This segment of professional writing pertains mostly to newspapers. Although newspapers, particularly Sunday supplements, often carry a selection of magazine type articles pertaining to civic issues, Real Estate, food, autos, business, finance, employment and other topics of specialty interest, the main focus of newspaper writing is on reporting the news.

What is news? It's what's happening now! The news is what most people are interested in finding out. It's backyard gossip on the grand scale. If the stock market crashes or breaks a record, that's news. So is the declaration war or an accident at 4th. and Cherry. When the mayor cuts the tape across a new bridge or we send a rocket into space, that's news. When a school burns down or a famous ball player scores, that's news. Active, calorie burning happenings are news. A boy scout walking old ladies across the street or a fireman rescuing a kitten from a tree is a human interest story. Ladies meeting at the library for their monthly book club gala is an announcement. A hit and run driver mowing down a crosswalk full of pedestrians, is news. See the difference?

Now, readers most always scan news articles, looking for those that interest them most as their time is often limited. Therefore, a good, strong headline is most important in attracting their attention. Therefore, much thought should go into developing an eye catching headline that works with the story. If the headline doesn't catch reader interest, they will pass over the article. A good headline then will make a simple statement that epitomizes the thrust of the story so that it will draw readers into the first paragraph or lead.

The all-important lead paragraph should be structured in such a manner as to tell the main point of the occurrence while developing reader interest in reading deeper into the piece to learn the rest of the story. Structure a news article with the most important information first, then follow up with secondary information that filters into detail, trivia and possibly opinion and comment.

However, never forget that reporting the news is another form of story telling which is an art in itself. While answering the basic questions of who, what, why, where, when and how, a good reporter will make a story interesting and bring some life to it, zeroing in on relevant aspects that will produce reactions from the readership. That means using a tasteful bit of hyperbole, active voice where possible plus hooks and foreshadowing to keep eyes glued to the piece down to the last line. Outlining or at least listing and arranging the points of interest in hierarchical order is a good idea so you don't waste time overdeveloping information of secondary interest that might put your readers to sleep. Keep that in mind when choosing what to include in your story by asking simple questions like "who cares?" and "So What?" Often cutting boring information from a story will improve the overall impression of the piece.

The author of this web site, William L. Lampe is available for
Business Communications, Technical and Copy Writing assignments
through his Editorial Services Consulting Agency,
The A-Company, established 1970.