When writing a news update, your goal is to inform readers about current events and happenings. The best way to accomplish this is by using direct quotes from people involved in the story, citing their names and titles where appropriate. The article should also follow an inverted pyramid format, with the most important information (the news angle) at the beginning of the article and the least relevant details at the end. Use proper spelling and grammar. For example, a person’s full first name or both initials should be used on the first reference; a middle initial isn’t necessary. In addition, write articles in third person unless there is compelling reason to switch to first or second person.
When possible, link your topic to a larger news peg, like a celebrity death, a current war or a holiday or anniversary that will provide a fresh news hook for the story. It is helpful to keep a news diary where you can make notes whenever a potential follow-up story suggests itself. Follow-up stories should be treated in the same inverted pyramid style as the original piece, but they should include more background to put the event into context. Write a strong concluding paragraph that restates the leading statement (thesis) of your article and indicates any possible future developments in the story’s subject. For help with this, read other news articles or watch television to see how a news anchor wraps up a story.