Journalism Basics: Writing a Simple News Story with Strong Structure

The inverted pyramid: what it is and when to use it

The inverted pyramid is a news-writing structure that puts the most important, time-sensitive information at the top, then adds context, then adds supporting details. Readers can stop at any point and still understand the essential news. Editors can cut from the bottom without breaking the story.

Use the inverted pyramid when:

• The news is immediate (breaking updates, announcements, public safety, meetings, votes, court decisions).
• Readers need the key facts fast (service journalism, transportation changes, school closures, policy changes).
• You’re writing for scanning (mobile readers, newsletters, homepages).

Consider a different structure when:

• The “what happened” is less important than the journey (some features, narratives, profiles).
• You’re building suspense (investigations sometimes still open with a strong finding, but may use scenes later).

The three layers

Step-by-step: write a strong, accurate lead

A lead (or lede) is usually 1 sentence (sometimes 2) that tells readers what happened and why they should care. For beginners, a reliable approach is to build the lead from the core facts, then tighten.

Step 1: Identify the single most newsworthy point

Ask: If the audience remembers only one thing, what should it be? Choose the strongest action and the biggest consequence.

• Strong action verbs: approved, voted, announced, filed, ruled, launched, closed, reopened, raised, cut.
• Concrete impact: cost, timeline, who is affected, what changes tomorrow.

Step 2: Fill the 5W1H quickly (but don’t cram)

Draft a “fact dump” sentence that includes the essentials. Then you’ll cut what doesn’t belong in the lead.

• Who did it?
• What happened?
• When?
• Where?
• Why (reason/goal) or How (method) — include only if it’s central.

Step 3: Choose the best “lead angle”

Different angles can be true; pick the one that best serves readers.

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• Impact lead: emphasizes who is affected and how.
• Action lead: emphasizes what officials/organizations did.
• Magnitude lead: emphasizes scale (money, size, record, number of people).
• Conflict lead: emphasizes disagreement, but stay fair and precise.

Step 4: Tighten for clarity and speed

• Keep it to 25–35 words as a starting target.
• Use one main clause; avoid stacked “which” and “that” phrases.
• Put the subject and verb early.
• Prefer specifics over adjectives (numbers beat “major,” “huge,” “significant”).
• Avoid jargon and internal titles unless needed.

Lead templates (plug-and-play)

1) [WHO] [VERB] [WHAT] [WHEN], [ADDING THE KEY IMPACT].

2) [WHAT HAPPENED] will [IMPACT] after [WHO] [VERB] [WHEN], [WHERE].

3) [NUMBER/AMOUNT] [WHAT] is coming to/ending in [PLACE] after [WHO] [VERB] [WHEN].

4) [WHO] [VERB] [WHAT] amid [CONTEXT/CONFLICT], [KEY FACT THAT EXPLAINS WHY IT MATTERS].

Before-and-after tightening example

Draft (too long): The City Council, after a meeting that lasted more than four hours on Tuesday night at City Hall, voted 5-2 to approve a new parking plan that will change the rules downtown and could affect hundreds of commuters.

Tightened lead: The City Council voted 5-2 Tuesday to approve new downtown parking rules that will raise rates and reduce all-day spaces for commuters.

Write the nut graf: explain significance in 1–3 sentences

The nut graf answers: Why does this matter right now? It gives meaning, stakes, and scope—without drifting into opinion. Think of it as the bridge between the headline/lead and the rest of the story.

What a nut graf often includes

• So what? The practical consequence for readers.
• Scope: how many people, how much money, how big an area.
• What changes: what’s different from before.
• What happens next: timeline, next vote, next hearing, next deadline.

Nut graf templates

1) The change means [IMPACT] for [WHO], starting [WHEN]. [ONE SENTENCE OF CONTEXT OR SCOPE].

2) The decision follows [BRIEF CONTEXT]. Officials say [RATIONALE], while [OTHER SIDE] argues [COUNTERPOINT].

3) The move is the latest step in [BROADER ISSUE/TREND] and could [NEXT STEP/STAKE].

Example: lead + nut graf pairing

Lead: The City Council voted 5-2 Tuesday to approve new downtown parking rules that will raise rates and reduce all-day spaces for commuters.

Nut graf: The overhaul is intended to increase turnover for businesses, but it will also make daily parking more expensive for workers who drive into the city center. The new rates take effect March 1, with a separate vote next month on enforcement hours.

Build the body: transitions, attribution, and paragraphing

Paragraphing rules that keep news readable

• One idea per paragraph. If you change topic (impact → process → reaction), start a new paragraph.
• Keep paragraphs 1–3 sentences for most news stories.
• Put numbers and proper nouns where readers can see them quickly (often near the start of the paragraph).
• Use chronology only when it helps; inverted pyramid is about importance, not time order.

Transition templates (move readers down the pyramid)

Use transitions to signal what’s coming next: more context, evidence, reaction, or next steps.

• Add context: “The vote follows …” / “The proposal comes after …” / “The issue has drawn attention since …”
• Add specifics: “Under the plan, …” / “The changes include …” / “According to the ordinance, …”
• Add data: “City records show …” / “Documents reviewed by … show …”
• Add reaction: “Some residents said …” / “Business owners welcomed the move, saying …”
• Add next steps: “The council will consider … next …” / “The policy takes effect …”

Attribution: how to be clear about what you know and how you know it

Attribution tells readers where information comes from. It protects accuracy and helps readers judge credibility. Use it for claims, disputed facts, numbers you didn’t calculate yourself, and anything that could be challenged.

Attribution templates

• Meeting/action: “The council voted 5-2, according to the meeting agenda and a roll-call vote.”
• Document: “The changes are outlined in the ordinance filed Monday.”
• Official statement: “In a statement, the mayor said …”
• Spokesperson: “A department spokesperson said …”
• Data: “City budget documents show …”
• Multiple sources: “According to three residents who attended the meeting, …”

Attribution placement: before vs. after

Place attribution before the claim when readers need immediate context or when the claim is sensitive.

• Before: “Police said the driver ran a red light.”
• After: “The driver ran a red light, police said.”

Clean quote handling (keep quotes for what only a person can say)

• Use quotes for emotion, perspective, and precise phrasing.
• Paraphrase for process, routine facts, and long explanations.
• Avoid “quote sandwiches” that repeat the same idea three times (setup + quote + restatement).

Template: setup + quote + meaning

[WHO] said [KEY POINT]. “[…]” [ADD A FACT OR CONTEXT THAT MOVES THE STORY FORWARD].

A guided drafting workflow (beginner-friendly)

1) Write a one-sentence “core news” line

[WHO] did [WHAT] on [WHEN] in [WHERE], resulting in [IMPACT].

2) Turn it into a lead

• Move the most important element to the front.
• Remove meeting-length details, minor titles, and extra clauses.

3) Add a nut graf

• Answer “so what?” and “what changes?”
• Add timing and scope.

4) Stack the remaining facts by importance

• Top supporting facts: key numbers, key conditions, key exceptions.
• Then: brief background, how the decision happened, reactions, next steps.

5) Do an accuracy and clarity pass

• Check names, titles, dates, and numbers against your reporting file.
• Make sure every claim that needs it has attribution.
• Replace vague words with specifics.

Mini-exercises (rewrite and tighten)

Exercise 1: Rewrite weak leads (make them specific and news-forward)

Instructions: For each lead, write a new version in 25–35 words. Include who/what/when/where and the key impact. Add “why/how” only if essential.

• Weak lead A: “A meeting was held Tuesday about traffic, and many people had concerns.”
• Weak lead B: “The school district discussed its budget and there were different opinions.”
• Weak lead C: “A new program is happening in the city that could help some residents.”

Optional constraint: Start each revised lead with a strong verb (e.g., “approved,” “announced,” “launched,” “cut,” “expanded”).

Exercise 2: Add a nut graf (explain significance without opinion)

Instructions: Choose one of your revised leads from Exercise 1. Write a 1–3 sentence nut graf that includes (1) who is affected, (2) what changes, and (3) what happens next.

Checklist:

• Does it answer “so what?” in concrete terms?
• Does it avoid loaded language (e.g., “outrageous,” “wonderful,” “disaster”)?
• Does it include a timeline or next step?

Exercise 3: Tighten paragraphs (cut clutter, keep meaning)

Instructions: Rewrite the paragraph to be 2–3 sentences, keeping the key facts and adding attribution where needed.

Original paragraph: “The department, which has been working on this for a long time and has had many conversations about it, said that it is going to start a new recycling initiative in the downtown area in the near future, and it will probably be good for the environment and for businesses.”

Targets:

• Replace vague timing (“near future”) with a date or “next month,” if known.
• Replace “probably” with a verifiable claim or remove it.
• Specify what the initiative does (bins? pickup? requirements?).

Exercise 4: Practice clean, precise language (swap vague words for facts)

Instructions: Replace the vague word or phrase with a specific, verifiable alternative. If you can’t verify, rewrite to avoid the claim.

Exercise 5: Attribution drill (make the source visible)

Instructions: Add attribution to each sentence. Choose an appropriate source type (document, official, spokesperson, records, witness).

• “The project will cost $750,000.”
• “The new rules will reduce wait times.”
• “The department received 120 complaints last month.”

Quick reference: a simple news story skeleton

LEAD: Most important news + impact (1 sentence, sometimes 2)  NUT GRAF: Why it matters + who is affected + what changes + next step (1–3 sentences)  DETAILS (in descending importance):  - Key numbers/terms/conditions (with attribution)  - How it happened (vote, filing, ruling, announcement)  - Reactions (one or two strong, representative voices)  - Background only as needed to understand the news  - What’s next (dates, deadlines, upcoming meetings)