The Secrets To Writing Great News Stories That Get Read By Millions

You’re sitting at your desk, staring at a blank screen. The pressure is on. You’ve got to write something great, and fast. But what? The news cycle is 24 hours long and a lot is going on in the world right now. Maybe you should start with an angle on one of those stories?

Maybe not: There are plenty of angles out there already (and unfortunately). If you’re looking for something new or different from what other people are writing about, then let us teach you how to write great news stories that get read by millions!

How to Write Medium Stories Millions of People Want to Read

Takeaways
1. Master the art of crafting captivating news headlines.
2. Create attention-grabbing leads that hook readers.
3. Deliver timely and relevant information in your stories.
4. Develop a well-structured narrative to keep readers engaged.
5. Use storytelling techniques to add depth to your news articles.
6. Present accurate information from credible sources.
7. Consider the perspectives of all relevant stakeholders.
8. Address broader implications and consequences of reported events.
9. Craft emotionally resonant storytelling to keep readers invested.
10. Continuously improve your news writing skills and techniques.

Table of Contents

Find A Great News Story And Tell It Well

Great news stories are all about the headline. You need to be able to grab your reader’s attention and make them want to read your story. If you can do that, you’ll be well on your way to writing a great piece of journalism.

Here are some tips for finding great news stories:

Look for interesting and relevant stories. If it isn’t interesting or relevant, it won’t get published in a good magazine or newspaper so don’t even try writing it!

Look for new information, information people don’t already know about or have access to through other media sources (like TV news or websites). This will make your story stand out from everything else going on in the world around us today!

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Write For The Medium

You should write for the medium you are writing for.

This is one of the most important tips I can give you, and it’s something I learned long ago when I was a newspaper reporter. If you want your story to be read by millions of people, then write it as if you were writing it for millions of people.

You see, there is no one “perfect” way to write a news story that works everywhere – what works on Twitter might not work on Facebook or Instagram; what works in print may not work online;

And so on. But one thing is constant: when someone reads your story, they will likely be doing so on their phone or tablet device (or their laptop screen).

So make sure that each paragraph is designed with mobile reading in mind! This means shorter paragraphs, fewer links at the bottom (use reader comments instead), and just generally making everything easier for readers to digest quickly without scrolling too much.

As an example: here’s an excerpt from my article about Apple’s new AirPods:

Writing For The Web

Writing for the web can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. Here are eight tips to help you write better news stories that get read by millions:

Short sentences and paragraphs will make your writing easier to follow and understand.

Use simple words and avoid jargon unless you are writing for people who work in your industry or profession (and even then, use it sparingly).

Lists are great ways of organizing information; they also help readers visualize what’s happening in the story especially when it comes to numbers or statistics!

Curious about the world of news writing? Learn how to craft compelling and engaging news articles that captivate millions of readers. Explore our secrets for writing great news stories to make your mark in the realm of journalism.

Writing For Radio

Here are a few guidelines for writing for radio.

Use short sentences and paragraphs. Longer pieces tend to bore listeners, especially if they’re listening in their car or on the go. If you find yourself in a long informational paragraph, consider breaking it into shorter sentences that are easier to digest.

Use simple words and an active voice when possible. Your goal is to make your writing easy to understand, so using simple words like “me,” “you,” and “we” will help accomplish this goal.

Also, try using active voice instead of passive voice when possible; sometimes this just means filling in some blanks: “I went out with my friends last night” becomes “Last night I went out with my friends.” It sounds silly but it works!

Writing For Television

The next step is to make sure you’re writing for TV. The best way to do this is to write short sentences and paragraphs.

This isn’t just a matter of aesthetics it’s also one of practicality. When you’re working with articles that are supposed to be read by dozens of people at once, every word has a lot of weight behind it.

Short words mean fewer syllables, which means less effort on the part of your audience when they’re reading through your story.

As an aside: if you have trouble finding any news stories that are worth reading (and therefore making an article out off), try searching for something like “[subject] + [topic]”. For example, “wedding customs + wedding traditions”, or “[name] + [last name]”.

Don’t Assume Your Readers Know Everything About Your Subject

The goal of writing a news story is to make information accessible to the average reader. That means it’s your job to explain things clearly and simply, rather than assuming that readers already know everything about your subject.

If you’re discussing an innovative new technology, for example, don’t assume that everyone will know what “artificial intelligence” or “machine learning” is.

Instead, use simple analogies or metaphors: “Imagine a computer program that learns how to play chess by playing itself thousands of times.

A similar process could help clean up ocean pollution better than humans alone ever could—but only if we teach computers how to do their jobs first.”

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Ask The Big Question And Answer It Up Front

The second element of writing great news stories is asking and answering the big question early. This is a rule that all journalists know, but few follow.

When you’re writing a news story, you need to ask yourself “So what?” at least five times before you start your piece. If you can’t answer “so what” in as many words, then it’s not worth writing about and probably won’t be read by many people either.

The first place you should answer this question is in the first paragraph of your article or blog post this will help immediately grab readers’ attention and make them want to keep reading through until they get to their destination: finding out “So What?”

Use A Simile Or Metaphor To Describe Something Complicated Simply

Once you’ve got a complex idea, it’s time to make it relatable by using a simile or metaphor.

Similes and metaphors are the most common ways to explain something complicated by comparing it to something else that’s familiar like saying things like “the meeting was as exciting as watching paint dry.”

The point is that if you can start with something familiar and then compare it with your point of interest, readers will automatically understand what you mean without having to think too hard about what you’re trying to say.

Don’t Use Jargon Or Obscure Words

When writing for a general audience, it’s important not to use jargon or obscure words. Your goal is to make the content accessible and easy to understand, not to impress people with your vocabulary.

When you’re trying to decide if a word should be in your article (or even used at all), ask yourself: Is this word commonly understood by most people? If not, does it need an explanation? Does the explanation sound like a foreign language?

If so, go back through the piece and change that part of the article out for something simpler (but no less accurate).

If you’re afraid of sounding dumb because you don’t know what something means, don’t worry!

Nobody wants their readers feeling dumb that’s why we’re here at Buzzfeed News helping you out! Just leave us an ask on our Twitter account (@buzzfeednews) or email us at [email protected]

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Write An Original Lead Paragraph. People Will Read This And Decide To Read On, Or Not

Your lead paragraph is the most critical part of your story. It must be interesting, easy to understand, and relevant to the topic at hand. Keep it short no more than 6-7 sentences in total length (including a brief introduction).

Most importantly: make sure that it isn’t biased!

Make Every Word Count. Shorten Long Sentences And Paragraphs So They Are Easier To Read

One of the most important things for a news writer to remember is that every word counts. Long, complex sentences and paragraphs are difficult for readers to read, so it’s always better to keep them short.

A good sign that your writing needs work is if you find yourself using ‘and’ more than once in a paragraph or sentence. This can be an indication that there may be some unnecessary information in there!

Short sentences and paragraphs also help writers focus on what’s important – especially when you’re under pressure for time or space! If something doesn’t need saying right now then it should probably stay out of your article or essay altogether (unless it becomes relevant later).

Stylize Sentences That Repeat Key Words And Phrases

Here’s a secret: Repetition is not just for poets. It’s also one of the best tools in your journalism arsenal. Repetition is powerful because it gives you more control over the way people feel as they read your story and what information sticks with them.

Here are some ways to use repetition to your advantage:

Create a rhythm in sentences that repeat keywords or phrases. This can create a hypnotic effect on readers, making them feel like they’re inside the story and not just reading about it.

Use repetition to create an impression of urgency or importance by repeating key points over and over again, especially at first mention (as opposed to later mentions).

The more important something feels, the harder we’ll work at remembering it and if you repeat something often enough, readers who don’t know any better will start believing that it’s true even if there isn’t any evidence for this claim!

Use repetition when necessary but don’t go overboard with it! When we see too much repetition from one source (like from our news feed), we start tuning out until only certain words stand out as noteworthy/important enough for our look at closely again!

This can also backfire if someone else repeats those same words later on; then there might be a backlash against both sources because neither seemed unique enough despite all their efforts!”

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Conclusion

Remember, when it comes to writing your headlines, content, and more, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Take a look at some of the best practices we’ve outlined above, and think about how they might apply to your work.

And then get started! The world needs more great news stories and we need more talented writers to tell them.

FAQs

What are the key elements of a captivating news story?

A captivating news story often includes a compelling headline, a strong lead that grabs attention, relevant and timely information, and a well-structured narrative that keeps readers engaged.

How can I improve the lead of my news article?

To enhance your news article’s lead, focus on making it concise, informative, and attention-grabbing. Use strong verbs, pose thought-provoking questions, or present surprising facts to hook your readers.

Why is storytelling important in news writing?

Storytelling in news writing adds depth and human connection to the facts, making the information more relatable and engaging for the audience.

How can I make my news stories more impactful?

To make your news stories more impactful, ensure you present accurate information from credible sources, consider the perspectives of all relevant stakeholders, and address the broader implications and consequences of the reported events.

Is there a relationship between the storytelling style and reader engagement?

Yes, the storytelling style used in news articles can significantly influence reader engagement. Well-crafted narratives and emotionally resonant storytelling are more likely to keep readers invested in the content.

Costantine Edward

Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.