Communication Studies 211A:
Beginning Newswriting and Reporting
Elements of the News Story
As Rich notes in Chapter 3 of her text, news stories have a number of
basic elements:
- Headlines (main head, deck heads, summary lines).
- A lead.
- Backup for the lead.
- Nut graph.
- Lead quote.
- Impact on the audience.
- Attribution.
- Background.
- Elaboration.
- Ending.
- Where necessary and relevant, stories also include art, such as photos
and infographics.
- Adherence to Associated Press or other journalistic style.
Clip a local news story from the most recent issue of the newspaper you
read or consult the list of Internet news sources
for the course. Break the story down by identifying the basic elements raised
in Chapter 3 of the Rich text. You may submit the clipping with the elements
marked and identified in pen.




