News Story Format Checklist

Here is the checklist for news story format which you requested. It's also posted on the Grace Portal.

Checklist for Newspaper Story Format

1. Times Roman typeface, 12 point

2. All stories double-spaced, with NO extra spaces between paragraphs

3. Indent each paragraph

4. Paragraph should be no more than 4 or 5 sentences. Three is better.

5. Headline should be a sentence, SVO (Subject, Verb and Object)

6. Center headline, Upper/lower case, over article

7. Under headline put the byline – by ….. (your name)

8. At bottom right of first page put (more) if story continues

9. At top right of second and succeeding page, put a slugline that includes (a) your last name, (b) story identifier, (c) page number

10. When story is completed, put an endmark (### or -30-) centered under last graf

11. Use AP style in all instances for dates, state abbreviations, capitalization, use of numerals, etc.

12. News stories should be inverted pyramid format, all in third person. Never use first or second person in news story. Lead graf should include as many of the 5W’s (who, what, where, when, why, and how) as possible.

13. All opinion must be quoted and attributed. Only in opinion or op/ed pieces, reviews, and perhaps sports may the reporter inject any personal opinion.

14. Vary the use of quotes with a judicious mixture of direct quote, partial quote, and indirect (paraphrase) quotation.

15. Be sure the most important news element is in the lead. Don’t “bury the lead” by having the REAL news down in the story somewhere.