2. Writing to
Inform
Newspapers and news reports are
read by people who want to be ‘in the
now’ about things that are happening
in the world around us.
Most people nowadays want a quick,
on the go read, so reports within
newspapers must be easily digestible
and presented in a concise, engaging
manner.
3. What Skills Are
Needed to
Tell the Story?
The art of writing to inform
We will take at look at what these skills would
look like through the lens of writing a News report
about a lion that has escaped from the city zoo
and is now freely roaming the city streets.
4. Headlines
Are Key!
Headlines are the first thing that
readers see and determine whether
they want to read the article or not.
Catchy headlines are crucial
because they capture the reader's
attention and make them want to
know more.
5. Did You Know That
Well-written headlines should be
informative and engaging, while also being
brief and to-the-point. The headline should
provide a summary of the article's content
and entice the reader to read further.
In today's world, where there is an
overwhelming amount of information, a
catchy headline can make all the
difference in getting noticed and standing
out from the crowd.
6. 01
03
02
Headlines Are
written in 5-10 words at the most
Short and to the Point
not starting with a verb, using
articles or conjunctions
Written in a Certain
Format
written in present tense and use
active verbs
Always is Present Tense
7. Prowling
Predator
Perplexes
Police
This is an example of an
ambiguous headline that uses
alliteration to describe a lion
that is on the loose and
alluding authorities.
HEADLINES SELL
NEWS
The ambiguity quickly
draws the attention of the
reader.
8. More Headline Examples
This is a headline that uses alliteration for effect.
This is a headline using puns for effect.
Lion Loose: Lurking, Lethal, and Large
Paws for Panic: Lion Escapes from Local Zoo
This is a headline that uses shock and intrigue for effect.
Danger Lurks: Massive Lion Goes Missing from the Zoo
Can you come up with your own effective headline that uses rhyme?
Now, it’s your turn!
9. Generally, news stories are written
using the inverted pyramid style, in
which information is presented in
descending order of importance. This
allows the reader to get the most
crucial or interesting details quickly so
they can decide whether to stop or
continue reading the story.
MOST
IMPORTANT
LEAST
IMPORTANT
The Inverted
Pyramid
GOOD TO
KNOW
10. The content
of the report
Let’s delve into the content. The opening
paragraph is crucial and should encompass
the 5W's and 1H Who, What, Where, When,
Why, and How.
Specifically, you should identify the event that
took place, where it occurred, when it happened,
who was involved, why it took place, and
how it unfolded.
11. TIMELINE
WHO
a 400 lb. male
African lion
WHAT
a lion escaped a
city zoo causing
public panic
WHEN
Below is an example of a timeline that you might use when outlining the content of your news report.
on the night of
August 2nd
WHERE
it is currently at
large in the city
WHY
a faulty lock is
suspected
HOW
authorities are
trying to track
down the lion
13. Let’s Learn
by Looking
at an
Example:
“I saw the lion with my own
eyes! It was huge and
terrifying," exclaimed John, a
local resident who witnessed the
escaped animal on his way to
work this morning.
Direct Speech
14. Reporting in
Indirect Speech
According to Jane, a shop owner near the scene of the incident, "Several
people were screaming and running in different directions when the lion
appeared out of nowhere. It was chaos." She went on to describe the scene
as one of panic and confusion as people tried to flee from the dangerous
animal.
EXAMPLE:
15. The Content
of the Third
Paragraph
The third paragraph of a news report
should expand upon the information
presented in the lead and the second
paragraph.
Typically, the third paragraph of a news
report may contain information about
what might happen next.
16. With no sign of the escaped lion yet, authorities are considering
bringing in specialized teams to help track the animal down. Meanwhile,
residents are being urged to remain vigilant and report any sightings to
the police.
For Example:
In This Case, the Third
Paragraph Might Cover:
• How will the lion be re-captured?
• What are the residents to do?
