five w's
Basic story questions
The five w's are the basic questions journalists and investigators use to establish facts: who, what, when, where, and why.
Sometimes expanded to include how.
Every news story should answer the five w's in the first paragraph.
The framework ensures comprehensive coverage of essential information.
- reporterOne who gathers news
- cub reporterInexperienced newspaper staffer
- headlineNews article title
- lead paragraphOpening section of article
- inverted pyramidArticle structure prioritizing key information
news story · hard news · breaking news · press release · truth · fact checking · context · analysis · editor · interview · inquiry · article · why · how and why · investigation · what · comprehension · news
five w'show
Asks about manner
methodology · process · means · mechanism · method
five w'sassumptions
Unproven things taken as true
conjecture · speculation · hearsay · rumor · taking at face value
five w'sassumption
Unverified belief accepted as true
conjecture · taking at face value · credulity · dogma · received wisdom