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Questions and Answers
Why is age always written as a NUMERAL in AP Style for reporting purposest, as highlighted in the text "Writing in the Inverted Pyramid?"
What is the significance of obtaining specific times related to a fire incident, as highlighted in the text "Writing in the Inverted Pyramid?"
In what manner should a journalist attribute a statement of fact, according to the guidelines provided in "Writing in the Inverted Pyramid?"
Why is it important for a reporter to gather personal information such as age along with other details like address and occupation, as highlighted in the text "Writing in the Inverted Pyramid?"
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Journalists should gather specific times related to a fire incident even if they do not plan to use them in the story.
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It is acceptable for a reporter to make a statement of fact without attributing it to a specific source in news reporting it, as highlighted in the text "Writing in the Inverted Pyramid?"
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Study Notes
Inverted Pyramid Structure
- The inverted pyramid structure is a traditional writing style in mass media, where the most fundamental facts appear at the top of the story in the lead paragraph.
- The style requires objectivity and involves structuring a story to prioritize the most important details for ease of reading.
Origins of the Inverted Pyramid
- The inverted pyramid structure arose as a product of the telegraph, where telegraph connections often failed in the middle of transmission.
- The style proved useful in this context, as the editor still had the most important information at the beginning of the story.
Key Components of the Inverted Pyramid
- The Lead: The lead paragraph communicates the essential facts of who, what, when, where, and why.
- The "Nut" Graph: A paragraph (or paragraphs) that follows the lead, providing additional details, quotes, statistics, background, or other information.
- The Body: The body of the article provides more information about the story, in decreasing order of importance.
The Nut Graph
- The nut graph is a paragraph that follows the lead and indicates the impact of the story or clearly states the point of the story.
- It provides readers with the "gist" of the story and tells them why the story is important.
- The nut graph is often followed by the strongest direct quote.
Purpose of the Nut Graph
- The nut graph justifies the story by telling readers why they should care.
- It provides readers with the essential theme of the story and gives them a clear understanding of the story's importance.
Writing in the Inverted Pyramid Style
- Use the third person and avoid pronouns suited to opinion pieces.
- Use short, simple sentences and organize them into paragraphs of no more than three or four sentences.
- Present information in decreasing order of importance, not necessarily in chronological order.
- Use direct and indirect quotes from sources to maintain an objective tone.
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Description
Learn about the inverted pyramid structure in traditional mass media writing, where the most important facts are presented at the top of the story. Explore its significance and the debate surrounding its usage in media writing.
