![]() Some scholars have theorized that the inverted pyramid structure might actually be more difficult for readers to understand. Others link inverted pyramid style to the decline in newspaper readership, arguing that, by giving away the ending first, the structure goes against the very fundamentals of narrative. Some in the media critique the inverted pyramid for being artless, and certainly, it is not right for every news story, as it removes a great deal of autonomy from the reporter. If their reporter was writing in the reliable inverted pyramid structure, the most essential information would remain at the top. If an editor needs to cut an article, they can simply cut from the bottom. The inverted pyramid structure also benefits editors. In the event of a lost connection, whoever received the story could still print the essential facts. When news outlets would telegraph information over the wires, it made sense to use the inverted pyramid because the most vital information in the story was transmitted first. The inverted pyramid structure is the product of an old media technology-the telegraph. ![]() These are added to the article in order of importance, so that the least important items are at the bottom. The “nut” graphs that follow contain additional details, quotes from sources, statistics, background, or other information. A successful lead paragraph communicates, on a basic level, the essential facts of who did what, when, where, and why. What’s Essential?Įssential information generally refers to the oft-cited “Five Ws” of journalism: Who, What, When, Where, and Why. While some media writers are critical of the inverted pyramid structure, it remains one of the most widely used and time tested structures in mass media writing. Non-essential information appears in the following paragraphs, or “nut” graphs, in order of importance. Following this structure, the “base” of the pyramid-the most fundamental facts-appear at the top of the story, in the lead paragraph. Introductionįor decades, the “inverted pyramid” structure has been a mainstay of traditional mass media writing. For more information, please consult The Associated Press Stylebook 2012, 47 th edition. ![]() This resource, revised according to The Associated Press Stylebook 2012, offers examples for the general format of AP style. These resources provide an overview of journalistic writing with explanations of the most important and most often used elements of journalism and the Associated Press style. Writing Letters of Recommendation for Students. ![]()
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