NE - News and Editorials Module Overview

News and Editorials Module Overview

Introduction

Question mark

News stories are factual and answer the questions who, what, where, when, why and how in the order of importance for that story and usually in the first paragraph or two. This is called the inverted pyramid news writing style and is a fast, easy way to tell the story. Editors write a headline that summarizes the story, and after reading the first few paragraphs, readers can decide quickly whether to continue. When space is limited, a story can be cut from the bottom without important information being lost.  While readers generally turn to newspapers for unbiased factual reporting, newspapers also typically include a fair bit of opinion. Opinion may be woven into news articles, it may appear in specific opinion pieces written by the editor or the editorial board ("editorials"), it may appear in the writings of individual columnists, or it may appear in editorial cartoons or other parts of the newspaper.   

Essential Questions

  1. Why are the 5Ws and H integral to journalism?
  2. What makes an effective editorial?
  3. What makes an effective news story?
  4. How do you create an effective, interesting, and engaging news lead for a story?
  5. How does the inverted pyramid style influence how a news story is written?
  6. Why is it important to be able to distinguish between facts and opinions as a journalist?

Key Terms

  1. Inverted pyramid writing style - The structure of a news story which places the important facts at the beginning and less important facts and details at the end, enabling the editor to cut the bottom portion of the story if space is required.
  2. Fact - Something that actually exists - reality, truth.
  3. Angle - The point or theme of a story that makes it unique or different than other stories that have a similar topic.
  4. Opinion - A belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty. A personal view, attitude, or appraisal.
  5. Lead - The first sentence or first few sentences of a story.
  6. Nut graf - An editorial slang term used by editors at newspapers and magazines, as well as copy editors. The term nut graf refers to the sentence (or sentences) that summarize the essence of a story.
  7. Viewpoint - The way you see the world or your perspective on things.

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