Lead Writing & Inverted Pyramid
What are the 5 W’s + H that every hard news lead must address?
Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How.
How should ages be written according to AP Style?
Always use numerals (e.g., a 7-year-old boy; she is 7).
What is a profile article?
An in-depth feature story focusing on one specific person's background, achievements, or character.
What does three horizontal lines ≡ placed under a letter mean?
Capitalize the letter.
Which First Amendment freedom specifically protects news organizations from government censorship?
Freedom of the Press.
In the Inverted Pyramid structure, where does the most critical information go?
At the top (the lead paragraph).
When should you abbreviate the month of September in a news story
Only when paired with a specific date (e.g., Sept. 15).
What is attribution in news reporting?
Citing the source of a quote or factual statement (e.g., “...” said Principal Smith).
What does a slash through a capital letter / mean?
Make it lowercase.
What is the difference between misinformation and disinformation?
Misinformation is accidental/unintentional inaccuracy; disinformation is intentionally false information spread to deceive.
Why do journalists use the Inverted Pyramid format instead of chronological storytelling?
Readers get essential facts immediately, and editors can quickly trim stories from the bottom up to fit space constraints.
Correct the title formatting: "principal Jane Smith spoke at the assembly.
Capitalize "Principal" directly before a name: Principal Jane Smith.
What is the "Two-Source Rule" in fact-checking?
Crucial facts or claims must be verified independently by at least two reliable sources before publishing
What does the caret symbol ^ indicate?
Insert text or punctuation at that spot.
What does ethos refer to when analyzing news sources?
DAILY DOUBLE!!! The credibility, authority, and trustworthiness of the source/author.
What goes into the "body" and "tail" of an Inverted Pyramid story?
Body = supporting details, quotes, and background info; Tail = non-essential context or background details.
Correct the title formatting: "Jane Smith, Principal of West High, spoke."
Lowercase job titles when they follow a name or stand alone (it is already correct as written).
What is the difference between an open-ended question and a closed-ended question during an interview?
Open-ended questions encourage detailed explanations ("Why did you..."); closed-ended questions elicit one-word or yes/no answers ("Did you...").
What does the pilcrow symbol ¶ instruct a writer to do?
Start a new paragraph and indent.
Explain how media bias can occur through omission.
Leaving out key facts, perspectives, or opposing viewpoints from a story while highlighting only one perspective.
Identify the main error in this lead: "On Friday at 3:00 PM, a meeting was held in the auditorium where exciting things were discussed."
It lacks specifics—it fails to clearly state Who held the meeting and What specific "exciting things" happened.
What is the AP Style rule for numbers 1 through 9 versus 10 and above?
Spell out numbers zero through nine; use numerals for 10 and above (with exceptions like ages and percentages).
What three things must a reporter verify during the fact-checking process before submitting a story?
Proper noun spellings, direct quotes/attributions, and factual statements via independent sources.
What does a curved line connecting two adjacent letters or words mean?
Transpose (swap the order of) the letters or words.
Why is a self-assessment an important tool for a reporter or speaker?
It allows individuals to evaluate their own communication strengths, identify biases, and set specific areas for growth