The document outlines basic rules of journalism for writing news stories, including using the inverted pyramid structure and order of importance. The inverted pyramid calls for the most crucial information to be in the first three paragraphs, with less important details following. The order of importance dictates that facts are included based on their newsworthiness. Journalists also use the "who, what, where, when, how" method and quotes later in stories to follow these principles of newswriting.

1. Basic Rules of JournalismBasic Rules of Journalism
The Inverted PyramidThe Inverted Pyramid

2. The Inverted PyramidThe Inverted Pyramid

3. The Inverted PyramidThe Inverted Pyramid
 The inverted pyramid calls for all theThe inverted pyramid calls for all the
crucial information in a news story to be incrucial information in a news story to be in
the first three paragraphs.the first three paragraphs.
 The less important information follows inThe less important information follows in
the middle sectionthe middle section
 Information that is not crucial but would fillInformation that is not crucial but would fill
the story out is included in the bottom thirdthe story out is included in the bottom third
of the pyramid.of the pyramid.

4. The First Three ParagraphsThe First Three Paragraphs
 In simple terms:In simple terms:
Par 1 Introduction (Intro)Par 1 Introduction (Intro)
Par 2 Introduce the charactersPar 2 Introduce the characters
Par 3 Develop the story furtherPar 3 Develop the story further

5. The Order of ImportanceThe Order of Importance
 The Inverted Pyramid leads us on to the secondThe Inverted Pyramid leads us on to the second
rule of Journalism – The Order of Importance.rule of Journalism – The Order of Importance.
 Information should be included in order of itsInformation should be included in order of its
importance. Ie. In a road accident, the number ofimportance. Ie. In a road accident, the number of
deaths is far more important than how manydeaths is far more important than how many
were seriously injured. Likewise those with minorwere seriously injured. Likewise those with minor
injuries are more important than those who wereinjuries are more important than those who were
uninjureduninjured

6. Order of ImportanceOrder of Importance
 It is the role of a Journalist to decide theIt is the role of a Journalist to decide the
Order of Importance. The most importantOrder of Importance. The most important
fact or facts must be in the Introduction (orfact or facts must be in the Introduction (or
Intro - Par 1)Intro - Par 1)
 Ie. Three people died and three othersIe. Three people died and three others
were seriously injured in a head-onwere seriously injured in a head-on
collision in Great Barr this morning.collision in Great Barr this morning.

7. Order of ImportanceOrder of Importance
 The fact that five people escaped unhurt isThe fact that five people escaped unhurt is
not that important and could easily be leftnot that important and could easily be left
out if there was insufficient space.out if there was insufficient space.
 What would happen then if 300 peopleWhat would happen then if 300 people
survived but two were killed in a trainsurvived but two were killed in a train
crash?crash?

8. AnswerAnswer
 Two people died when an early morningTwo people died when an early morning
train left the tracks just outside Selly Oaktrain left the tracks just outside Selly Oak
this morning.this morning.
 A further 300 people escaped unhurtA further 300 people escaped unhurt
when the London to Birmingham expresswhen the London to Birmingham express
ploughed into an embankment a mile fromploughed into an embankment a mile from
the station.the station.

9. Tell A Friend MethodTell A Friend Method
 One of the easiest ways to write an intro isOne of the easiest ways to write an intro is
to think of it as if you were telling a friendto think of it as if you were telling a friend
about the story in one sentence.about the story in one sentence.
 Example: Two planes crashed into theExample: Two planes crashed into the
Twin Towers in New York and thousandsTwin Towers in New York and thousands
have been killed.have been killed.

10. Who, What, Where, When andWho, What, Where, When and
HowHow
 One of the easiest ways to compile aOne of the easiest ways to compile a
news story is to use the Who, What,news story is to use the Who, What,
Where, When and How method.Where, When and How method.

11. Who, What, Where, When andWho, What, Where, When and
HowHow
 Who – TerroristsWho – Terrorists
 What – Destroyed the Twin TowersWhat – Destroyed the Twin Towers
 Where – New YorkWhere – New York
 When – September 11 2001When – September 11 2001
 How – They crashed hijacked planes intoHow – They crashed hijacked planes into
the towersthe towers

12. Who, What, Where, When and HowWho, What, Where, When and How
 Likewise…Likewise…
 Who – A catWho – A cat
 What – Stuck Up A TreeWhat – Stuck Up A Tree
 Where – WatfordWhere – Watford
 When – This morningWhen – This morning
 How – Chased by a dogHow – Chased by a dog

13. This method can also be applied toThis method can also be applied to
the introthe intro
 Example:Example:
 (who)(who) A car driverA car driver (what happened)(what happened) waswas
seriously injured in a head-on collisionseriously injured in a head-on collision
(where)(where) in Watfordin Watford (when)(when) earlier todayearlier today

14. QuotesQuotes
 Quotes usually appear from Par 4Quotes usually appear from Par 4
downwards as quotes usually just givedownwards as quotes usually just give
opinions of the facts already reported inopinions of the facts already reported in
the first three pars.the first three pars.

15. Assignment U50A3Assignment U50A3
 Write an essay in a minimum of 500 wordsWrite an essay in a minimum of 500 words
in which you outline the methods used byin which you outline the methods used by
journalists to gather information and turn itjournalists to gather information and turn it
into a news story.into a news story.
 Add your own research to the informationAdd your own research to the information
included in this Powerpoint presentationincluded in this Powerpoint presentation
and give examples.and give examples.

16. ContactContact
 If you require any further informationIf you require any further information
speak to me personally or email:speak to me personally or email:
 ian.stpeters@westherts.ac.ukian.stpeters@westherts.ac.uk