The vast majority of journalistic materials published on news portals, by information agencies, and in newspapers are news articles, often referred to as “news briefs” or “news reports.”
A news article is the most important journalistic genre and serves as the foundation for learning how to write. In such articles, you briefly describe an event, as in the example of a concert that took place. It is an informational message answering simple questions like “What happened?”, “Where?”, “When?”, “Who was involved?”, and so on.
Such messages are abundant in both print and online publications. Typically, they are short texts easily distinguishable from other genres, such as interviews or in-depth features. The length of a news article is relatively small—usually less than one printed page.
Here’s an example of a news article:
Local Art Gallery Hosts Stunning Exhibition of Contemporary Paintings
This weekend, the Art Spectrum Gallery opened its doors to art enthusiasts with a captivating exhibition of contemporary paintings. The event, titled “Colors of the Modern World,” features over 50 works from both established and emerging artists.
The opening ceremony on Friday night drew a large crowd of visitors, including local art collectors, critics, and curious members of the community. The gallery’s curator, Emma Collins, described the collection as “a celebration of creativity and innovation.”
“Each painting tells its own story,” Collins said. “We’ve brought together artists from diverse backgrounds to showcase their perspectives on today’s world.”
Among the standout pieces is “Urban Symphony” by Sarah Martinez, a vibrant interpretation of city life, and “Echoes of Nature” by Liam Tan, a series of serene landscapes inspired by the artist’s travels through Asia.
Visitors can also enjoy interactive sessions with the artists, including live painting demonstrations and panel discussions throughout the week.
The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of contemporary art.
Writing a news article is not difficult. Remember, every journalistic piece needs a news hook—something that has happened, such as the opening of a kindergarten, the closure of a factory, or a visit by a famous person to your city.
When writing news articles, the “inverted pyramid” principle is often used. This means that the most important information is presented first, followed by additional details in decreasing order of importance. For example, if the article is about a newly constructed school, you would first mention where the school is located and how many children it can accommodate. Details such as the inclusion of two gyms can be shared later.
Every journalistic piece begins with a headline and a lead. Regardless of the genre—whether it’s a news article, interview, or report—you need to craft a headline and write a lead.
The headline is the title of the article. It grabs the reader’s attention and provides the main idea. A news article’s headline is like a store sign—it draws people in.
Creating good headlines is a skill that comes with experience after writing dozens of them. Editors appreciate well-crafted headlines, and a good headline attracts readers. Writing an eye-catching title for an engaging article on a vivid topic is only half the challenge; coming up with an acceptable headline for a piece about a roundtable discussion or an official’s work trip is the real test of skill.
At journalism workshops, headlines are often compared to store advertisements. Their purpose is to attract attention and convey what’s on offer (in our case, the content of the article). If a headline doesn’t match the article’s content, it essentially deceives the reader, leading to a loss of trust and respect for the publication. This should be avoided at all costs.