The inverted pyramid: how to write a breaking news story
The inverted pyramid puts the most important fact first so readers get the news even if they stop after one sentence. Here is how to write one under deadline.
The inverted pyramid is the oldest structure in news writing and still the most useful on deadline. The most important information comes first; each paragraph after that matters a little less. A reader who stops after the first sentence still has the news, and an editor who needs to cut can cut from the bottom.
1. Write the lead from one fact
Ask: if my reader reads only one sentence, what must they know? That is your lead. Keep it to one sentence and, where you can, under 35 words. It usually answers what happened, to whom, where and when.
2. Use the second paragraph to explain
Add the details that make the lead make sense: numbers, the place, the time, and who confirmed it.
3. Attribute everything you did not see yourself
Every claim needs a source: “police said”, “according to the ministry”. If you do not have a source yet, say so, or wait.
4. Context, then background
After the facts, explain why it matters and what happened before. This is the part that can be cut on a busy day.
A deadline checklist
- Is the most important fact in the first sentence?
- Are names, numbers and titles checked?
- Is every claim attributed?
- Is there anything that could be unfair to someone named? Have they had the chance to respond?
Doing it faster with Byline
The Breaking News template asks for exactly these pieces: what happened, the details, and who confirmed it. It writes the story in the inverted pyramid and marks anything missing as [CHECK] rather than guessing. You can try it free on the home page.