Whether they’re about a natural disaster, a breaking news update or a local issue, top stories have one thing in common: They grab readers’ attention. It takes a special skill for journalists to take a complicated subject and turn it into an easy-to-read, entertaining story that informs and inspires. And they’re usually doing this on a tight deadline.
The best way to catch readers’ interest is with a strong lead. The first paragraph should include the most important facts — the “who, what, when, where and why” (5Ws and 1H). It also helps to feature expert quotes. The lead should set the stage for the rest of the article, which should include background information and detailed statistics. The conclusion should wrap up the key points and provide a call to action, if applicable. It may also include a quote from the person you interviewed, which is called bookending a story and gives readers closure.
Some stories are built around data, and using spreadsheets, charts and graphs is a great way to make it more visually appealing for readers. You can also use infographics to highlight important statistics in a unique way. Just remember to always cite the source of your information, to maintain journalistic integrity.
Many reporters struggle with narrative writing, which can be challenging to new writers because it changes the traditional inverted pyramid format, according to Poytner Institute. However, “narrative can keep readers interested by providing a sense of timeline and sequence that is missing from most news reports,” Scanlan writes.
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