journalistic style
Press prose approach
Journalistic style is writing that prioritizes clarity, brevity, and accessibility over literary flourish.
It favors short sentences, active voice, and the inverted pyramid structure—putting the most important information first.
The style avoids jargon and assumes readers may stop reading at any point: The report was written in journalistic style, with the key findings in the opening paragraph.
- objectivityFreedom from personal bias
- clarityState of being understandable
- inverted pyramidArticle structure prioritizing key information
- pressApply force downward
- hard newsFactual, timely journalism
copy · conciseness · accountability · attribution · anonymous sources · off the record · accuracy · active voice · transparency · fact-checking · dateline · op-eds · beat reporter · quote · source · public interest · human interest · readability
journalistic stylescholarly writing
Formal research-based text
academic writing · legal writing · scientific writing · legalese · technical writing
journalistic stylepersonal essay
Autobiographical prose work
stream of consciousness · lyrical prose · autobiographical writing · poetic prose · purple prose