The content of newspaper articles
"Woman eaten by hungry washing machine"
could be the title of an exciting newspaper article. But which pieces of information would we expect in the article itself?
Well, newspaper articles are written mostly to inform, which means that we should include as many facts as possible. It always helps to think about the five “W”s:
- What has happened?
- When did it happen?
- Who was involved?
- Where did the event take place?
- Why (and also how) did the events unfold like this?
Of course, it is also your selection of aspects that makes the article complete. If we take our example from before, you absolutely must include if the woman was saved or not – otherwise your readers will send angry letters to find out about it!
What about visualizations and photos ?
If you dispose of some breathtaking photos or other fascinating visual material, absolutely include them! Just remember: For an average newspaper article, one is enough – and should always include a caption and, if you are not the one who took the photo, the source.
