Anatomy of a news story

Let's take a look at the different parts that make up a news story...

Nameplate and section head

The nameplate is the name of the news source publishing the article. Below the nameplate is often a section title, such as “Politics,” “Opinion,” or “Sports.”

Headline and deck

The headline is meant to grab the reader’s attention and provide a brief summary of the story. This may be followed by a deck, which offers additional information.

Byline

The byline tells the reader who wrote the story. In digital articles, the byline may link to additional information about the writers’ work experience and expertise. 

Publication date and time

Digital stories often include the date and time a story was published and/or updated.

Dateline

The dateline traditionally tells readers where a story was reported and written, especially if it is at a location other than the publication’s home city. The city appears at the beginning of the first sentence in all caps. 

Lede

The lede is usually the first sentence or paragraph of a story, meant to draw in the reader and state the most important information.

Story body

Traditionally, writers have used an “inverted pyramid” form, putting the most important information at the top of the story and leaving the least important information for the end. 

Updates and corrections

Updates and corrections are often listed at the bottom of a story, but they may also be listed more prominently at the top. 

Understanding the basic structure of a news story can help you maximize your time and better determine an article’s relevance and credibility. 

Be a conscious consumer. Understand the structure of the news stories you read.

Sources:

Ball State University: “Newspaper terms to know,” https://bit.ly/3OKMTBp

Australian Broadcasting Company: “Describing different parts of a news story,” https://bit.ly/45fYlLK

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