Starting a story
News Coverage
Story organization
BONUS: Current Events
100

A first paragraph that is never longer than 40 words and includes "the point" of a news story. 

What is a lead

100

News outlets who focus on this kind of coverage often report on celebrities, fashion, and entertainment. 

What is soft news

100

The second paragraph of a news story which covers any important details that couldn't fit into the lead. 

What is the nut graf

100

People's Sexiest Man Alive 2021

Who is Paul Rudd

200

Journalists choose this information to include in the lead of a breaking news story. 

What is the most important information, or "the point."

200

A journalist may not have all of the details of a news event as they publish this kind of story.

What is a developing story

200

A paragraph of information written in the journalist's own writing/voice that always goes before a quote. 

What is a transition

200

He is paying for the funerals of 8 people who died from a crowd surge at his concert in Houston last week. 

Who is Travis Scott

300

This kind of a lead is always used for breaking news stories. 

What is a summary lead

300

Fun, short stories that tell of positive, bizarre, or encouraging news to break up a hard-hitting news cycle. 

What are "brights"
300

The style of breaking news writing that organizes information from most to least important. 

What is the inverted pyramid

300

The U.S. and Chine came up with a joint climate deal last week in Scotland to cut down on emitting this type of gas. 

What is methane

400
Summary leads in news writing always includes some of these six elements that cover the basic details of a news event. 

What is Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How

400

News readers may prefer this kind of coverage, which focuses on politics, crime and other serious topics.

What is hard news

400

A word that helps the reader move smoothly from one paragraph to the next seamlessly and ties information together. 

What is a transition word

400

This NFL team is being fined after one of their players lied about being vaccinated and broke COVID protocol. 

Who are the Green Bay Packers

500

Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. Of these six, there is one that MAKES a news story newsworthy!

What is "what"

500

This should never be included in a news story or mentioned by a journalist who is covering a news event as it could sway the reader's perspective. 

What is the journalist's opinion

500
Is never needed in a news story as it could be trimmed or trashed later on in the editing process. HINT: Another word for "ending."

What is a conclusion

500

This town in Michigan was slapped with a lawsuit last week after residents suffered health problems following a 2014 lead water crisis. 

What is Flint, Michigan

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