IGCSE News Report Writing

NEWS REPORT

• Remember, if you’re asked to do a newspaper report you don’t need pictures or columns.
• Newspapers (online or on paper) are vital sources of information.

Organization

• First paragraph 4 Ws (follow the structure for success (right)
• Expert or witness comments included to give weight to the story
• Don’t use ‘I’, stay objective and unbiased. Just report the facts.
• Given the events in order (start to finish). Use time connectives (first, later, finally) to link paragraphs/events.
• Most events will be described in the past tense ‘The man was stabbed 18 times’. However this may change in the headline (Man dies of stabbing!) and the final paragraph, which looks to the future (Police are investigating the incident and are appealing for any witnesses. They will release the full coroner’s report tomorrow).

Structure for Success

• How to structure a newspaper article:
• A catchy headline that captures the main theme of the story. (THIS WILL PROBABLY BE GIVEN BY THE EXAM – if it is – USE IT!!)
• First paragraph should tell the reader the main events (who, when, what, where).
• Then tell the events in order (from start to end).
• Be factual.  Be unbiased.
• Include an eye witness “quote”.
• Paragraph each new point.
• Use time connectives (after, later that day, at the same time).
• End with a prediction of the future, e.g. ‘police are now investigating …’ / ‘ They hope that next year will be even more of a success’.