Inverted Pyramid

1
Inverted Pyramid

• By Ms. Tracey

2
Most news stories are written in the traditional
form-- the inverted pyramid form (in order of
decreasing importance).
3
Inverted Pyramid
4
The first paragraph of a news story contains the
most important information. This is called the
Summary Lead, because it summarizes the most
important facts gathered about the story.
5

• Reasons for the Inverted Pyramid
• Makes reading easier and faster
• Enables the hurried reader to get all of the
  important facts in a very short period of time
• Satisfies curiosity in a logical way

6

• Characteristics of a good Summary Lead
• Briefest possible summary of a story, usually no
  more than 32 words.
• Includes only those Ws and H that are important.
  These usually include the What, Who and sometimes
  When, and sometimes the So What.

7
What are the Ws and H ?

• Who
• What
• When
• Where
• Why
• How

8

• Characteristics of a good Summary Lead
• Usually only one paragraph but may be more. It is
  easier to read two short paragraphs than one long
  one.
• Usually starts with the feature of the story, the
  most important fact.

9

• Characteristics of a Good Summary Lead
• Quickly summarizes in the first few words the
  most important fact of the story
• The What is usually the most used feature of a
  lead, followed closely by the Who (The Who should
  be used only when the name itself is clearly the
  most important fact)

10

• Characteristics of a good Summary Lead
• Begins with specific, interest arousing words
• Poor
• For several years it has been the custom
• Good
• A two-day vacation is in store for...

11

• Characteristics of a good Summary Lead
• Usually avoids beginning with such words or
  phrases as a, an, at a meeting, yesterday, last
  night, last week, recently, days of the week,
  according to, in the opinion of it is, was, will
  be there is, was, will be

12
How to find the feature

• Use your knowledge of news values
• Know who your readers are

• Ask yourself What would be the first question a
  reader would ask about this event?

13

• Avoid
• Beginning with a name
• Beginning with the date or day
• Using a question
• Asking your reader to imagine something

14
Poor Clays basketball season came to an end
March 2 when the Trojans were defeated by
Bridgeport, 45-44, in an overtime in finals of
the Regional Tournament at Rockford.
15
Better An overtime in the semifinals ended
Clays basketball season Wednesday in the
Regional Tournament at Rockford. The Trojans were
edged by Bridgeport, 45-44.
16
The lead tells the most important part of the
story, and the body of the story gives the other
facts in decreasing order of importance.
17
Summary lead
Body of the story
18
Through alternating direct quotes (which contain
opinions, feelings or information that cannot be
measured by some standard) and transitional
statements (which contain facts), the reporter
tells the story.
19
What is a transition?
Transitions are words or phrases which keep the
story flowing smoothly and let the reader know
you are either talking about the same thing as
before or you have changed subjects.
20
What is a transition?

• Word or phrases such as meanwhile also
  nevertheless accordingly at the same time
• Repetition of a word or phrase from a previous
  paragraph
• Use of a synonym for a key word from a previous
  paragraph

21
Summary Lead
Direct Quote
Alternating paragraphs of quoted opinions,
feelings or thoughts and factual transitions
Fact
Direct Quote
Fact
Direct Quote
Fact
Direct Quote
The last paragraph should be a direct quote.
Fact
DQ
22
Types of Stories

• News feature
• feature
• editorial
• personal interview
• sports
• review (book, movie or class)