Section 1 — The News
Session 3 of 16
Monday, June 8, 2026
How journalists write
Professional journalism has a specific structure, style, and set of rules — none of which most readers are aware of. Understanding how journalists write gives you the ability to read more critically. You'll learn the inverted pyramid structure, the language of attribution, and the grammar patterns that are unique to English-language news writing.
Vocabulary for this session
ledeinverted pyramidattributionanglebylinedatelinehookbalanceobjectivityquote
Grammar focus
Grammar focus: Reporting verbs and attribution — "said", "claimed", "alleged", "argued", "warned", "denied", "confirmed". Each verb signals a different relationship between speaker and fact. "Said" is neutral; "claimed" implies doubt; "alleged" implies unproven; "denied" implies accusation.
Come prepared to discuss
"Can a journalist ever be truly objective? Should they even try to be?"
Before this session
Prepare: Read one news article in English. Identify: the lede (opening sentence), the first quote, and who the main source is.
Task-Based Activity
Anatomy of an Article. Give students a news article and a color-coding system: yellow = lede, blue = quotes, green = background/context, pink = attribution language. Students color the article, then compare. What percentage is quotes? Who is quoted? Who is not? Is the structure really inverted pyramid?
Career-Oriented Take — How to Frame It
Professional writing in English — reports, emails, presentations — often follows the inverted pyramid structure: most important information first, supporting detail below. Journalists learn this discipline early. Business writers who apply it get read; those who don't, don't.
Big Picture — Global Context
"Objectivity" in journalism emerged as a professional norm in the 20th century — partly for genuine ethical reasons, partly to avoid lawsuits, partly to appeal to the widest possible audience. It is a standard that has always been contested. Today, many journalists argue for "transparency" over "objectivity" — be clear about your values, rather than pretending you don't have any.
Current Events Take
Find a news article about a topic students care about. Ask: How many quotes are there? Who is quoted first? Who speaks most? Whose voice is absent? Often, the structure of attribution reflects the structure of power.
Homework (assign after session)
Write a five-sentence news report about something that happened this week — using the inverted pyramid structure and at least one piece of attribution language ("according to", "said", "claimed"). Bring it to class.