News Elements, Leads, and Reporting
Techniques for Journalists
Timeliness - AnswersRelevance of today's events compared to yesterday's.
Impact - AnswersThe effect on the audience or readers.
Prominence - AnswersWell-known individuals or events make bigger stories.
Proximity - AnswersCloseness of an event increases its newsworthiness.
Conflict - AnswersOpposing sides or struggles create news.
Unusual - AnswersUnexpected or different events are newsworthy.
Currency - AnswersAttention given to current issues or movements.
Main Idea (Chapter 3) - AnswersProvide readers with the most important
information first.
Leads - AnswersThe first sentence that conveys the most important part of the
story.
Types of Leads - AnswersDifferent styles including summary, name, action, event,
and second-day leads.
Bad Leads - AnswersLeads that include vague phrases or questions.
Inverted Pyramid - AnswersA story structure that prioritizes important information
first.
Writing the Story - AnswersSupport the lead with short paragraphs and relevant
details.
Quotes DIP - AnswersDirect, Indirect, and Partial quotes used in reporting.
Attribution - AnswersIdentifying who said something and using 'said'.
Key Takeaways - AnswersImportant information should be prioritized and organized.
Today's Audience - AnswersExpect news anytime, anywhere, with short attention
spans.
Challenges Today - AnswersInformation overload and difficulty distinguishing real
from fake news.
Fake News - AnswersFalse information intended to mislead people.
What Journalists Owe Audience - AnswersAccuracy, value, fairness, and objectivity.
FOCII - AnswersElements that attract readers: Fame, Oddity, Conflict, Immediacy,
Impact.
