Assignment 1

News Report: Planning Template

Name: _________________________________

The Lead  Catches reader interest.

 Highlights most important or up-to-date information.

 Answers the 5 W’s.

 Consists of the first one or two paragraphs of the article.

Who?

What?

When?

Where?

Why?

How?

Headline:  Statement

summarizing

report content

 Subject and

predicate

Subheading:  Expands on

headline

Byline:  Name of

Journalist

The Body  Explains the lead.

 Story events are rearranged in order of importance (i.e. the most important information comes first).

 Details are provided in many short, independent paragraphs of two to three sentences each.

Supporting

Paragraph:  One Important

Supporting Fact

or Detail

Supporting Par-

agraph:  Another

Supporting

Fact or Detail

Now, using the information on this template, and the many instructional tips, begin creating a rough

copy of your news report.

Then, word process a good copy of your news report.

The Conclusion  Consists of one summary paragraph of one to two sentences.

 Outlines how the event was resolved and/or identifies future happenings due to the news event.

Other News Report Conventions

 Write in Third Person (Objective) Narration. Remember that you are a reporter whose job it is to report the

facts that have been provided to you. Never give your opinion in a news article.

 Use non-connotative dialogue tags, like “said” or “says” to maintain the impression of your objectivity.

 When introducing information, remind the reader of your objectivity by acknowledging the sources of the

information, (i.e. “according to one witness”, “according to one source”, “according to police”).

 Include a photograph and a caption underneath the photograph that explains the photograph and its

importance to the news event.

 Present the news article in column form with a “Justified” alignment.

 Write the news report in the past tense.

 Include action verbs to create interest.

 Include linking words that indicate time (e.g. yesterday, when, after, during, until, finally, before, etc.).

 Write in full sentences, using correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Quotation:  Direct quote

from a witness,

participant,

spokesperson,

victim, etc.

 Be sure to

identify the

person and his/

her connection to

the event

Supporting Par-

agraph:  Another, but

Less Important,

Fact or Detail

Quotation:  Second direct

quote

Resolution: