What makes a news story successful?

A successful news story typically possesses several key elements that capture attention, convey information effectively, and resonate with the audience: 1. Relevance: Timeliness and relevance to current events or issues make a story impactful. 2. Accuracy and Credibility: Factual accuracy and reliability are fundamental. 3. Clarity and Simplicity: Clear, concise language and a straightforward narrative style help readers or viewers understand the story easily. 4. Impact: Stories that have a significant impact on individuals, communities, or society tend to be successful. 5. Human Interest: Personal stories or human elements within a news piece often resonate with audiences.

"A successful news story captures attention with a compelling angle, relevance, and timeliness. It engages audiences by providing informative, balanced, and trustworthy content that resonates with their interests or concerns, fostering discussion and impact."

Un bon reportage c'est avant tout une bonne préparation en amont. Travailler son sujet avant de se déplacer, c'est laisser la porte ouverte à l'inconnu, la découverte et la révélation.

A news story is successful if it has an impact on the consumer. For example, it could be educating on something. In short, have an aim of why you need to write don't write for the sake of.

A successful story should be able to get to the intended audience, comprehensible, generate reactions both positives and negatives.

You need to know who you are communicating with. Why is what you want to tell them (in any medium) important for them. How do they receive news best ? Is it in short form, long form ? Video ? Pictures with a caption or simple words. Don’t alienate yourself by thinking people have to listen to you. They don’t !

News value is what makes a story worth watching. Sometimes, we may find an assignment boring, especially if it wasn't "our" idea. But, there is always a way to make a story interesting. Some are easily defined, breaking news, hard news, or feature stories. Others challenge us to dig, brainstorm, or just ask questions until we find the angle that draws the audience in, to think, 'I never knew that', 'I never thought of it that way', or elicits an emotion. We all love the 'big' stories. But it's the gray area stories that challenge us. If we're given a story that seems to be a non story, find an angle that's interesting anyway. There is always something, and it's our job to find it.

Agreed, the inverted pyramid is a starting point. Sometimes, in a time crunch, it's all we can do. But if possible don't stop there. Find an angle, a tidbit, visuals, pacing, or writing that sets your story apart. Tell your story like a story. A lot of stories seem to almost fit a template. Another this, or another that. But beware, that is a trap. It is the trail to mediocrity. I learned a lesson early on. One weekend morning I was sent to cover an annual festival. "Yes, it's covered every year," more experienced reporters told me. "Find a way to tell that story like no one else has ever done." 20+ years, and dozens of reporting awards later, that was the key!! Find a way to tell the story like no one else has ever done before.

As I see it, the most important storytelling element is to remember, we are indeed storytelling. Make it simple to understand. Use pacing, pausing and inflections: as if you’re telling a story…because you are. Reflect the emotional tone of the news story. The same principles that make any storytelling engaging apply also to journalistic storytelling.

To incorporate the elements of storytelling to make a news story successful,you can follow these steps: First identify the main message or theme of your story.Secondly choose a clear and compelling structure for your story.A common structure for news stories is the inverted pyramid, which starts with the most important and relevant information(who, what, when, where, why, and how)and then provides additional details and background.Thirdly develop your characters and setting.Who are the people involved in your story?How do they interact with each other and with the situation?Fourthly create conflict and tension.What is the problem or issue that your story addresses?Then incorporate sources and evidence.At finish end with a strong conclusion.