How to Write a News Article

Updated: August 14, 2019

Writing a news article is different from writing other articles or informative pieces because news articles
present information in a specific way. It's important to be able to convey all the relevant information in a
limited word count and give the facts to your target audience concisely. Knowing how to write a news
article can help a career in journalism, develop your writing skills and help you convey information
clearly and concisely.

1
Research your topic. To begin writing a news article you need to
research the topic you will be writing about extensively. In order to
have a credible, well written, well-structured article, you have to know
the topic well.
 If you’ve ever written a research paper you understand the work
that goes into learning about your topic. The first phase of writing a
news article or editorial is pretty similar.
 Begin by asking yourself the “5 W’s” (sometimes “6 W’s”).[1]
o Who - who was involved?
o What - what happened?
o Where - where did it happen?
o Why - why did it happen?
o When - when did it happen?
o How - how did it happen?

1. 2
Compile all your facts.
o Once you can clearly answer the “5 W’s”, jot down a list of
all the pertinent facts and information that needs to be included in the
article. Organize your facts into three groups:
 1) those that need to be included in the article.
 2) those that are interesting but not vital.
 3) those that are related but not important to the
purpose of the article.
  This fact list will help prevent you from leaving out
any relevant information about the topic or story, and will also help
you write a clean, succinct article.
 Be as specific as possible when writing down all of
these facts. You can always trim down unnecessary information later,
but it’s easier to cut down than it is to have to beef up an article.
 It’s okay at this point to have holes in your information
– if you don’t have a pertinent fact, write down the question and
highlight it so you won’t forget to find it out
 Now that you have your facts, if your editor has not
already assigned the type of article, decide what kind of article you’re
writing. Ask yourself whether this is an opinion article, an unbiased
and straightforward relaying of information, or something in between.


1. 3
Create an article outline. Your outline, and subsequently your article,
should be structured like an inverted triangle. The inverted triangle
allows you to build your story so that the most important information is
at the top.[2]
o If you’ve ever heard the term “burying the lead”, that is in
reference to the structure of your article.[3] The “lead” is the first
sentence of the article – the one you “lead” with. Not "burying the
lead" simply means that you should not make your readers read
several paragraphs before they get to the point of your article.
o Whatever forum you’re writing for, be it print or for the web,
a lot of readers don’t make it to the end of the article. When writing a
news article, you should focus on giving your readers what they want
as soon as possible.
o Write above the fold. The fold comes from newspapers
where there’s a crease because the page gets folded in half. If you
look at a newspaper all the top stories are placed above the fold. The
 same goes for writing online. The virtual fold is the bottom of your
screen before you have to scroll down. Put the best information at the
top to engage your readers and encourage them to keep reading.

1. 4
Know your audience. In order to write a great news article, you need
to know exactly who you are writing for. Your audience will dictate the
voice and tone of your article and help you to know what you should
include.
o Ask yourself the “5 W's” again, but this time in relation to
your audience.
o Questions like what is the average age you are writing for,
where is this audience, local or national, why is this audience reading
your article, and what does your audience want out of your article will
inform you on how to write.
o Once you know who you are writing for you can format an
outline that will get the best information to the right audience as
quickly as possible.

6
Interview people. When writing a news article, interviewing people and
getting a firsthand source on your topic can be invaluable. And while
reaching out to people and asking for an interview may seem daunting, it can
greatly affect the credibility and authority of your article. [4]

 People usually like to talk about personal experiences, especially if it

will be featured somewhere, like your news article. Reach out through a
phone call, email, or even social media and ask someone if you can interview
them.
  When you do interview people you need to follow a few rules: identify
yourself as a reporter. Keep an open mind. Stay objective. While you are
encouraged to ask questions and listen to anecdotes, you are not there to
judge.
 Record and write down important information from the interview, and
be transparent with what you are doing and why you are doing this interview.

1. 1
Start with the lead. Begin with a strong leading sentence. News
articles begin with a leading sentence that is meant to grab a reader's
attention and interest them. This is one of the most important parts of
the piece, so start with the good stuff when writing a news article.
Remember the inverted triangle.
o Your lead should be one sentence and should simply, but
completely, state the topic of the article.
o Remember when you had to write essays for school? Your
lead is like your thesis statement.
o Let your readers know what your news article is about, why
it’s important, and what the rest of the article will contain.

2
Give all the important details. The next important step to writing
news articles is including all the relevant facts and details that relate
to your lead statement. Include the basics of what happened, where
and when it took place, who is involved and why it's newsworthy.
 These details are important, because they are the focal point of
the article that fully informs the reader.
  If you are writing an opinion piece, this is where you will state
what your opinion is as well.

1. 3
Follow up main facts with additional information. After you've listed
all the primary facts in your news article, include any additional
information that might help the reader learn more, such as contact
information, additional facts about the topic or people involved, or
quotes from interviews.
o This additional information helps round out the article and
can help you transition to new points as you move along.
o If you have an opinion, this is where you will identify the
opposing views and the people who hold them.
o A good news article will outline facts and information. A
great news article will allow readers to engage on an emotional level.
o To engage your readers, you should provide enough
information that anyone reading your news article can make an
informed opinion, even if it contrasts with yours.
o This also applies to a news article where you the author
don’t state your opinion but present it as an unbiased piece of
information. Your readers should still be able to learn enough about
your topic to form an opinion.

 4
Conclude your article. Congratulate your readers for sticking with you
to the end by giving the reader something to take away, like potential
solutions to the problem or challenges expressed in your article.
 Make sure your news article is complete and finished by giving it
a good concluding sentence. This is often a restatement of the leading
statement (thesis) or a statement indicating potential future
developments relating to the article topic.
 Read other news articles for ideas on how to best accomplish
this. Or, watch news stations or shows. See how a news anchor will
wrap up a story and sign off, then try to emulate that.

1. 1
Check facts before publishing. Whether you’re writing a news article
professionally or for a school assignment, your article isn’t complete
until you’ve checked all your facts. Having incorrect facts will
immediately discredit your article and could hinder you as a writer.
o Be sure to double check all the facts in your news article
before you submit it, including names, dates, and contact information
or addresses. Writing accurately is one of the best ways to establish
yourself as a competent news article writer.


2
Ensure you have followed your outline and have been consistent with
style.There are several styles of news articles and journalism from
objective reporting to Gonzo (A style of journalism where the reporter
 describes the events in a subjective manner, usually through a first
person narrative).[5][6]
 If your news article is meant to convey direct facts, not the
opinions of its writer, ensure you’ve kept your writing unbiased and
objective. Avoid any language that is overly positive or negative or
statements that could be construed as support or criticism.
 If your article is meant to be more in the style of interpretive
journalism then check to make sure that you have given deep enough
explanations of the larger story and offered multiple viewpoints
throughout.

3
Follow the AP Style for formatting and citing sources. Journalists, and
therefore news articles follow AP Style for sources and citations in most
cases. The AP Style book is a journalist’s textbook and should be consulted
for proper formatting.[7]

 When quoting someone, write down exactly what was said inside
quotations and immediately cite the reference with the person’s proper title.
Formal titles should be capitalized and appear before a person’s name. Ex:
“Mayor John Smith”.[8]
 Always write out numbers one through nine, but use numerals for
numbers 10 and up.
 When writing a news article, be sure to only include one space after a
period, not two.[9]

4
Have your editor read your article. Even if you have gone through your
story several times and think that everything is squared away, you
should let another pair of eyes take a look at it. In addition to finding
any spelling or grammatical errors, your editor will be able to help you
trim down certain sections and simplify awkward sentences.
 You shouldn’t submit any news article for publication without
first letting someone take a look at it. An extra pair of eyes can double
 check your facts and the information to ensure that what you have
written is accurate.
 If you are writing a news article for school or your own personal
website, then have a friend take a look at it and give you notes.
Sometimes you may get notes that you want to defend or don’t agree
with it. But these should be listened to. Remember, with so many news
articles getting published every minute you need to ensure that your
widest possible audience can easily digest the information you have
provided.

Anak ng kilalang abogado sa

Cauayan City, patay sa
pananaksak, mga suspek
naaresto
By
 Bombo Gina Marquez
 -
August 15, 2019
 


CAUAYAN CITY – Hustisya ang hangad ng pamilya ni Atty. Ralph

Maloloyon sa pagkasawi ng ikalawang anak matapos saksakin ng
mga suspek na nambato sa kanyang sasakyan kaninang alas dos ng
madaling araw sa tapat ng isang bahay inuman sa San Fermin,
Cauayan City.

Nasawi ang binatang negosyante at naging SK Chairman na si Revin

Maloloyon, 26 anyos, residente ng District 1, Cauayan City dahil sa
malalang saksak sa kanyang dibdib at tagiliran.

Ang mga suspek sa naganap na pananaksak ay sina Prince Aldrin

Felipe, nasa tamang edad; Butch Dumantay, 42 anyos, may-asawa,
private employee; Mark Errol, 24 anyos at Jerick Cauilan, 22 anyos,
pawang residente ng Cauayan City.

Sa naging panayam ng Bombo Radyo Cauayan sinabi ni PLt Col

Gerald Gamboa, hepe ng Cauayan City Police Station na binato ang
sasakyan ni Maloloyon kaya kinompronta nito at kanyang mga
kasama ang mga suspek ngunit nauwi ito sa kaguluhan at
pananaksak sa binata.

Nagtamo rin umano ng sugat ang isa sa mga pinaghihinalaan.

Sinabi pa ni Pol Lt Col Gamboa na nahabol ng ama ng biktima ang

isa sa mga suspek kaya napilitang sumuko na rin ang iba pang mga
kasama nito.

Ang tinig ni PLt Col Gerald Gamboa

Inamin ng isa sa mga suspek na nagkaroon ng kaguluhan sa labas
ng bahay inuman ngunit hindi niya napansin kung sino ang
sumaksak kay Maloloyon.

Samantala, sinabi ng tiyahin ng binata na si Joana Mones na narinig

niya sa Bombo Radyo Cauayan kaninang alas singko ng madaling
araw ang ulat hinggil sa pananaksak sa kaniyang pamangkin kaya
agad siyang nagtungo sa ospital.

Labis silang nagluluksa sa pagkamatay ni Revin na naglambing na

regaluhan niya ng mamahaling motorsiklo ngunit sinabi niya na
mag-iipon muna siya ng pera.

Nakatakda rin silang magtungo sa Thailand para sa kanilang reunion

ngunit nakalulungkot na ang pagkamatay ng kaniyang pamangkin
ang dahilan na napaaga ang kanilang pagsama-samang
magkakamag-anak.

Tila nagparamdam din ang pagpanaw ng kanyang pamangkin dahil

sa kanilang biruan ay nabanggit niya na kapag namatay siya ay
gusto niya ng magandang karo na kulay pink.
Anak ng kilalang abogado
sa Cauayan City, patay sa
pananaksak, mga suspek
naaresto
By
 Bombo Gina Marquez
 -
August 15, 2019
6506

CAUAYAN CITY – Hustisya ang hangad ng pamilya ni Atty. Ralph

Maloloyon sa pagkasawi ng ikalawang anak matapos saksakin ng
mga suspek na nambato sa kanyang sasakyan kaninang alas dos ng
madaling araw sa tapat ng isang bahay inuman sa San Fermin,
Cauayan City.

Nasawi ang binatang negosyante at naging SK Chairman na si Revin

Maloloyon, 26 anyos, residente ng District 1, Cauayan City dahil sa
malalang saksak sa kanyang dibdib at tagiliran.

Ang mga suspek sa naganap na pananaksak ay sina Prince Aldrin

Felipe, nasa tamang edad; Butch Dumantay, 42 anyos, may-asawa,
private employee; Mark Errol, 24 anyos at Jerick Cauilan, 22 anyos,
pawang residente ng Cauayan City.

Sa naging panayam ng Bombo Radyo Cauayan sinabi ni PLt Col

Gerald Gamboa, hepe ng Cauayan City Police Station na binato ang
sasakyan ni Maloloyon kaya kinompronta nito at kanyang mga
kasama ang mga suspek ngunit nauwi ito sa kaguluhan at
pananaksak sa binata.
Nagtamo rin umano ng sugat ang isa sa mga pinaghihinalaan.

Sinabi pa ni Pol Lt Col Gamboa na nahabol ng ama ng biktima ang

isa sa mga suspek kaya napilitang sumuko na rin ang iba pang mga
kasama nito.

Ang tinig ni PLt Col Gerald Gamboa

Inamin ng isa sa mga suspek na nagkaroon ng kaguluhan sa labas
ng bahay inuman ngunit hindi niya napansin kung sino ang
sumaksak kay Maloloyon.

Samantala, sinabi ng tiyahin ng binata na si Joana Mones na narinig

niya sa Bombo Radyo Cauayan kaninang alas singko ng madaling
araw ang ulat hinggil sa pananaksak sa kaniyang pamangkin kaya
agad siyang nagtungo sa ospital.

Labis silang nagluluksa sa pagkamatay ni Revin na naglambing na

regaluhan niya ng mamahaling motorsiklo ngunit sinabi niya na
mag-iipon muna siya ng pera.

Nakatakda rin silang magtungo sa Thailand para sa kanilang reunion

ngunit nakalulungkot na ang pagkamatay ng kaniyang pamangkin
ang dahilan na napaaga ang kanilang pagsama-samang
magkakamag-anak.

Tila nagparamdam din ang pagpanaw ng kanyang pamangkin dahil

sa kanilang biruan ay nabanggit niya na kapag namatay siya ay
gusto niya ng magandang karo na kulay pink.
Karpinterong nakapatay sa
kapwa karpintero,kinasuhan
By
 Bombo Estrella Estolas
 -

CAUAYAN CITY– Naisampa na ang kasong homicide sa isang

karpintero na nanaksak at pumatay sa kanyang kapwa karpintero sa
Luna, Quirino, Isabela.

Ang biktima ay si Mario Bumalod, 63 anyos, may asawa habang ang

suspek ay si Larry Corpuz, 46 anyos, binata residente ng 
Ilagan City.

Sa naging panayam ng Bombo Radyo Cauayan kay PCapt.

Rustom Ortigero, hepe ng Quirino Police Station sinabi niya na
kinasuhan na ng homicide ang suspek.

Nauna rito ay nag-inuman ang biktima at suspek kasama ang mga

kapwa karpintero ng mapikon ang Bumalod sa kwentuhan nilang
hindi pa siya nag-aasawa.
Nakita umano ng isa sa kanilang kainuman ang pagtatalo ng dalawa
subalit ang akala lang nito ay sinusuntok lamang ng suspek ang
biktima subalit sinasaksak na pala niya si Corpuz.

Nagtamo ng labing isang saksak ang biktima.

Ayon pa kay Police Captain Ortigero, ang mga kasamahan nila ang
nagdala sa suspek sa Quirino Police Station at labis ang pagsisi.

Pamantayan ng Mabisang Balita

Mga Dapat Tandaan sa Pagsulat ng Balita

Hakbang sa Pagsulat ng Balita

Gabay sa pagsiyasat ng naisulat na balita

Pamantayan ng Mabisang Balita  –

Ito ay dapat napapanahon (Timely)

Ito ay dapat nagbibigay Impormasyon (Informative)

Ito ay dapat hindi hinahaluan ng anumang opinion (Not Opinionated)

Mga Dapat tandaan ang sa pagsulat ng balita  –

Kawastuhan –  Ang balita ay dapat naglalahad ng ang mga impormasyon ng walang labis at walang
kulang,

Katimbangan – Ang balita ay dapat maglahad ng datos ng walang kinikilingang sa sinumang panig na
nasasakop ng balita.

Makatotohanan – Ang balita ay dapat na naglalaman ng mga impormasyon na tunay at hindi gawa-gawa
lamang. Ang mga ipormasyon ay dapat na nanggagaling sa mapagkakatiwalaang sources at hindi kung
kani-kanino lamang. Kung ang impormasyon ay galling sa social media, kilatisin ang pinaggalingan bago
ito ibalita.
Kaiklian – Ang balita ay dapat inilalahad ng walang paliguy-ligoy.

Hakbang sa Pagsulat ng Balita  –

Pagkakuha ng mga impormasyon, isulat ang buod upang makita ang lahat ng datos na nakalap.

Itala ang mga pangyayari ayon sa pababa o paliit na kahalagahan.

Isulat ang balita gamit ang inverted pyramid. Sa paglalahad ng mga datos ng balita, dapat ay nasa
pinakatuktok ang pamatnubay(lead) kung saan ang lahat ng pinakaimportanteng detalye ay ilalagay.
Susunod ang katawan ng balita(body) kung saan ilalahad ang mga importanteng detalye. Nasa
pinakahulihan ang mga hindi gaanong mahalagang detalye ng balita.

Isulat ang Headline na naangkop sa balita.

Gabay sa pagsiyasat ng naisulat na balita  –

Ang balita ba ay sumasagot sa mga katanungang: Sino, Saan, Kailan, Ano, Bakit at Paano?

Mayroon bang maaksyong ulo ng balita o Headline?

Ang isinulat bang balita ay may malinaw na pamatnubay(lead)?

Maaksyon ba ang nilalaman ng balitang isinulat?

Sumusunod ba ang sa Inverted Pyramid o Decreasing Importance ang pagkakasulat ng balita –

Pamatnubay, Katawan at Pangwakas?

Buo ba ang mga detalyeng inilhad?

Wala bang paligoy-ligoy ang pagkakasulat?

Wala bang opinyon na kasali?

PAGSULAT NG BALITA
Pagsasanay #1
Sumulat ng balita sa pamamagitan ng pagsasayos ng mga sumusunod na
datos at
pagdaragdag o pagpapalit ng mga salita kung kailangan.
 Ang Facebook at Twitter ay isang uri ng social networking site
 Dahilan ng pagsusulong ang sunud-sunod na insidente ng karahasan na
kinasasangkutan ng
mga gumagamit nito.
 Sa kasalukuyan, Sa kasalukuyan, sinasabing ang Facebook at Twitter ay
nagiging daan para
maisagawa ang karumal-dumal na krimen tulad ng pagpatay, pagnanakaw
na nagsisimula
lamang sa isang FB message o tweet
 Minamadali ni Marikina Congressman Miro Quimbo ang Department of
Education (DepEd)
na isama sa curriculum sa mga pampublikong paaralan ang tamang
paggamit ng Facebook,
Twitter, at iba pa.
 Mahigit sa 20 milyon kataong gumagamit ng Facebook at Twitter sa
Pilipinas lalo na ang mga
kabataan na masyadong aktibo dito.
 Walang aasahan sa mga magulang na masusubaybayan nila ang kanilang
mga anak sa tamang
paggamit ng social network sites lalo’t sila mismo ay hindi alam kung ano
ang internet, sabi
ng kongresista.
 Paliwanag pa ni Quimbo, hindi pa rin maaring pigilan ang mga kabataan na
gumagamit ng
makabagong teknolohiya subalit ang kailangan umanong gawin ng gobyerno
ay siguruhin na
ang bagong communication technology ay nagagamit na mayroong pag-
iingat.
 Ang mga guro ang manguna sa pagpapalaganap ng pag-iingat dahil sa
karamihan sa mga
magulang ng mga estudyante ay walang aktibong partisipasyon sa interes
ng kanilang mga
anak sa mga social network activities
 Ang kawalang partisipasyon na ito ay pinalala pa ng
katotohanang karamihan sa mga
magulang ay mula sa mahihirap na pamilya o iyong mga tipong walang
exposure sa internet.

Sa datos ng AGB Nielsen,

ang Pilipinas ang pang-lima
sa buong mundo na
gumagamit ng
Facebook.
 Noong nakaraang taon si Quimbo ay naghain ng House Resolution 184 na
nagre-regulate ng
Facebook at Twitter sa lahat ng tanggapan ng gobyerno habang office hours.

Tinagurian si Quimbo na
“party pooper.

Farmers Plaza apologizes to

trans woman over toilet fiasco
ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The management of Farmers Plaza at the Araneta Center Cubao, Quezon City apologized
Wednesday to the transgender woman who was detained for using the female comfort room inside its
mall.

"We would like to apologize to Ms. Diez for the treatment she has received from a member of the
cleaning crew. We also would like to extend the apology not just to the LGBT community but to the
public in general for the actions of said crew member," Farmers Plaza Property General Manager
Morriel Abogado said in a statement.

"It is an unfortunate incident that Farmers Plaza management would like to assure the public we
could never condone."

Gretchen Custodio Diez, 28, was barred by a janitress from using the women's comfort room at a
mall on Tuesday. She was detained after the mall's management filed an unjust vexation complaint
against her for going live on Facebook while the incident was unfolding.

She was later released and in turn, filed a complaint against the shopping mall for violating the city
ordinance.

 Trans woman detained after being harassed for using ladies' toilet in QC mall
"We firmly believe that any such treatment of a customer -- regardless of sexual orientation -- is
unacceptable," Abogado said.

Lawmakers from both houses of Congress have condemned the alleged discrimination and
harassment. 

 Makabayan bloc, transgender solon seek probe on trans woman's detention

 Senators press for equality bill's passage in wake of trans woman’s detention