write-news-article

Write News Article

Produce a factually accurate, audience-first news article using the inverted pyramid structure and AP style.

Why This Is Best Practice

Adopted by: Associated Press, Reuters, BBC, The New York Times, and virtually all major English-language news organizations worldwide. Impact: Inverted pyramid structure increases reader retention by ~40% for digital audiences who scan; AP style reduces editing time by standardizing 10,000+ style decisions across newsrooms. Why best: Puts most newsworthy information first — critical when editors cut from the bottom and readers abandon mid-article.

Sources: AP Stylebook (annual edition); Kovach & Rosenstiel "The Elements of Journalism" (2014); SPJ Code of Ethics (2014).

Steps

1. Identify the news peg — determine what makes this story newsworthy now: timeliness, proximity, significance, conflict, human interest, or prominence.

2. Gather the five Ws — confirm Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How before writing a word. Every factual claim needs at least two independent sources.

3. Write the lede — one sentence (≤35 words) capturing the most important fact. Avoid buried ledes, question ledes, and quote ledes per AP convention.

4. Build the nut graf — second or third paragraph that tells readers why this story matters and what they need to know to understand the rest.

5. Apply inverted pyramid order — arrange remaining information from most to least important: key facts, supporting context, background, color detail.

6. Incorporate direct quotes — use exact wording in quotation marks with said (not claimed/admitted/stated) and full name, title, and affiliation on first reference.

7. Add attribution for every claim — each factual assertion must be attributed to a named source or identified dataset. Avoid vague sourcing like "experts say."

8. Follow AP Style — check numerals (spell one through nine), dates, titles, abbreviations, and punctuation against the current AP Stylebook.

9. Write the headline last — active voice, present tense, specific subject, no articles (a/an/the) if possible; aim for 5–8 words.

10. Self-edit for accuracy — verify every name spelling, date, number, and quote against original source before submission.

Rules

• Never alter quotes; use "[sic]" or paraphrase with attribution if necessary.
• Separate news from opinion — no editorializing in a straight news article.
• Correct errors immediately with a published correction note; never silently delete.
• Disclose any conflict of interest to an editor; remove yourself from coverage.

Common Mistakes

• Burying the lede — placing the most important fact in paragraph 4 causes readers to miss the story's significance.
• Anonymous sources without editorial justification — grants sources power to mislead without accountability; name sources whenever possible.
• Passive voice overuse — obscures agency ("mistakes were made") and weakens clarity; use active voice.
• Unverified social media claims — screenshots and tweets are not primary sources; verify through official channels.

When NOT to Use

• When writing an opinion column, editorial, or analysis piece (use first-person and explicit labeling instead).
• When the story requires long-form narrative depth (use feature or investigative structure).
• When the subject is too complex for a single news cycle (consider a multi-part series instead).