Category: Journalism

5W and 1H of Report Writing Example in Journalism

5W and 1H of Report Writing in Journalism, Types of News Reporting in Journalism. Example of News Writing Process. 5ws and 1h Example.

5W and 1H of Report Writing

The 5 WS and 1H of report writing refer to the inverted pyramid style of news writing in which journalists present essential info at the top by answering the who, where, what, when, why, and how questions. A reporter answers all these five w's and one h questions throughout the news lead. Therefore, these are the essential elements that the reporter should keep in mind while writing and publishing a news story. It improves the news values in journalism. For example, the writer must follow the 5 Ws and 1H news writing methods to achieve the completeness of news value in journalism. 

  1. Who (who is involved?)
  2. Where (where did it happen?)
  3. What (what is happening?)
  4. When (when did it happen?)
  5. Why (why did it happen?)
  6. Also, how (how it happens?)
5W and 1H of Report Writing- Example of News Writing Process
5W and 1H of Report Writing Example
Different Types of Journalism
News Writing Process

The news writing process will help you to know how to write a complete news article. It also represents the essential elements of a news story and how to follow them individually.

News Report Writing Format and Example

The eight elements of a news report or newspaper article are:

  1. Title/ Headline
  2. Author name/ Byline
  3. Dateline
  4. Lead
  5. Body
  6. Conclusion
  7. Photo
  8. Caption
1. Title/Headline

The headline is the most crucial element of a news report to attract readers to read the full article. An excellent perfect headline also concludes the news.

Elements of the Title or Headline

A good headline or title should be 1. Provocative, 2. Functional, 3. Simple, 4. Informal, 5. Relevant, also 6. Representative.

Example of Headline- Government officials accepting bribes are hunted

  1. Byline/ Author Name

For example,

Government Officials Accepting Bribes are Hunted

By: M M Kobiruzzaman
  1. Dateline

For example,

Government Officials Accepting Bribes are Hunted
By: M M Kobiruzzaman
KUALA LUMPUR 2 July
  1. Lead

Lead writing is the most critical section of the news for readers to understand the entire message of the news story from this section. The news lead presents the most newsworthy and essential information to attract readers to read the entire article. Therefore, journalists use the 5 WS and 1H report writing strategy to introduce the importance of news. The writers widely use the five w and one h news writing approaches for the lead section. A good lead highlights the central info of the report. However, a good news lead never exceeds 25-35 words.

The inverted pyramid news-writing formula includes three essential parts of an ideal news story: the lead, body, and tail.

For example,

Government Officials Accepting Bribes are Hunted
By: M M Kobiruzzaman
KUALA LUMPUR 2 July

Lead 1: KUALA LUMPUR 2 July - The malaysian anti -corruption commission (sprm) has detected several government officials suspected of being involved in corrupt activities in cameron highlands.

Lead 2: Government officials are suspected among the recipients of bribes that are the cause of government efforts to restore environmental damage in cameron highlands failed.
  1. News Body or Details Info

The news body refers to the main content of the news reporting that describes and explains the facts. It is the report's prime part; it presents the whole story of the issue. If the full report covers seven paragraphs, usually, the body starts with paragraph 3 until 5.

For example,

Government Officials Accepting Bribes are Hunted
By: M M Kobiruzzaman
KUALA LUMPUR 2 July

Lead 1: KUALA LUMPUR 2 July - The malaysian anti -corruption commission (sprm) has detected several government officials suspected of being involved in corrupt activities in cameron highlands.

Lead 2: Government officials are suspected among the recipients of bribes that are the cause of government efforts to restore environmental damage in cameron highlands failed.

Body 1: Sources said the MACC will make follow -up arrests on the issue of leakage in Cameron Highlands soon.

Body 2: “If before, we arrested the bribe givers but after this we will conduct the same operation to hunt down those who accept bribes. Anyone including government officials and middlemen who helped launch the bribery process will be arrested.

Body 3: "We will also not hesitate to take action even against those in authority in the case of land encroachment there," said a source involved in the corruption investigation in Cameron Highlands here today.
  1. Tails

The conclusion again highlights the central fact of the issues that have already been reported on the lead and news body.

For example,

Conclusion 1: Meanwhile, the director of the sprm intelligence division, Datuk Azam Baki, when contacted, stressed that his party would never compromise if there was any element of corruption involving government officials or enforcement officers in the issue.

Conclusion 2: “those arrested were bribe givers and the results of our further investigation have identified those who received bribes. further action will be taken, "he said

News Article with 5w and 1h Example

Government Officials Accepting Bribes are Hunted 
By: M M Kobiruzzaman 
KUALA LUMPUR 2 July 

Lead 1: KUALA LUMPUR 2 July - The malaysian anti -corruption commission (sprm) has detected several government officials suspected of being involved in corrupt activities in cameron highlands. 

Lead 2: Government officials are suspected among the recipients of bribes that are the cause of government efforts to restore environmental damage in cameron highlands failed.

Body 1: Sources said the MACC will make follow -up arrests on the issue of leakage in Cameron Highlands soon. 

Body 2: “If before, we arrested the bribe givers but after this we will conduct the same operation to hunt down those who accept bribes. Anyone including government officials and middlemen who helped launch the bribery process will be arrested. 

Body 3: "We will also not hesitate to take action even against those in authority in the case of land encroachment there," said a source involved in the corruption investigation in Cameron Highlands here today.

Conclusion 1: Meanwhile, the director of the sprm intelligence division, Datuk Azam Baki, when contacted, stressed that his party would never compromise if there was any element of corruption involving government officials or enforcement officers in the issue.

Conclusion 2: “those arrested were bribe givers and the results of our further investigation have identified those who received bribes. further action will be taken, "he said
Types of News Reporting in Journalism

The 5 WS and 1H of report writing strategy are applicable for all types of news report writing including crime, sports, economic, disaster, and feature news reporting.

  1. Crime News Reporting
  2. Sports News Reporting
  3. Economic News Reporting
  4. Disaster news reporting
  5. Features News Reporting

1. Crime News Reporting

Crime news reporting refers to reporting related to crime issues, including police, victims, and criminals.

2. Sports News Reporting

Sports News Reporting means writing and publishing news related to the development of the sports industry locally or internationally.

3. Economic News Reporting

Economic News Reporting means news writing related to the economic and financial system in-country or worldwide.

4. Disaster News Reporting

Disaster News Reporting means news reporting that will affect the emotions of the involved victim.

5. Features News Reporting

The most common types of features in journalism are profile, review, round-up,  how-to, personal expertise,  and travel feature writing.

What Should Journalists Report?

Firstly, the journalist should report the severe issues in society.

The journalist reports great crime news in the society or community.

Finally, a journalist should report the local crime to the identity of the criminal and victim.

Types of Photojournalism- Different Types of Photojournalism

Types of Photojournalism- Different Types of Photojournalism & Photography PDF. Examples of Photojournalism.

Photojournalism

Photojournalism uses photography to explain a moment, issue, incident, or story. It is a way of storytelling that represents a story visually via photos. Photojournalism is a part of print journalism that has become an essential part of journalism. In photojournalism, the photo attracts the audience to spend more time on it. It attracts the readers to read the entire story like a news lead. A good photo illustrates the entire story shortly.

Types of Photojournalism

Different Types of Photojournalism in Photography

The Eight Types of Photojournalism are:

  1. Spot News Photojournalism
  2. General News Photojournalism
  3. Feature Photojournalism
  4. Sports Action Photojournalism
  5. Sports Features Photojournalism
  6. Portrait/Personality Photojournalism
  7. Pictorial Photojournalism
  8. Illustration Photojournalism
1. Spot News Photojournalism

Spot news photographs carry an urgent, unplanned, and often unpleasant or undesirable ambiance. The coverage cannot be scheduled in advance. Spot news photography includes automobile accidents, airplane crashes, tornadoes, fires, murders, bank robberies, etc. It also represents various acute, exciting, and usually noteworthy occurrences that help characterize life. Usually, spot news occurs without notice and ends quickly, or its most newsworthy aspects do. Unless aftermath photos are acceptable, photographers must arrive soon. Many newspaper photographers use police monitors, cellular telephones, and social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to get spot news.

Spot photojournalism

Covering Spot News

Once the photographer has arrived, the key to successfully covering spot news is to quickly ascertain what is going on and decide which aspect is the most important and truthful—which element is the most appropriate. Then photographers marshal all the technological and creative aspects of photojournalism to inform readers well within appropriate legal restraints and ethical limitations. Photographers should always record what appears to be the essential aspect first. It would help if you made every reasonable effort to keep intrusion to a minimum—by using attention-getting flash, staying physically as far from the action as possible, respecting police lines, take care not to destroy potential evidence—by walking on them.

Spot news often presents two sides: the hard-core event and the secondary but often humanizing aspects.

2. General News Photojournalism

Journalistic organizations schedule the general news photojournalism process, termed general or planned news. Covering general news may not have the adrenaline-producing excitement of raging fires, police shootouts, etc., but this category regularly offers photojournalists opportunities to inform readers about significant happenings. General news allows photojournalists to plan to know a story—what it is, where it came from, where it is, and where it probably is headed. If time allows, delve into subjects so you can make informed decisions about coverage and emphasis—you can avoid covering the superficial and obvious gimmick setup. Photojournalists should get familiar with the subject and physical layout of coverage sites.

Covering General News

You must be cooperative with reporters from your organization who can help you in your quest to inform readers visually. Reporters can provide insight into a story that photojournalists might miss.

Hard News
Two Types of General News
  1. Hard News: Something that’s happening now. It’s “important” news. Seeks to inform rather than entertain.
  2. Breaking News: Hard news that’s happening right now. An ongoing story. 
3. Features News Photojournalism

The feature is a broad category that includes images with at least some news value and pictures that may easily fit in one or more other non-news categories.

Two Types of Feature photojournalism  are:

1) Lighthearted images that entertain more than inform.
2) Serious images that inform more than entertain.

Feature photojournalism examples:

For example, light-hearted images are squirrels chewing on nuts, children playing in large boxes, and parents pushing children on swings.

For example, serious images are dying people with AIDS mounting a valiant fight against the disease, a child violin prodigy destined for fame. Serious images convey news overtones or connections or probe the life of their community, to reach toward their subjects’ hearts and souls.

Editors use feature articles when space is available, and they have no images of a more severe and essential nature or when the graphically dull page needs sprucing up.

4. Sports Action Photojournalism 

Sports action images are interested in capturing the actions as they happen. Photographing sports action is dangerous. 

However, there are three important ways to minimize your risk in covering spots action and to ensure you record critical moments:

  1. Firstly, knowing how games are played.
  2. Secondly, knowing players' and coaches' strengths, weaknesses, and preferences.
  3. Finally, constantly being alert to potential as well as actual action.
Sports Features Photojournalism
Example of the best sports photojournalism of the year 2024

2024 best sports photojournalism of the year

6. Portrait / Personality Photojournalism

The portrait/Personality category is not all faces, but it offers glimpses into hearts and souls. The photographer lets readers walk in the shoes of those pictured.

Although faces lend themselves to the person's scrutiny, portrait/personality images need not be facial views to probe for deeper meaning. Back pictures and body forms can speak volumes. Good portrait/personality images reveal as much about the photographer as the photographer. Only image-makers attuned to nuances of nonverbal communication and comfortable with personal interaction can consistently visually plumb subjects’ inner selves. It represents emotion and sympathy.

Portrait Photojournalism

7. Pictorial Photojournalism

Outstanding images in the pictorial category showcase the artistic side of photojournalism. Pictorials typically depend on light and form and their interaction. These images make readers pause, perhaps to reminisce about pleasant and similar experiences or to feel a little better and a little brighter.

 Pictorial typically entertains more than informs.

8. Illustration Photojournalism

Illustration photojournalism refers to combined or manipulated images that create a “new” image. Nevertheless, news photographers can not manipulate a picture without calling it a photo illustration.  Images in this category visually try to convey ideas concepts, and products. Both categories demand a particularly high technical photographic expertise and keen, incisive minds that can produce images that convey the intended messages while doing so in clever, eye-catching ways.

Examples Photo of Illustration Photojournalism

Illustration Photojournalism

In conclusion, the eight examples of photojournalism are spot news, general news, feature, sports action, sports features, portrait, pictorial and illustration photojournalism.