The Library of Congress

How to Write a News Article

Task:	Write a newspaper article that reports the facts associated with your selected photograph.
Style:	You will be writing in a different style than you are used to in class. Newspaper articles generally contain sentences and paragraphs that are short and direct. Most paragraphs in news articles contain a maximum of three sentences.
Format:	Newspaper articles should contain the following items: Headline–An attention getting phrase at the top of the article. Byline – By, your name. Lead Paragraph – Start with a strong, interesting sentence to get the reader engaged. Include the who,what, when, where, why, and how as appropriate. Explanation and Amplification–This section will include several brief paragraphs explaining the details surrounding your photograph. Background Information–This section will include several brief paragraphs explaining events leading up to the picture, related national stories, etc.
Bias:	Newspaper articles should be written without bias. In other words, you should report the facts objectively – don’t give opinions in your news article.
Works Cited:	You also need to create a Works Cited list that includes at least two sources. This must be in correct format.

Adapted from: Sebrank, Patrick, Verne Meyer, and Dave Kemper. Write Source 2000. Wilmington: MA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1995.