5 Newswriting Structures: The Inverted Pyramid and Beyond
Introduction
Newswriting isn’t just about the facts—it’s about how those facts are delivered. The structure of a news story affects how readers engage with and understand the information presented. Whether it’s breaking news or a deeply reported feature, structure helps prioritize information, maintain flow, and meet the expectations of different audiences. This chapter explores the foundational inverted pyramid structure, as well as alternative formats like the hourglass, narrative, and chronological models that offer flexibility and storytelling depth.
The Inverted Pyramid Structure
The inverted pyramid is the most traditional and widely used structure in journalism, particularly for hard news. In this format, the most important facts appear at the beginning of the story, with supporting details following in descending order of importance. This structure originated in the 19th century when journalists used the telegraph to send news—if the signal was lost, at least the essential information had already been transmitted.
Typically, an inverted pyramid story starts with a summary lead that addresses the five W’s and one H: who, what, when, where, why, and how. Subsequent paragraphs elaborate with background, context, and quotes. This method serves readers who skim headlines or only read the first few paragraphs.
Example of an Inverted Pyramid Lead:
“A 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck central Idaho early Tuesday morning, damaging buildings and causing power outages across three counties, officials said.”
— The rest of the article would follow with damage estimates, emergency response, eyewitness accounts, and historical comparisons.
Alternatives to the Inverted Pyramid
The Hourglass Structure
The hourglass format combines the strengths of hard news and narrative storytelling. It begins with a summary lead and key details (the top of the hourglass), then shifts into a chronological or anecdotal narrative (the bottom of the hourglass). This format is particularly effective for stories that require both urgency and context, such as crime reports or court cases.
Nut Graf-Driven Structure
In feature writing, journalists often use a delayed lead to draw readers in with a compelling anecdote or scene. This is followed by the ‘nut graf,’ a paragraph that explains the essence of the story and why it matters. The nut graf answers the reader’s question: Why am I reading this? It allows for more creativity and reader engagement at the start.
Narrative Structure
Narrative journalism uses the elements of storytelling—character, setting, conflict, and resolution—to tell factual stories. This structure unfolds like a short story or novel, often focusing on a protagonist and their journey. Narrative structure is common in long-form journalism, documentaries, and investigative pieces.
Chronological Structure
Chronological structure presents events in the order in which they occurred. It’s useful for explaining processes, unfolding disasters, or step-by-step developments. This format helps readers follow a clear timeline and is often used in recaps or explanatory journalism.
Choosing the Right Structure
No single structure fits every story. Journalists must consider the platform, audience, and story type when selecting a format. In digital environments where attention spans are short, inverted pyramid leads help readers get key facts quickly. For print magazines or narrative podcasts, longer forms like the narrative or hourglass allow for more nuance and emotional engagement.
The structure should also reflect the journalist’s goals—whether to inform quickly, engage emotionally, or provide a clear sequence of events. Understanding and applying different structures allows journalists to adapt their storytelling for maximum impact.
Key Terms
• Inverted Pyramid: A news structure that places the most critical information at the beginning, followed by supporting details.
• Nut Graf: A paragraph that summarizes the main point or significance of a story, especially in feature writing.
• Hourglass Structure: A hybrid format that starts with hard news and transitions into a narrative section.
• Narrative Structure: A storytelling approach with characters, conflict, and resolution.
• Chronological Structure: A format that follows events in the order they happened.
