A Taxonomy of News Stories
A few reliable structures to think about
The News Brief
A short news item, typically 200 to 250 words, which conveys a single piece of information. Almost always in inverted pyramid style. Examples: 1. A public figure said something: “Trump warns Kim Jong Un that if he ‘utters one threat,’ he will ‘regret it fast.’” 2. A poll was released: “51 percent of Trump supporters want Trump to try and make ObamaCare work.”
The Listicle
A list that makes a point. A series of similar events, ideas, memes, quotes, etc., which add up to a thesis or evoke a certain mood. Examples: 1. A public figure keeps saying something: “21 times Donald Trump has assured us he respects women.” 2. A summary of a complicated subject: “The 16 most memorable quotes from Trump’s press conference.”
The Ranking
A list that is ordered by importance or value. Often done in arts coverage as a way of giving an overview of a big topic or in news analysis and opinion as a lighter way to critique something. Examples: 1. The guide to an artist: “All 213 Beatles Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best.” 2. The snarky overview of a news event. “Trump’s First 100 Days, Ranked.”
The Question and Answer
A medium length story which features the text of a short interview with a newsy subject, either a public figure or someone with a compelling story. Typically edited and condensed to make it more readable. Examples: 1. The expert: “Vivek Murthy Thinks We Need to Learn How to Deal With Stress.” 2. The celebrity in the news: “Kate McKinnon Hates Letting Her Hair Down.”
The Oral History
A recounting of a notable event or subject, told almost entirely through quotes from participants. Heavily edited and condensed to make the narrative flow better. Examples: 1. The band: “An Oral History of the Beastie Boys on the 25th Anniversary of Licensed to Ill.” 2. The event: “‘The moment when it really started to feel insane’: An oral history of the Scaramucci era.”
The Classic Daily
A medium-length news story, often around 600 words, which pushes forward a major story incrementally. Typically written with a straight news lede. Examples: 1. The aftermath of an act of violence: “Father: Woman killed by officer was ‘ripped from our arms.’” 2. Officials react to a problem: “Widening egg scandal hits 17 countries in Europe.”
The Tick Tock
A medium-length story which breaks down how a recent story happened, hour by hour or even minute by minute. Aside from a nut graf, mostly chronological. Examples: 1. The political decision: “Talks Implode During a Day of Chaos; Fate of Bailout Plan Remains Unresolved.” 2. The accident: “Deepwater Horizon’s Final Hours.”
The Timeline
Similar to a Tick Tock, but on a longer time scale. A series of dates or moments that led to a recent news event or are somehow related. Examples: 1. The career highlights: “The Rise and Fall of Steve Bannon: A Timeline.” 2. The list of similar events: “Barcelona terror — timeline of vehicle rampage attacks in Europe.”
The Big Picture
A medium-length story which explains the significance of a major story. May have an anecdotal lede or other alternative to the straight news lede. Examples: 1. The analysis of a recent announcement: “The TV-streaming paradox: Why you may miss the cable bundle.” 2. The explanation: “What does North Korea really want? Its playbook offers clues.”
The Take
A quick analysis or reaction to news events written and published while they are still trending. Examples: 1. The quick reaction to a speech or other news event: “In Phoenix, Donald Trump committed a sin he’s never committed before: he was boring.” 2. The comparison of a newsy thing to one being overlooked: “The Monuments Trump Doesn’t Support.”
The Column
A regular writer from the newspaper’s editorial board writes a personal reflection or a more subjective analysis of a recent news event. Examples: 1. The quick reaction to something a politician said: “We’re Journalists, Mr. Trump, Not the Enemy.” 2. The personal reflection: “A reminder that it’s good to be an Earthling.”
The First Person
A medium-length first-person essay that attempts to give insight into a recent news story, especially a controversy. Examples: The person at the center of a news story tells his or her side: “Why I Was Fired by Google.” 2. The person who has been in a similar situation explains it: “I’m a woman in computer science. Let me ladysplain the Google memo to you.”
This is a work in progress. Let me know what I’m missing in the comments.
