News style in the context of "Inverted pyramid (journalism)"

Play Trivia Questions online!

or

Skip to study material about News style in the context of "Inverted pyramid (journalism)"

Ad spacer

>>>PUT SHARE BUTTONS HERE<<<

👉 News style in the context of Inverted pyramid (journalism)

The inverted pyramid is a metaphor used by journalists and other writers to illustrate how information should be prioritised and structured in prose (e.g., a news report). It is a common method for writing news stories and has wide adaptability to other kinds of texts, such as blogs, editorial columns and marketing factsheets. It is a way to communicate the basics about a topic in the initial sentences. The inverted pyramid is taught to mass communication and journalism students, and is systematically used in English-language media.

The inverted or upside-down pyramid can be thought of as a triangle pointing down. The widest part at the top represents the most substantial, interesting, and important information that the writer means to convey, illustrating that this kind of material should head the article, while the tapering lower portion illustrates that other material should follow in order of diminishing importance.

↓ Explore More Topics
In this Dossier

News style in the context of Five Ws

The Five Ws is a checklist used in journalism to ensure that the lead contains all the essential points of a story. As far back as 1913, reporters were taught that the lead should answer these questions about the situation being reported:

  • Who?
  • What?
  • When?
  • Where?
  • Why?

In modern times, journalism students are still taught that these are the fundamental five questions of newswriting. Reporters also use the "5 Ws" to guide research and interviews and to raise important ethical questions, such as "How do you know that?".

↑ Return to Menu