Newspaper articles
1. Writing a news story
Reports usually appear in newspapers. They tell readers about events that have been happening in their local area, or national or international news.
Newspapers are read by people who want information about something that has happened. They want details quickly so reports have to be easy to read and have a snappy presentation style.
When you plan your news story, remember that newspaper reports usually provide the answers to the questions WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN , WHY, HOW?
Look at this example of a newspaper report
Christopher Brodie is this morning celebrating his gold medal success in the paralympics 100m sprint.
Yesterday, in the packed stadium in Sydney, Australia, where the games have been taking place all week, Chris ran the race of his life to cross the line in the gold medal position.
For any athlete a championship medal is the ultimate achievement, but for Chris it was also the culmination of years of determination and courage. The 20 year old was just 5 when he had to have his right leg amputated below the knee. The pain caused by his artificial leg was mot enough to stop the lively youngster from Motherwell running around living life to the full.
When he joined the local athletics club he never dreamt that he would end up an Olympic champion.
Now, thanks to the pioneering work of sports scientists and the doctors at Glasgow’s St Thomas’ Hospital, Chris has been able to take advantage of the latest sports technology, a new prosthetic sports leg.
“The new leg is made of light weight materials and the foot section has as close to normal foot movement as an artificial leg can get,” said Ken Brown, one of the doctors who worked on the project. Chris backed up Dr. Brown’s claim when he said that the new leg allowed for fluid movement and a much less cumbersome running style.
Certainly, the benefits the artificial leg will bring to sports women and men all over the world could be seen yesterday in Sydney, when Chris Brodie showed the world what a powerful combination courage and innovation can be.
Can you identify the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY and HOW in this news report?
Who is the main person the story is about?
What has happened to him?
Where did the event take place?
When did it happen?
Why did it happen?
How did it take place?
Well done if you spotted that the main person in the story is Chris Brodie, who won the gold medal at the paralympics in Sydney the day before the report was written. He lost his right leg as a child and, aided by advances in sports medicine and his determination to succeed against the odds, has become a world class athlete.
Now study the report again. Look closely for the key features of a newspaper report.
the headline catches the reader's attention
the first paragraph gives the main point of the story and answers the question who
the following paragraphs provide answers to the questions what, where, when, why and how
the paragraphs are short and punchy, giving information in a clear and concise way
there are references to what people said, either using direct speech (use of inverted commas indicates what Ken Brown actually said) or reported speech (no inverted commas - the main points of Chris Brodie's speech but not in the actual words he said)
use of past tense because the report refers to an event which has already taken place
use of columns in accordance with newspaper presentation
Newspapers: key features
Here are the key features of newspaper and magazine articles -
present information and ideas about a topic
present a point of view about the topic
layout: headlines, subheadings, pictures
all paragraphs relate to the main idea of the passage
the main idea is introduced early on in the passage and then developed in subsequent paragraphs
straightforward language
usually written in the past tense
information could be divided into sections
Newspaper extracts
Let's look in detail at some examples of extracts from newspaper and magazine articles.
a. When Malcolm Moy found himself the proud owner of a large and unusual collection of wildfowl, he decided to realize his oldest dream and build a nature reserve to house them. Since then his Argyle Wildlife Park has gone from strength to strength. Claire Laurent tells its remarkable story.
There is no such thing as a typical day at the Argyle Wildlife Park, for any job that involves caring for hundreds of animals and dealing with thousands of curious human visitors is by definition unpredictable.
As you pay the entrance fee and collect a bag of food for the birds, it becomes apparent that, at this nature reserve, you're meant to mix with as many of the animals as is safely possible, not just observe them from afar.
b. There was a time when almost every Scottish seaside resort had an outdoor swimming pool, but now there are only a few and their long term future is threatened.
It is 3 pm on Saturday and at this precise moment there are three people in the open air swimming pool at North Berwick, tiny figures bobbing about in the vast blue expanse of water. There are many more shivering beneath towels around the perimeter. The pool was one of the town's most important tourist attractions. They had galas here, swimming and diving displays that pulled in big crowds.
It still has its regulars. Two old women turn up with raincoats over their swimming costumes, so they can get into the pool as quickly as possible. Two old men do synchronized swimming. Others bring the staff sweets or baking. But numbers have been falling for years. Costs are high and the season is short. East Lothian District Council is subsidizing the swimmers to the tune of almost £10 a time.
Now the Council has decided to build a modern indoor pool and close one of Scotland's last remaining open air pools.
Here's a closer look at some key features you should be able to spot -
You should notice straight away that in both articles we are presented with facts about the topic - e.g. Argyle Wildlife Park attracts thousands of visitors, East Lothian District Council is closing the outdoor pool at North Berwick.
Did you notice that in both articles the language used is straightforward and sentences are generally short and easy to understand? Look back at the extracts. Both are taken from near the beginning of the articles and you should be able to spot that the main idea of each article is introduced early on. In Hillside Haven, the main idea is introduced in the first paragraph. In Washed Away, the main idea is introduced in the first paragraph and then reinforced in paragraph four, "Now the council..."
Features of layout are noticeable, too. A heading is given to each piece, and an introduction to the article is placed under this heading. The name of the writer is also often given at the top of the page. Don't forget that although you have not been given any here, newspaper and magazine articles are nearly always accompanied by a picture.
In the extract from Hillside Haven, you should be able to work out what the author thinks of Argyle Wildlife Park. She says the park has gone from "strength to strength", which tells you that she thinks the park is a good place for the animals. Can you spot any other features that we've not pointed out for you?
2. Information leaflets: key features
Take a look at this Department of Health leaflet and compare its structure to the key features listed below.
Department of Health swine flu information leaflet
Department of Health Swine Flu Information leaflet from April 2009
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Here are the key features of information leaflets -
present information and facts about a subject
information divided into sections, all of which relate to the main idea of the leaflet
straightforward, factual style
layout - headlines, subheadings, pictures, graphics
Department of Health swine flu information leaflet page 2
Department of Health Swine Flu Information leaflet from April 2009
Department of Health swine flu information leaflet page
Department of Health Swine Flu Information leaflet from April 2009
Department of Health swine flu information leaflet page 4
Department of Health Swine Flu Information leaflet from April 2009
Information leaflet extracts
Let's look in more detail at an extract from an information leaflet.
FACT FILE - Great Cities
1. NEW YORK
Often called the Big Apple, New York is the largest city and chief port of the USA. For centuries New York Harbour was the gateway to America.
2. THE LAND OF THE FREE
In the earliest times, New York was home to Native American peoples. Then it was explored by Europeans, and in 1626 a Dutchman bought the land for some cloth and beads. He called the land New Amsterdam. In 1664 the British sent warships to take the territory. They renamed it New York after the English Duke of York.
After the War of Independence fought between the Americans and the British, New York became the Capital of the United States for five years and George Washington took office there as the country's first president on 30 the April 1789.
3. MISS LIBERTY
To many, 'The Statue of Liberty' is the symbol of America. The giant figure shows " Liberty Enlightening the World". It was a gift to the American people from the French.Built in Paris between 1874 and 1884, it was shipped to America in several pieces. It took two years to prepare a base, and the statue was finally placed in New York Harbour in 1886. Held together by an iron framework, the figure is covered in sheet copper, weighs 225 tons and stands 46 metres tall.
Here's a closer look at some of the key features you should be able to spot:
you should notice that the information given in this leaflet about New York is divided into clear sections.
each of the sections is given a number and a sub-heading. This makes the information easy to read.
did you notice that the style of the extract is straightforward and the sentences are short and easy to understand?
look back at the extract. Even although you are only given 3 sections, look at how much information is given and how most of it is factual - e.g. " New York is the largest city and chief port of the USA", it used to be home to "Native American peoples".
remember that the point of an information leaflet is to give people information about a topic, so it would be unusual to find a point of view or an indication of the author's viewpoint.
features of layout are noticeable, too. The extract has a clear headline, and the word fact file tells you what the purpose of the article is. The information is divided into sections and each section has a sub-heading. Although they are not featured here, remember that information leaflets will usually have text and pictures.
Can you spot any other features of this type of writing which we've not pointed out for you, or some more examples of the ones above?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/standard/english/close_reading_texts/newspapers_information_leaflets/revision/4/
3. Most newspaper articles break down into two categories:
News articles
Feature articles
You will also find opinion pieces, like editorials and book and movie reviews, but this lesson deals strictly with news and feature articles.
Here's how you can tell the difference between a news story and a feature story.
1. News articles cover the basics of current events. They answer the questions: who, what, where, how, and when?
2. Feature articles are longer and more in depth than regular news articles. They cover one subject from multiple angles and are written in a more creative, entertaining format. Although a news story can be creative and entertaining, too! Check out the examples below.
It is important to remember that both news and features demand the same level of research and reporting.
Here are some examples of news and feature articles from the Scholastic Kids Press Corps. Read them all. Then write your own articles modeled after them.
News
Pandemic Level Increased A straightforward news story in a typical news format.
Harry Potter Opens July 15 This is a news article written in an entertaining and creative format.
Out of the Classroom, Into the Garden Straightforward news format.
Features
Green House: Earth Day Special Report feature.
Fireflies Count : A feature story told from the first person point of view.
Astronaut Interview: A feature story done in a Q & A format.
The Basic Story Outline The best way to structure a newspaper article is to first write an outline.
Review your research and notes. Then jot down ideas for the following six sections. Remember, this is just a foundation upon which to build your story!
I. Lead sentence Grab and hook your reader right away!
II. Introduction Which facts and figures will ground your story? You have to tell your readers where and when this story is happening.
III. Opening quotation What will give the reader a sense of the people involved and what they are thinking?
IV. Main body What is at the heart of your story?
V. Closing quotation Find something that sums the article up in a few words.
VI. Conclusion (optional—the closing quote may do the job) What is a memorable way to end your story? The end quote is a good way to sum things up. That doesn’t always work. If you are quoting more than one person with different points of view in your story, you cannot end with a quote from just one of them. Giving one of your interviewees the last word can tilt the story in their favor.
In this age of the Internet, you can also end your story with a link to more information or even your own behind-the-scenes blog post!
Now It’s Your Turn!
STEP 1: Read an article from the Scholastic Kids Press Corps and fill in the following blanks: