News articles contribute greatly to keeping people informed on new developments in world events. They range from updates on politics to trends and fluctuations in the economy, from advancements in science to cultural events, and more.
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However, there are different types of news articles out there. Each of them possesses its unique purpose of providing information to the masses. Ever thought about what makes a news article distinct from another? In this guide, we’ll break it down for you.
We’ll look into what a news article is with its basic structure and how many types it has. Moreover, we’ll also cover how one can leverage these types to educate, entertain, and persuade readers. This newsworthy article is for all those who love to read and write news! Let’s kick things off with an overview.
What Is a News Article?
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A news article is a written report of any recent event or an issue of the reader’s interest. It usually informs the reader by answering necessary questions in an easy-to-digest format. The questions may include what, why, who, when, where, and how. Such articles are published in print media (e.g. newspaper or magazine) or electronic media (e.g. website or app).
Structure and Elements of a News Article
Journalists usually write up news articles in an inverted pyramid structure. With the help of this hierarchical structure, you put an attention-grabbing headline at the start. Then, it is followed by other lesser important elements, as in a top-down approach. Let’s discuss the elements of a news article below to understand it better.
- Headline – It presents the crux of the article to the reader, so it better should be eye-popping. Here’s our guide on how to write a news headline to craft catchy headlines and pique the reader’s curiosity.
- Introduction – It sets the stage for the news event or the story. This paragraph should provide the most important and timely information and hook the readers to continue reading.
- Body – This is the major part of your news article. The body paragraphs provide detailed information on the background, facts, and anything mentioned in the intro paragraph (to support the lead).
- Conclusion – It’s the last paragraph that wraps up the article. You can include a call-to-action or a future outlook. Be sure to provide an appropriate closure to satisfy the readers so they keep coming back for more.
What Are the Different Types of News Articles
Let’s break down different types of news articles to better understand their diverse forms.
News Stories
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News stories are concise, factual, jargon-free, and unbiased reports. They are based on what has happened, is happening, or may/ may not happen in the future. Such articles often include eyewitness accounts, conflict interpretation, insightful interviews, and shocking statistics.
Example: More than 30,000 killed in Gaza since Israel-Hamas war began
If you want to write such stories, there are various AI news article generators offering assistance.
Features
Features are detail-oriented and narrative-driven news articles. They highlight different story angles by delving into the background, present, and future aspects of the subject. Resultantly, it can spark the interest of a reader in a product, concept, or phenomenon. Thus, featured stories offer a deeper understanding of the subject matter through analysis, providing context, experience, and perspective.
Example: The Humane AI Pin worked better than I expected
Editorials
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Editorials are news articles in which news editors analyze and discuss their viewpoints. They are not like usual news reports. Rather, it’s a space where the editorial team can express their subjective stance regarding any recent or social issues to shape people’s opinions.
Example: The Guardian view on food poverty: charities can’t take the state’s place
To transform news into an engaging yet breathtaking story, you may use a specialized content template. For example, news blog templates would come to your aid when writing, you guessed it, news articles.
News Analyses
They’re a type of newspaper article much different from an opinion-based editorial. They are based on detailed analysis, evidence, and logic, not on personal views or emotions. News analyses are structured with the most important and relevant information at the beginning, illustrating their headline-driven nature.
Example: What the China-Solomon Islands Pact Means for the U.S. and South Pacific
Columns
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Journalists write columns to share their expertise and insightful opinions on a specific topic or an issue. People who are fond of news reading mostly love this space in the newspaper or a website. It’s because columns help them to reshape their opinions by staying updated on ongoing events and knowing when to support what.
Example: On Gaza, Biden increasingly looks ineffective and weak
Entertainment journalism
It’s a form of journalism that covers the entertainment industry. It includes updates related to movies, TV shows, music, books, celebrities, and events. Entertainment journalism aims to inform, entertain, and educate the audience about the latest trends, news, reviews, and gossip in the entertainment world.
Example: Dwayne Johnson, Bad Bunny and Jennifer Lawrence Among Additional 2024 Oscar Presenters
Opinion pieces
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Opinion pieces are also commonly known as op-eds (short for ‘opposite the editorial page’). In these articles, authors generally share their unique perspectives on various subjects to provoke discussions. The subject can be politics, lifestyle, social issues, culture, or anything readers are interested in. They are typically published in newspapers, magazines, or online platforms.
Example: It’s personal: the reaction to Steve Wright’s death is proof of the power of radio Gillian Reynolds
Press Releases
Press releases are our next pick in the different types of news articles. They are official statements written by or on behalf of companies or individuals to announce some important information or developments to the public or media. Written in a structured format, they are distributed to journalists and news outlets to be distributed among the masses.
Example: Forbes Releases 21st Annual NBA Team Valuations
Sports journalism
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Sports journalism started back in the 1980s and includes the coverage of sporting events, athletes, and related news. It usually covers various aspects of sports for fans and viewers. To be precise, scores, statistics, analysis, commentary, predictions, profiles, interviews, and features.
Example: Bahrain GP: Carlos Sainz fastest from Fernando Alonso ahead of Friday qualifying in Sakhir
Photojournalism
Photojournalism is a form of journalism that documents a story via images, without (or with a few) words. It involves capturing candid and/ or spontaneous moments that highlight the experiences and emotions of the story.
Example: TIME’s Top 100 Photos of 2023
Conclusion
News articles inform and educate the readers about the events and issues that matter to them. However, not all news articles are identical. In this article, we explored different types of news articles that serve different purposes and audiences.
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