Every reporter has their own way of approaching a news story. But they all follow a simple rule: tell readers the important facts right at the beginning so that they can decide whether they want to read on for more details.
People who read newspapers expect instant news, so stories about current events need to be told in what's known as the inverted pyramid form, beginning with the most important information and ending with the least important. The four key elements of a news article are headline, lead, body and end.
Headline
Most readers flip through the newspaper to see if there's anything they want to read, so the headline, or title, of your story is your chance to catch their eye. The headline should also let the reader know at a glance what the story is about. Headlines should be short and snappy and written in the present tense using active verbs. So instead of 'Drowning dog is saved by teenage boy' (passive), write 'Teenage boy saves drowning dog' (active).
Lead
The lead, or beginning, of any article should not only grab the reader's attention, but also draw him into the story. In a news story, the lead should have urgency and answer the questions Who, What, Where, When, Why and How (known as the 5Ws and the H) within the first two paragraphs. In contrast, a feature story answers these questions in the body of the article. Here's an example of a news lead that summarises the most important elements of the story: