What is a Newspaper report?

One of the simplest and most detailed aspects of your

Paper 2 exam is news reports. They should be detailed. So,
you may need to use up a large portion of your ink to get
this right!

It is important to plan ahead, what you want to

compose. This makes it easier to present the facts in
a coherent way. As a result, you will obtain more
marks.

What is a Newspaper report?

Newspapers are read by people who want
information about something that has happened.
They want reports quickly so reports have to be easy
to read and have a snappy presentation style. They
tell readers about events that have been happening
in their local area, or national or international news.

How to write a Newspaper report

1. You will be given a question and two or three bullet
points. The bullet points are the main points of your
report so try to focus on them.
2. You would have to create a headline that captures the
essence of the event. It should excite the reader's
curiosity. Exaggeration is effective in this case.
Let’s take a look an example of a catchy headline:
Where you have to write a newspaper report about
any sport event that took place in your school. Give a
headline like
Wild Cricket Match or Historical Cricket
Match or
Omegas Won the Cup After 23 years and so on.
This automatically creates a feeling of excitement in
the mind of the reader.
3. Add the by-line after the headline, by-line consists of
the name of the reporter who is reporting the event.
4. The place should be written just before the content.
This is the reporter’s current location.
Example- New Delhi: (your content)
5. After completing the initial points comes the content
of your newspaper report. The first paragraph should
contain the 5W’s and 1H- What, Where, When, Why,
Who and How. What was the event that took place,
when did it happen, where did it take place, why did it
happen and how did it occur.
Example on how to plan your first paragraph:
What - A cricket tournament
When - On the nineteenth of March 2021
Where - Omega International School, Chennai
Who - Team Blue won
Why - Annual Sports Event
How - By defeating team Team Yellow
6. The second paragraph should contain the testimonies
of people who are related to the event at hand. If you
want to include what people said make sure it is in
direct speech (inverted commas) or indirect speech
(no inverted comma).
Example on how to plan your second paragraph:
Reporting in direct speech:
“It was a tough match against the yellow team,
but we won. I can't express how I feel. Thank
you all for supporting us.” said the Blue team
captain.
Reporting in indirect speech:
The Blue team captain said that the match was
tough and the team deserved the win, he also
said that they worked really hard for the same.
7. In the third paragraph briefly talk about what will
happen in the future concerning the story. This is to
develop an interest in the mind of the reader.
Example on how to plan your third paragraph:
 When will the next tournament be held
 How will the team members be rewarded.
"The winners of team blue received a cash prize
of 1000 rupees. The authorities informed the
next tournament will be conducted on the same
date next year."
8. Another pointer, use past tense at all times, since the
reporter mentions an event which already took place.
Example of Newspaper Report:
Q) Write a newspaper report for your local newspaper
based on one of the following events:
a) Volleyball
b) Cricket tournament
c) Football league
Wild Cricket Match

-(Your name)
(Location): On the 18th of March 2021, A cricket
tournament was organized in Omega School,
Chennai. The tournament was organized by the
school authorities as part of their annual sports
event. There were four teams: Red, blue, yellow and
green. The blue team won the match defeating the
yellow team in the finals.
The first match was between red and blue teams.
Team blue quickly eliminated team red in an hour. In
the second round, it was team yellow against green.
Team yellow eliminated team green also in about an
hour. In the final round, team blue versus team
yellow. After two hours, team blue eliminated team
yellow and won the tournament. After the
tournament, team blue's captain said, "It was a tough
match against the yellow team, but we won. I can't
express how I feel. Thank you all for supporting us."

The winners of team blue received a cash prize of

1000 rupees. The authorities informed the next
tournament will be conducted on the same date next
year. In the next tournament, there will be an
addition of three teams: Orange, pink and purple.
"The stadium will be much bigger than this, for the
next tournament," informed the authorities.

Types of report writing

Reports are written for various purposes by various sets of people. Each report is different in
its kind because of the content, motive, and facts it entails. They can be classified as formal
or informal reports on the basis of the occasion of writing. Some of the most common types
of reports are as follows:

 Annual reports
 Weekly reports
 Academic reports
 Research reports
 Sales and Marketing reports
 Project reports
 Newspaper reports
 Magazine reports

Stages of Report Writing

There are mainly five stages of report writing. They are:

 Planning- The foremost and most important step in the process of

report writing is Planning. A clearly drafted plan leads to easy
execution, cooperation, and timely completion of your work.
Planning can tell you what all has to go in a report, in what order,
and to what extent.

 Collection of information- This is an important step in the process

of report writing. Since, a report has to be backed by factual
information, collection from authentic and credible sources is a
burdensome task. Students should always be careful about their
 sources of information. Wrong sources can lead to wrong
conclusions and the presentation of wrong information.
 Organization of information- The next step is to organize your
information. Whenever a report is in its initial stages, the writer is
overloaded with information, credible as well as incredible. The
information has to be refined as per the relevance, need, and
authenticity. After refining, it has to be presented in an order which
is understandable and engaging for readers.
 First draft- After the information has been gathered, refined, and
organized, it is time to present the information. Now, comes the
actual part where a report is written by utilizing all the present
information. It has to be drafted in a manner that is easy to
understand, factual, and formal.
 Proofread- It is important to proofread your report for any
grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, writing errors, misplacement
of punctuation marks, or wrong information. The report should be
made public only after it has been checked thoroughly.
 Format of Report Writing
In schools, two types of reports are generally asked. They are
newspaper reports and magazine reports. The format for both types
is similar in nature to the format presented above, but these reports
are less elaborate than the industrial reports or reports presented in
an organization.
 Format for a newspaper report
 Heading/Headline: Title of the report
 Byline: Author’s/Reporter’s name and designation
 Place and Date: Place of incident and Date of publication
 First Para: Consists of the news peg. The main reason for the
report. Answers some basic questions like what happened, when,
how, who are the concerned people involved, and where did the
reporting incident take place. The first paragraph usually answers
5W’s (What, why, where, whom, and when) Two or three important
ones should be answered here.
 Body (Accompanying paragraphs): The next few paragraphs
must consist of details and facts related to the topic. These
paragraphs should answer the rest of the W’s and an H (How did the
incident take place). Usually, news reports must have some quotes
from officials in these paragraphs to make the report look more
authentic.
 Conclusions: This is the ending paragraph, which sums up the
entire story.
 Format for a magazine report
 The same format is followed for magazine reports. But they are
usually the more informal ones and have topics different in nature
than news reports. The same format is followed for magazine
reports as well.
 Heading/Headline: Title of the report
 Byline: Author’s/Reporter’s name and designation
  Place and date: Place of event and Date of publication
 First Para: Introduces the topic and motive of the report.
 Body (Accompanying paragraphs): The introduction is
accompanied by reasons, facts, figures, quotes, and other additional
information related to the topic. All the information has to be
arranged in a sequence.
 Conclusions: This is the ending paragraph, which sums up the
entire story.
 Examples of report writing
Suppose, in an examination, a student is asked to write a
report on an incident that took place in the Kinnaur district
of Himachal Pradesh. Five people lost their lives during a car
accident in the city. As per reports, all five were heavily
injured and found dead after 1 hour of reaching the hospital.
After 20 minutes of the accident, they were rushed to a
nearby government hospital. The incident took place at 5 in
the morning. The accident led to a traffic jam, following
which the car was removed from the road by the police
superintendent of Kinnaur Police Station and his team.
 Heading: Five killed in car accident in Kinnaur of HP
 Byline: By ABC
 Place and date: Kinnaur, May 23
 First Para: Five people were killed in a car crash in Kinnaur district
of Himachal Pradesh, this morning. According to sources, the time of
the accident was 5 in the morning. Victims were rushed to a nearby
hospital after 20 minutes by a resident crossing by the spot of the
accident. After one hour of reaching the hospital, all five people
were declared dead by the senior doctor of the hospital.
 The details of the accident are still awaited. No confirmation on the
cause of accidents has come from the police as of now. It is being
said that the traffic jam caused by the accident brought the police’s
attention to the matter and the residents of the place. The Police
Superintendent, along with this team, rushed to the accident spot
and removed the vehicle to clear out the jam.
 According to sources, accidents in the area have been increasing
since the start of the month. The Police Superintendent of the
Kinnaur Police Station said, “ We are trying to address this matter
on priority. There has been an increase in the number of accidents
since the start of this month. We have built a team of six people
who will investigate the case”.

Tips for Report Writing

 Plan your report.
 Take quotes from authorities, if necessary.
 Use credible sources for your information.
 Proofread before submission/publication.
 Stick to the objective of the report.
  Use short and simple sentences.
 Stick to the format.
 Use a formal tone and style of writing.
 Research well.
 Use an active voice.

Topics for report writing

Reports can be written on a variety of topics. Here, a few topics
have been provided for students.

 Science and Technology

 Education
 Health
 Social issues
 Internet
 Environmental hazards, Climate change, Pollution
 Culture and traditions
 News/Breaking/Trending
 Summits/Conferences
 International and national disputes
 Travel
 Food

What is journalistic writing? 📝

Journalistic writing, as the name implies, is the style of writing used by journalists and news
media organizations to share news and information about local, national, and global events,
issues, and developments with the public.

The main goal of journalistic writing is to provide accurate and objective news coverage.
Journalists gather facts, conduct research, and interview sources to present a fair and
unbiased account of events. They strive to deliver information clearly, concisely, and
interestingly that grabs readers’ attention and helps them understand the subject.

Journalistic writing also encourages public discussion, critical thinking, and informed
decision-making. Since journalists present diverse perspectives, analyze complex issues, and
investigate misconduct, they empower readers to form opinions and actively engage with the
news. Journalistic writing acts as a watchdog, holding institutions and individuals
accountable and promoting transparency in society.

Types of journalistic writing 🔥

Different types of journalism writing styles serve unique purposes, from exposing truths to
keeping us informed, sparking conversations, and providing meaningful insights into the
world around us.

Here are five types of journalistic writing you should know about:
Investigative journalism 🕵️

Investigative journalists are like detectives in the news world. They dive deep into
topics, dedicating their time and resources to uncover hidden information, expose
corruption, and bring wrongdoing to the surface.

News journalism 🗞️

News journalists are frontline reporters who inform people about the latest happenings.
They cover a wide range of topics, from politics and the economy to science and
entertainment. They gather facts, interview sources, and present unbiased information
objectively and concisely.

Column journalism 📰

In column journalism, writers share their personal opinions and perspectives on various
subjects. They offer analysis, commentary, and insights on social, cultural, or political
issues. Whether they are experts in their fields or well-known figures with unique
voices, their columns provide readers with different standpoints and spark thought-
provoking discussions.

Feature writing 🙇

Feature writers take us beyond the basic facts and immerse us in storytelling. They explore
human-interest stories, profiles, and in-depth features on specific topics. They also delve into
the personal lives, experiences, or achievements of individuals or communities, providing a
deeper understanding of the subject matter by using narrative techniques.

Reviews journalism 📖

Reviewers are the guides helping us make informed decisions about the arts. They evaluate
and critique films, books, music, theatre shows, and more. Through their opinions and
assessments, they analyze the quality, impact, and significance of creative works. Review
journalism not only helps us choose what to watch, read, or listen to, but it also contributes to
cultural conversations and discussions.

Key features of journalistic writing 🔑

Journalistic writing distinguishes itself from other forms of writing through several essential
characteristics. And here are a few:

1. Accuracy and objectivity: These are of utmost importance. Journalists go to great

lengths to gather reliable information, verify sources, and present a balanced
perspective. They strive to separate facts from opinions, ensuring readers receive an
accurate account of events.
2. Timeliness and relevance: Journalists focus on current events and issues that are of
interest to the public. They aim to provide up-to-date information, sharing the latest
developments and their implications.
 3. Clarity and conciseness: Journalists use clear and simple language, avoiding
complex jargon that might confuse the audience. They use short sentences and
paragraphs that enhance readability.
4. Inverted pyramid structure: Commonly employed in journalistic writing, this
structure places the most important information at the beginning of the article
–– in the headline and the first paragraph. Subsequent paragraphs contain
supporting details arranged in descending order of significance. By adopting this
approach, journalists enable readers to grasp the main points quickly and decide
whether to delve deeper into the topic.
5. Engagement and impact: Journalists leverage various storytelling techniques, such
as vivid descriptions and compelling narratives, to captivate their audience. They
incorporate quotes, anecdotes, and human-interest elements to evoke emotions among
readers and make the story relatable.

How to write like a journalist: 7 tips 💯

Now that you know the ins and outs of journalistic style and storytelling, let’s explore the
best practices to follow during news writing:

1. Use the inverted pyramid structure 🔻

If you’re wondering how to structure and write a news story or article, the answer is simple:
Go from the most important to the least important. Start your articles with vital facts, and
arrange supporting details in descending order of significance. This structure ensures readers
receive essential information even if they don’t read the entire piece.

2. Establish your angle 📐

Before you begin writing, determine the angle or perspective you want to take on the story.
Although you should share a neutral opinion, choosing an angle helps you stay focused and
deliver a clear message. Consider what makes your story unique or newsworthy, and shape
your narrative accordingly.

3. Stick to the facts 🩹

Journalistic writing values accuracy and objectivity. Present information verifiable and
supported by credible sources, and avoid personal opinions and biases –– allowing the facts
to speak for themselves. Fact-checking is essential to maintain the integrity of your writing.

4. Use quotations to generate credibility 💭

Including quotes from reliable sources adds credibility and depth to your writing. Interview
relevant individuals, experts, or eyewitnesses to gather their perspectives and insights.
Incorporate their direct quotes to support your narrative and provide first-hand accounts.

5. Write clear and concise sentences 💎

Use straightforward language to effectively communicate your message. Journalism articles

typically only include one-to-three sentences per paragraph and should not exceed 20 words
per sentence.
6. Edit and revise 💻

Thorough editing is crucial to produce polished and professional journalistic pieces. So once
you finish your first draft, invest time on editing and revising your work. Look for
grammatical errors, clarity issues, and redundancies. And ensure your writing flows smoothly
and maintains a consistent tone.

7. Maintain ethical standards 🏅

You want repeat readers who’ll come back for more from you. And for that, you must keep in
mind journalistic principles and share fair, trusting, and accountable pieces. Attribute
information to appropriate sources, respect privacy when necessary, and conduct thorough
fact-checking.