Examples of Writing a News Article Summary: 3 Practical Examples

Let’s start with a straight hard-news story, because many of the best examples of writing a news article summary come from fast-moving events.

Imagine this (loosely based on recent U.S. hurricane seasons and typical reporting from the National Weather Service):

A Category 3 hurricane makes landfall near Tampa, Florida, bringing 120 mph winds, storm surge up to 9 feet in some coastal areas, and widespread power outages. Local officials issue evacuation orders for low-lying neighborhoods, airports cancel hundreds of flights, and the governor activates the National Guard. Forecasters warn that heavy rain and flash flooding could continue for 24–36 hours as the storm moves inland.

You might see a full article that’s 800–1,200 words long, including quotes, background on previous storms, and detailed forecasts. Your job is to turn that into a tight, accurate news article summary.

Example of a strong 2–3 sentence breaking news summary

Here’s one of our core examples of writing a news article summary: 3 practical examples starts right here:

A Category 3 hurricane made landfall near Tampa, Florida, bringing 120 mph winds, dangerous storm surge, and widespread power outages across the region. State and local officials ordered evacuations in low-lying coastal areas, canceled hundreds of flights, and activated the National Guard as forecasters warned of life‑threatening flooding over the next 24–36 hours.

Why this works:

• It leads with who/what/where/when in one sentence: hurricane, Florida, landfall, timing implied as current.
• It includes impact (power outages, evacuations, flight cancellations, flooding risk).
• It keeps one clear angle: this is about immediate public safety and government response.

Here’s a shorter version, the kind you might use as a social media caption or a quick brief:

A Category 3 hurricane hit near Tampa, Florida, with 120 mph winds and dangerous storm surge, knocking out power and forcing evacuations in coastal communities.

This second version is more compressed but still accurate. When you study examples like this, notice how each word earns its place.

How to build this kind of summary (step by step)

Using this first example of writing a news article summary, you can follow a simple pattern:

Start by answering these questions in plain language:

• Who is affected?
• What happened?
• Where and when did it happen?
• Why does it matter right now?

Then:

• Keep numbers that show scale (120 mph, 9 feet of surge, hundreds of flights).
• Cut colorful but non‑essential details (long quotes, personal anecdotes, historical comparisons) unless your assignment specifically asks for them.

When you practice, try writing two versions for the same article:

• A 2–3 sentence version like the one above.
• A one‑sentence version, forcing yourself to make tough choices.

Those paired versions become your own personal set of examples of writing a news article summary you can revisit and refine.

Example 2: Science/Health News Summary (Research Story)

Science and health stories are where many students and new writers struggle. There’s data, there’s nuance, and there’s a real risk of misrepresenting the findings. Let’s walk through an example of a research-based news article.

Imagine a news report based on a study summarized by the National Institutes of Health:

A large U.S. study followed 10,000 adults over 10 years and found that people who walked at least 8,000 steps a day on most days had a 40% lower risk of dying from any cause, compared with people who walked fewer than 4,000 steps. The study controlled for age, smoking, and pre‑existing conditions. Researchers noted that benefits leveled off around 10,000 steps and emphasized that even modest increases in daily activity improved health outcomes.

The full article might include quotes from researchers, background on previous step-count debates, and tips from doctors. Your summary has to capture the main finding without exaggerating.

Example of a clear science/health news summary

Here’s a second one of our examples of writing a news article summary: 3 practical examples, focused on a health story:

A decade‑long U.S. study of 10,000 adults found that people who regularly walked at least 8,000 steps a day had about a 40% lower risk of death from any cause than those who walked under 4,000 steps, even after accounting for age, smoking, and existing health conditions. Researchers said health benefits increased with more daily steps but appeared to level off around 10,000, and stressed that any boost in daily walking can improve overall health.

Why this works:

• It states the type of study (long‑term, large sample, U.S. adults).
• It includes the key statistic (40% lower risk) and comparison groups.
• It signals limitations and nuance (benefits level off; any increase helps).

Here’s a slightly shorter version, closer to what you might see as a sidebar summary:

A 10‑year study of 10,000 U.S. adults suggests that walking at least 8,000 steps most days is linked to a roughly 40% lower risk of death compared with walking under 4,000 steps, with benefits tapering off around 10,000 steps.

Again, this example of a news article summary keeps the core message but trims extra explanation.

Common mistakes to avoid in science/health summaries

When you’re creating your own examples of writing a news article summary for research stories, watch out for these traps:

• Turning correlation into causation. The study may show a link, not proof that walking causes longer life.
• Dropping the comparison. “Walking is good for you” is not as helpful as “8,000 vs. 4,000 steps.”
• Ignoring who was studied. Age, country, and health status matter.

If you want to double‑check your understanding of a health story before summarizing, compare the article to a trusted source like Mayo Clinic or CDC. Their explanations can help you phrase things accurately.

Example 3: Feature-Style News Summary (Human Interest / Trend)

Now let’s look at a different flavor of news: a feature story. In 2024–2025, many news outlets are publishing in‑depth pieces on topics like remote work, AI tools in classrooms, and mental health trends among teens. These articles are longer and more narrative, but you still need to summarize them clearly.

Imagine this kind of feature:

A national newspaper publishes a 2,000‑word story on how U.S. high schools are handling student mental health. The article follows several students, quotes counselors and parents, and cites data from the CDC showing rising rates of persistent sadness and suicidal thoughts among teens. It also describes schools adding more counselors, testing telehealth therapy, and training teachers to recognize warning signs.

Example of a feature news summary

Here’s the third of our examples of writing a news article summary: 3 practical examples, this time for a feature:

A new national report on U.S. high schools describes how educators are scrambling to respond to rising student mental health needs, as federal data show more teens reporting persistent sadness and suicidal thoughts. Through interviews with students, parents, and counselors, the article highlights longer wait times for school-based services, experiments with telehealth therapy, and efforts to train teachers to spot warning signs earlier.

Why this works:

• It captures the central theme: schools trying to respond to a growing mental health crisis.
• It weaves together data and human stories without getting lost in individual anecdotes.
• It mentions specific responses (telehealth, training, longer wait times).

A more compact version might read:

A feature on U.S. high schools reports that rising rates of teen mental health struggles, documented in recent CDC data, are straining school counseling services and pushing districts to test telehealth therapy and teacher training programs.

Again, you can see how this example of a news article summary keeps the focus on the main trend, not every character in the story.

Beyond the Big 3: More Real Examples of News Article Summaries

The title promises examples of writing a news article summary: 3 practical examples, but you’ll learn faster if you see how the same method works across different beats. Here are a few more quick, real‑world style examples.

Local politics example

In a 5–2 vote Tuesday night, the city council approved a new zoning plan that allows taller apartment buildings near public transit, a move supporters say will ease the housing shortage while critics warn about traffic and rising rents.

Business and technology example

After months of negotiations, a major automaker and its largest union reached a tentative contract agreement that raises wages, adds cost‑of‑living adjustments, and ends a six‑week strike that had halted production at key U.S. plants.

Sports example

The Kansas City Chiefs won their third Super Bowl in five years with a 27–24 overtime victory, as quarterback Patrick Mahomes led a late game‑tying drive and a decisive touchdown in the extra period.

Education / AI trend example

A growing number of U.S. universities are updating their academic integrity policies to address AI tools like ChatGPT, with some professors banning them outright while others encourage students to use them transparently for brainstorming and editing.

Each of these is a compact example of writing a news article summary: the main action, the key players, and the impact or controversy—all in one or two sentences.

How to Turn Any Article into a Strong Summary

By now you’ve seen several concrete examples of writing a news article summary: 3 practical examples in depth and several shorter ones across topics. Here’s a simple pattern you can apply to any article you’re working with.

Step 1: Find the main angle

Ask yourself:

• If I had 10 seconds to explain this article to a friend, what would I say?
• What changed because of what happened in this story?

The answer is usually your first sentence.

Step 2: Pull out the must‑know facts

Scan the article for:

• Who is involved
• What happened or what the study found
• Where and when it happened
• Why it matters now

Those pieces become the backbone of your summary.

Step 3: Cut everything that doesn’t support the angle

This is where many beginners struggle. When in doubt, cut:

• Long quotes (you rarely need more than a short phrase in a summary).
• Extra background that doesn’t change your main point.
• Colorful details that are nice but not necessary.

Look back at the earlier hurricane and health study examples. Both cut quotes and side stories. They kept only what the reader must know to understand the core message.

Step 4: Check for accuracy and neutrality

Before you call it done, ask:

• Did I add my opinion or emotional language that wasn’t in the original?
• Did I exaggerate the findings or the impact?
• Would the original reporter recognize their story in my summary?

For health and science pieces, it can help to cross‑check with a trusted site like NIH, CDC, or Mayo Clinic to make sure you’re not overstating what the study actually shows.

FAQ: Examples of Writing a News Article Summary

What are some good examples of a one-sentence news article summary?

Good examples include lines like: “The city council approved a new zoning plan allowing taller apartments near transit in a 5–2 vote, with supporters arguing it will ease the housing shortage and critics warning about traffic.” One sentence, but it still tells you what changed, who decided, and why people care.

How long should a news article summary be?

For class assignments, teachers often ask for 3–5 sentences. In professional newsrooms, summaries can be as short as one sentence (for a brief) or two to three sentences (for a summary box or newsletter). The key is not the word count—it’s whether your summary captures the main angle and the most important facts.

Can I use quotes in a news article summary?

You can, but use them sparingly. Most strong examples of news article summaries either skip quotes entirely or include a short phrase that captures a key idea, such as a researcher calling a result “promising but preliminary.” Long quotes usually belong in the full article, not the summary.

What’s the difference between a summary and an opinion about a news article?

A summary restates the article’s main points in your own words without adding judgment. An opinion piece tells the reader what you think about those points. If your summary includes phrases like “this is unfair,” “this is a bad idea,” or “obviously,” you’ve crossed into opinion.

Where can I find more real examples of writing a news article summary?

Look at the short blurbs on the homepages of major news sites, or the little summary paragraphs at the top of longer investigations. Many outlets also send daily newsletters that open with compact summaries of the top stories. Studying those gives you a steady stream of real examples you can learn from and imitate.

If you keep collecting your own examples of writing a news article summary—3 practical examples from class, a few more from your favorite news sites, and some you write yourself—you’ll quickly build the skill into a habit. With practice, turning a long article into a clear, accurate summary will start to feel less like a puzzle and more like a routine you can rely on every time.