close-up some of the treasures
of this rich and diverse collection 3:00 – 2:00 pm.
Supporting Information
The day will also include an “Antiques Road Show” table, hosted by Manuscripts and Archives
and the Perpustakaan Sultan Abdul Samad Rare Book and Manuscript Library from 11:00 am -
2:00 pm. Students are welcome to bring old books and documents; the librarians can advise you
about their history and preservation.
Additional Details
Brochures outlining the entire program will be available on campus next week. For more
information about the events during the year, please visit the following website:
http://www.lib.upm.edu.my/75th. Please note that some of the library tours require registration
beforehand and that space is limited.

3. 3
Example 2: KPZ Mutiara Bulanan Chooses Students of the Month
(Who, What, Where, When: Most Important Information)
KPZ Mutiara Bulanan Chooses Students of the Month
Ismail Mohamed Idris & John Lee Chong
KOLEJ PENDETA ZA’ABA, UPM — Final-year Bachelor’s degree students of Kolej Pendeta
Za’aba (KPZ) Mohamed Shahrol Azim, Elizabeth Li Chow, Mala Gurumurthy, Nor Faridah
Azlan Shah, Chan Yeo Ling and Dharma Chowdhury have been honored as Students of the
Month for April to September 2015 respectively by a committee of their peers. The six
outstanding students were announced at the 24th
KPZ Mutiara Bulanan Students-of-the Month
presentation on October 11 in the Bilik Minda Za’aba hall of the kolej. A luncheon honoring the
six recipients was held with their supervisors from the Top Management of the kolej and
colleagues. Their photos will be displayed in locations on the KPZ premises and web portal.
Why, How: Supporting Information
The honorees were rated on class attendance, punctuality and regularity in kolej activities,
personal appearance, attitude and conduct toward the management staff of the kolej, colleagues
and visitors, initiative, responsibility, flexibility, efficiency and courtesy. KPZ Mutiara Bulanan
Supervisor Pn Sarina Yusuf announced the winners, who received their plaques to the applause
and cheers of management and colleagues, who filled the auditorium. Dr. Hisham Abu Bakar,
associate principal of the kolej, enthusiastically concluded the ceremony with heartfelt thanks to
all those who made the kolej’s 24th
annual event a success.
Details
Students-of-the-Month committee members were Yunus Idris Hyrol, James Chong Ki, Jennifer
Ling, Aisha Nor Faedah Mohamed, Misha Dharamsala and Govinda Singh.
Example 3: Sister and Brother Killed
when Bus, TU111 Crash
SUNGAI BILIS, SELANGOR — A TU111 commuter bus slammed into a school bus on a
flooded road following a downpour Wednesday, killing two siblings and injuring their elder
brother and two other pupils.
The crash occurred just before 8 a.m. about eight miles north of the fishing community of Sungai
Bilis, according to Selangor Patrol trooper Azril Ahmad. The bus had made only one stop before
the crash.

4. 4
An 11-year-old girl died at the scene and her 8-year-old brother died later at a hospital,
authorities said. Their 18-year-old brother suffered minor injuries.
The school bus driver was in serious condition with chest and abdominal injuries, and the TU111
bus driver was treated for minor injuries and released.
Lesson to Learn
The SRK Sungai Bilis school the children and the teenager attend canceled classes at midday.
• Writing in this story is simple and direct
• Note attribution of information in second and third paragraphs
• Story is not written in a narrative form. It doesn’t begin at the beginning and end at the end.
Rather it presents information in order of its importance
• Note the short sentences and short paragraphs.
Example 4: Teens Sentenced after
Plotting Gun Attack on School
BARIO, SARAWAK — Two teenagers have been sentenced to a minimum of one year in
custody for plotting an attack at their high school.
The two boys, 15 and 16 years old, had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder at SMK
Batu Caves. They still could be held until they reached the age of 21yeras old, the maximum
penalty under juvenile law, but under the sentence pronounced Sunday, the state Department of
Youth Services has the discretion to release them after a year.
The plot was discovered when a student told school officials a group of teenagers planned to
open fire on October 10, Hari Sukan Negara day.
Two other students have pleaded guilty to inducing panic. One of them received a minimum six-
month sentence. Sentencing for the other student was delayed pending completion of a
background report.
Lesson to Learn
• Inverted pyramid, rather than narrative style observed
• One possible flaw in this story is that the second sentence of the second paragraph is very long.
How would you shorten it?
• This story lacks direct attribution because the reporter was on the scene to observe the events

5. 5
• Why does the story not give the names of the boys?
Example 5 (International News): Quake Hits Seabed off Nepal Island
KATHMANDU, NEPAL (AP) — A strong earthquake shook the seabed off the southern island
of Burma on Thursday, but there were no reports of damage or injuries.
The Kathmandu Geodynamic Institute said the undersea quake had a preliminary magnitude of 5
and its epicenter was 150 miles south of Kathmandu. The quake occurred at 8:51 a.m.
Earlier, another quake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.4 occurred offshore in the South China
Sea about 213 miles northeast of Kathmandu. No injuries or damage were reported from the
moderate tremor, which struck at 2:03 a.m. near the island Samothrace.
A quake of magnitude 2.5 to 3 is the smallest generally felt by people. A quake of magnitude 4
often causes slight damage. Magnitude 5 can produce moderate damage.
Lesson to Learn
• As in the previous story, the last two paragraphs give background or non-timely information.
• The lead paragraph uses a strong, descriptive verb.
Suggestions for further reading
Johnston, J. (2007). Turning the inverted pyramid upside: how Australian print media is learning
to love the narrative. Asia Pacific Media Educator, 18, 1-15.
Yale University (n.d.). Samples of the inverted pyramid style of writing. Available at
http://www.yale.edu/hronline/communications/documents/ Retrieved October 10, 2015.