What are the best ways to conclude a news story?

The end of a news story is as important as the beginning. It can leave a lasting impression on the reader, summarize the main points, or provide a call to action. But how do you write a strong and effective conclusion that suits your purpose and audience? Here are some of the best ways to conclude a news story, depending on the type and format of your article.

1 Use the inverted pyramid

The inverted pyramid is a classic structure for news writing, where you present the most important information first, followed by supporting details and background. This helps you capture the reader's attention and answer the basic questions of who, what, when, where, why, and how. To conclude a news story using the inverted pyramid, you can simply end with the least important or most general information, or repeat the main point or angle of your story in a different way. For example, you can end with a quote, a statistic, a fact, or a prediction that relates to your topic.

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Randy Savicky

Founder & CEO, Writing For Humans™ | AI Content Editing | Content Strategy | Content Creation | ex-Edelman, ex-Ruder Finn
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The inverted pyramid is the classic way to construct a press release or a news story with the most important information first so it captures the reader’s attention immediately. The pyramid also answers the who, what, when, where, why and how of the story by laying out the supporting details – the most important descending to the least important. It was also designed so that editors of publications could cut from the bottom up of the story when fitting it into their publications back in the days of print media without losing the main details of the story.

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Ankit Gupta

Creative Producer | Shaping Brand Stories
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Summarize the Key Points: A good conclusion always helps the audience. Circle Back to the Beginning: This technique reinforces the overall message. Provide Future Outlook: In stories covering ongoing issues or events, it’s helpful to indicate what might happen next. Call to Action: If the story is about a social issue, environmental concern, or a community problem, concluding with a call to action or discussing the implications of the story can engage readers further and encourage them to think about their role or response. Offer a Balanced Viewpoint: In news stories where multiple perspectives are presented, it's often effective to conclude by briefly acknowledging these different viewpoints, reinforcing the story's objectivity.

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2 Use the circle

The circle is another common structure for news writing, where you start and end your story with the same idea, theme, or element. This creates a sense of closure and coherence for the reader, and reinforces your main message or perspective. To conclude a news story using the circle, you can refer back to the opening sentence, paragraph, or scene, or use a similar word, phrase, or image. For example, you can end with a question, a challenge, a recommendation, or a contrast that echoes your introduction.

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Christoph Meyer

Wenn der Kunde fragt: Am Ende hat's mindestens Brand Awareness gebracht! | Senior Marketing Manager @ S-KON Gruppe | Brand Marketing @ SC Victoria Hamburg e.V.
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Nichts liest sich besser, als eine runde Geschichte. Zeit, davon haben wir ohnehin alle zu wenig. Verwenden wir also den Kreis, um unsere Leserschaft bei uns zu behalten. Denn: Mit dem Kreis lösen wir auf, was wir am Anfang in den Raum gestellt haben. Sei es eine Herausforderung, Frage oder These.

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3 Use the kicker

The kicker is a short and catchy sentence or phrase that ends your story with a punch. It can be witty, clever, surprising, or provocative, and it can make the reader think, laugh, or feel something. To conclude a news story using the kicker, you need to be creative and original, and avoid clichés or platitudes. You also need to make sure that your kicker is relevant and appropriate for your topic and tone. For example, you can end with a twist, a pun, a joke, or a rhetorical question that sums up your story or adds a new dimension.

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4 Use the summary

The summary is a simple and straightforward way to conclude a news story, especially if it is long, complex, or analytical. It can help you recap the main points, arguments, or findings of your article, and remind the reader of the key takeaways or implications. To conclude a news story using the summary, you can use bullet points, subheadings, or a single paragraph to highlight the most important or interesting aspects of your story. You can also use transitional words or phrases, such as in conclusion, to sum up, or finally, to signal that you are ending your article.

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Christoph Meyer

Wenn der Kunde fragt: Am Ende hat's mindestens Brand Awareness gebracht! | Senior Marketing Manager @ S-KON Gruppe | Brand Marketing @ SC Victoria Hamburg e.V.
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Je komplexer der Text, desto wirksamer die Zusammenfassung. Studien zeigen: Selbst die besten Texte werden nahezu nie durchgelesen. Also hilft es immer, zusammenzufassen. Bei Landingpages bspw. zeigt sich: User lesen fast immer Bulletpoints, selten komplett ausformulierte Sätze.

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5 Use the call to action

The call to action is a powerful and persuasive way to conclude a news story, especially if it is about a social issue, a problem, or a solution. It can motivate the reader to do something, such as share your article, sign a petition, donate money, or join a movement. To conclude a news story using the call to action, you need to be clear and specific about what you want the reader to do, and why it matters. You also need to appeal to the reader's emotions, values, or interests, and use words that convey urgency, such as now, today, or immediately. For example, you can end with a request, an invitation, a command, or a suggestion that links your story to a bigger cause or goal.

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Jason Patterson

Founder of Jewel Content Marketing Agency | Truths & Memes | Content Strategy, Thought Leadership, Copywriting, Social Media 'n' Stuff for B2B & Tech
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Don't overthink a call to action. Because a CTA doesn't persuade the reader to act, it reminds them to act. What comes before the CTA does the convincing.

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Christoph Meyer

Wenn der Kunde fragt: Am Ende hat's mindestens Brand Awareness gebracht! | Senior Marketing Manager @ S-KON Gruppe | Brand Marketing @ SC Victoria Hamburg e.V.
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"Aber ich will doch, dass der Kunde von selbst kauft!" - Viele Selbstständige denken so. Und keine Sorge, das tut er auch. Dennoch ist es wichtig, mit einem guten CTA daran zu erinnern. Viel hilft viel. Denn ja, unser Kunde darf überzeugt werden. Im Deutschen sagen wir dazu: "Du kannst das Pferd nur zur Tränke bringen. Trinken muss es selbst."

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Christoph Meyer

Wenn der Kunde fragt: Am Ende hat's mindestens Brand Awareness gebracht! | Senior Marketing Manager @ S-KON Gruppe | Brand Marketing @ SC Victoria Hamburg e.V.
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Was mir beim Abschließen von Nachrichten am meisten hilft: Freundlichkeit. Ich versuche immer auf eine gesunde Ebene der Freundlichkeit zu kommen - egal, worum es sich handelt. Denn eines ist mal sicher: Menschen mögen (eher) Menschen, die freundlich zu ihnen sind.

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What are the best ways to conclude a news story?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Use the inverted pyramid

2 Use the circle

3 Use the kicker

4 Use the summary

5 Use the call to action

6 Here’s what else to consider

Content Development

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What are the best ways to conclude a news story?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Use the inverted pyramid

2 Use the circle

3 Use the kicker

4 Use the summary

5 Use the call to action

6 Here’s what else to consider

Content Development

Rate this article

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