Writing and reporting
鉁嶏笍 How to Write an Article
Turn a pile of notes into a finished article: find the point, write the lede, pick a structure, handle numbers and quotes honestly, edit your own copy, and ship it with citations, a glossary, reader Q&A and hard-question answers.
- 1Find the Story in Your NotesSort a messy pile of notes, find the one thing that matters most, and write it down as a single sentence you can test every paragraph against.12 min
- 2Ledes That Earn the Second ParagraphWrite hard news, delayed and anecdotal ledes, know when each one fits, and repair the weak ledes everyone writes on the first try.14 min
- 3Structure: Pick the Shape Before You PourUse the nut graf, inverted pyramid, hourglass, narrative and explainer forms, and match each one to the story in front of you.15 min
- 4Documents, Numbers and Quotes on the PageGet percent and percentage points right, compare places fairly with per-capita math, adjust for inflation, read a budget without being fooled, and quote people accurately.16 min
- 5Headlines and SubheadsWrite headlines that state the news in plain words, keep them honest, and use subheads that let readers find their way through a long piece.11 min
- 6Edit Your Own CopyEdit your draft in passes: facts first, then structure, then sentences, then the phrasing that makes writing sound machine-made.15 min
- 7The Publishing PackageShip the article with citations and links, an honest infographic, a short glossary, a reader Q&A and an Interrogatories section that answers the hardest questions an opponent would ask.18 min