Real‑world examples of structure of a news article (and how to copy them)

When teachers talk about the “structure of a news article,” they usually mean the inverted pyramid. The best way to understand it is to look at how big outlets cover breaking news.

Imagine a wildfire breaking out near Los Angeles. A typical digital hard‑news story on this might follow a structure like this:

• Headline: Short, urgent, specific. For example: “Wildfire Forces 20,000 to Evacuate Near Los Angeles.”
• Lead (first sentence): One sentence covering who, what, where, and when. “A fast‑moving wildfire burned through dry brush in the foothills north of Los Angeles on Tuesday night, forcing about 20,000 residents to evacuate, officials said.”
• Nut graf (second or third paragraph): Adds why it matters and context. “The fire, driven by strong Santa Ana winds and record‑low humidity, is the latest in a series of blazes that have strained California’s firefighting resources this year.”
• Key details in descending order of importance: Evacuation zones, road closures, number of firefighters, quotes from officials, weather forecasts.
• Background and history at the end: Past fires in the area, long‑term drought, policy debates.

This is one of the cleanest examples of structure of a news article: the most important information comes first, and each paragraph could be cut from the bottom up without confusing the reader.

If you want a real‑world reference, read a recent breaking story on a reputable site like AP News or a government update from Ready.gov. You’ll see this structure over and over.

Feature story structure: another example of how news articles are built

Straight hard news isn’t the only way to organize a story. Feature stories—think Sunday magazine pieces, in‑depth profiles, or human‑interest pieces—often flip the script.

Take a feature on long COVID from a national outlet in 2024. One example of structure of a news article in feature form might look like this:

• Narrative lead: Instead of starting with data, the story might open on a single person. “On a good day, Maria can walk her dog around the block. On a bad day, the 32‑year‑old former marathon runner gets winded climbing the stairs to her apartment.”
• Nut graf after a short scene: A few paragraphs in, the reporter zooms out: “Maria is one of an estimated 7% of U.S. adults living with long COVID symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” (That stat is based on ongoing data you can explore via CDC.gov.)
• Sections organized by theme: The story might then move through sub‑sections: symptoms, impact on work, what doctors know, what research says, policy debates.
• Quotes and data woven together: Doctors from NIH, patients, and researchers are quoted alongside numbers and studies.
• Return to the opening character: The last section often circles back to Maria, ending on a note that reflects the bigger issue.

Here, the structure of a news article is not strictly inverted pyramid. Instead, it’s a blend of narrative and explanatory sections. Yet it still has recognizable parts: a lead, a nut graf, organized body sections, and a closing that feels earned.

Local government meeting: examples of examples of structure of a news article

City council meetings, school board votes, and zoning hearings might sound boring, but they’re perfect examples of examples of structure of a news article that journalism students can practice with.

Imagine a local reporter covering a school board vote on a new cell phone policy for middle schoolers. The structure might look like this:

• Headline: “School Board Bans Cell Phones During Class in New Policy.”
• Straight news lead: “Students at Jefferson Middle School will no longer be allowed to use cell phones during class starting this fall, under a new policy approved by the district school board Monday night.”
• Nut graf with stakes: “The 5–2 vote follows months of debate among parents and teachers about whether smartphones are hurting students’ focus and mental health.”
• Key facts in order of importance:
  • When the policy takes effect
  • What exactly is banned (phones in lockers? hallways?)
  • How the vote broke down
  • What happens if students break the rule
• Quotes from both sides: A teacher supporting the ban, a parent opposing it, a student reaction.
• Background and context: Other districts making similar moves, research on screen time (here, linking to NIH can support the story).

These local meeting recaps are some of the best real examples of structure of a news article because they’re predictable: decision, vote, impact, reaction, context. If you’re practicing, watching a livestreamed meeting and writing a mock article is a great exercise.

Explainer pieces: modern digital examples of structure of a news article

Since 2020, explainer articles have exploded in popularity. During the COVID‑19 pandemic, for instance, readers wanted straight answers: What does this new variant mean? How do updated boosters work? Sites like Mayo Clinic and major newsrooms responded with clearly structured explainers.

A 2024 explainer on, say, new COVID booster recommendations might follow this structure:

• Clear, promise‑driven headline: “What to Know About the 2024 COVID Booster: Eligibility, Side Effects, and Timing.”
• Lead that states the takeaway: “Health officials are recommending updated 2024 COVID boosters for adults over 65 and people with certain medical conditions, aiming to protect those at highest risk from severe illness.”
• Nut graf framing the question: “Here’s what experts say about who should get the shot, when to schedule it, and how it fits with flu and RSV vaccines.”
• Body broken into question‑and‑answer sections:
  • Who should get the 2024 booster?
  • When should I get it?
  • Can I get it with the flu shot?
  • What side effects should I expect?
• Use of bullet points and subheads for scannability: Digital readers skim, so short sections and bolded key phrases help.
• Links to authoritative sources: CDC, NIH, Mayo Clinic, or similar.

This is another strong example of structure of a news article adapted for online reading. It still has a lead and nut graf, but the rest of the article is organized around reader questions instead of a strict time sequence.

Data‑driven investigations: deeper examples of structure of a news article

Investigative and data stories often need a hybrid structure. They must grab attention like hard news, explain like an explainer, and sometimes tell a human story like a feature.

Picture a 2025 investigation into rising heat‑related illnesses in U.S. cities. A likely structure:

• Impact‑first lead: “Heat‑related emergency room visits in Phoenix have nearly doubled over the past five years, even as city officials expand cooling centers and shade projects.”
• Nut graf summarizing the findings: “An analysis of hospital records, city heat maps, and federal climate data by the Daily Herald shows that low‑income neighborhoods are bearing the brunt of record‑breaking temperatures.”
• Short section explaining methodology: How data was collected, what time period, any limitations.
• Thematic sections:
  • Where heat hits hardest (maps, numbers)
  • Who is most affected (seniors, outdoor workers)
  • Why current policies fall short
  • What experts say should change
• Human stories sprinkled throughout: A construction worker who collapsed on the job, a senior living alone without AC.
• Context and solutions: References to federal guidance from sources like CDC, local policy proposals, and climate projections.

This structure shows that examples of structure of a news article aren’t limited to simple pyramids. Investigations often use a layered approach: headline findings first, then explanation, then personal stories and solutions.

Short digital updates: social‑friendly examples of structure of a news article

Not every story is 1,500 words long. In 2024–2025, many readers encounter news through quick updates on mobile or social platforms. Those brief posts are still examples of structure of a news article, just compressed.

Imagine a 200‑word update on a winter storm moving across the Midwest:

• Direct headline: “Winter Storm to Bring Heavy Snow, Dangerous Wind Chills to Midwest.”
• Lead: One sentence with the main impact and time frame.
• Second paragraph: Who is affected and where (states, major cities).
• Third paragraph: Key numbers—snow totals, wind speeds, temperature forecasts.
• Fourth paragraph: Safety guidance, often quoting the National Weather Service or a NOAA advisory.

Even in this short format, the structure of a news article is clear: impact, who/where, details, guidance. Many breaking news live blogs also use this pattern, with each update acting like a mini inverted pyramid.

Side‑by‑side: best examples of structure of a news article you can imitate

To make all of this practical, here are several best examples of structure of a news article you can mentally “copy” when you sit down to write:

• Breaking disaster: Lead with deaths/injuries, location, and cause (if known). Follow with official responses, eyewitness accounts, then background.
• Election result: Lead with who won, what office, and margin. Follow with turnout, key issues, quotes from winner and loser, then historical context.
• Science/health breakthrough: Lead with what changed for ordinary people (“A new drug cuts migraine days in half for some patients”). Follow with who it helps, what the study found, what experts say, and what questions remain. Link to sources like NIH or Mayo Clinic.
• Policy change (like minimum wage): Lead with what changes, when, and for whom. Follow with how many people are affected, arguments for and against, business reactions, and comparisons to other states.
• Sports game recap: Lead with the final score and the key moment. Follow with standout performances, turning points, post‑game quotes, and what it means for the season.
• Tech outage: Lead with what’s down and how many users are affected. Follow with how long it’s lasted, what the company says, and what users can do in the meantime.

Each of these is an example of structure of a news article you can adapt. Swap in your topic, keep the order of information, and you’ll be writing in a professional pattern.

How to practice using these real examples of structure of a news article

Seeing real examples of structure of a news article is helpful, but you’ll really learn it by doing. Here’s a simple way to practice using the patterns above:

Start by picking a topic already covered by a major outlet—maybe a new health guideline on CDC.gov or a local policy in your city. Read one or two stories on that topic and, instead of focusing on the exact words, outline what each paragraph does.

For example, you might write in your notebook:

• Paragraph 1: Main action + who/what/where/when
• Paragraph 2: Why it matters
• Paragraph 3: Key number + expert quote
• Paragraph 4: How it affects regular people
• Paragraph 5: Background from last year

That outline is your personal example of structure of a news article. Next, find a different topic—say, a new recycling program at your school—and plug it into the same outline. Keep the structure, change the content.

Over time, you’ll collect your own examples of examples of structure of a news article in your notes: one for breaking news, one for features, one for explainers, and so on. When an editor throws you a new assignment, you won’t be staring at a blank page. You’ll just pick the closest structure and start filling it in.

FAQ: short answers about examples of structure of a news article

Q: What are some simple examples of structure of a news article for beginners?
A: Start with three go‑to patterns: the inverted pyramid for breaking news (most important info first), the feature structure (story lead, then context, then themes), and the Q&A explainer (lead, nut graf, then bolded questions as subheads). These are the easiest examples of structure of a news article to imitate.

Q: Can I mix structures, or do I have to follow one example exactly?
A: You can absolutely mix them. Many modern stories start with a quick hard‑news lead, then shift into explainer sections or a short narrative. Think of the examples of examples of structure of a news article in this guide as starting points, not rigid rules.

Q: What is one example of a strong news lead?
A: A strong lead is specific and answers as many of the 5Ws (who, what, where, when, why) as possible without becoming clunky. For instance: “New York City will ban most gas‑powered leaf blowers starting in 2026, aiming to cut noise and air pollution in residential neighborhoods.”

Q: How long should each section of a news article be?
A: There’s no fixed length. Digital readers prefer short paragraphs—often one to three sentences. What matters more is logical order: lead, nut graf, then details and quotes arranged so a skimming reader can still follow the story.

Q: Where can I find more real examples of structure of a news article to study?
A: Check the homepages of major outlets and also look at authoritative sites that publish news‑style updates, like CDC, NIH, and large university newsrooms (for example, Harvard’s news site at harvard.edu). Skim the first six paragraphs and ask: what is each one doing? That habit will quickly train your eye for structure.