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.