How to Write a Newspaper Article: KS3 English Step-by-Step Guide

A newspaper article informs readers about a real event, uses factual evidence, includes quotes from people involved, and follows a clear structure: headline, lead paragraph, body paragraphs in order of importance, and a brief conclusion. It is one of the most commonly set non-fiction writing tasks in KS3 English and appears regularly in GCSE English Language Paper 2.

What makes a newspaper article different from other writing?

A newspaper article is a form of non-fiction writing whose primary purpose is to inform. Unlike a story, it does not follow a narrative arc. Unlike an essay, it does not build a single argument. Its features include:

A headline — punchy, specific, and designed to draw the reader in

A byline — the reporter's name, sometimes including the date and publication

A lead paragraph — answers the five key journalist questions (Who, What, Where, When, Why/How) in 30–40 words

A body — details in order of importance, from most to least significant (the "inverted pyramid")

Quotes — direct speech from eyewitnesses, experts or officials that adds credibility and human interest

Third-person voice — news reports are written from a detached, objective perspective (unless you are writing a comment or opinion piece)

At KS3, the most commonly assessed forms are the news report (purely factual, third-person) and occasionally the feature article (more discursive, can include first-person elements). This guide focuses on the news report, as that is what most KS3 tasks require.

The inverted pyramid: structuring your article

Journalists use the inverted pyramid model: the most important information goes at the top, and detail and background go lower down. This ensures that a reader who stops reading after the first paragraph still gets the essential story.

[MOST IMPORTANT] ← Headline + Lead paragraph
[IMPORTANT DETAIL] ← Quotes, statistics, context
[BACKGROUND] ← History, explanation, lesser detail
[LEAST CRITICAL] ← Closing context or future steps

This structure is deliberate. Newspaper editors historically cut articles from the bottom up to fit the available space. Even in digital journalism, readers frequently abandon articles part-way through, so the key facts must come first.

Step 1: Write a strong headline

Your headline must be accurate, punchy, and usually under 10 words. At KS3, you are not expected to write a tabloid-style pun (though you can), but your headline should:

State the main subject or event clearly

Use the present tense where possible (even for a past event)

Use active verbs: "Council Bans Phones in Schools" rather than "Phone Ban Announced"

Weak headline | Stronger version
"Something Happened at the School" | "Fire Drill Evacuates 800 Pupils on Year 9 Exam Day"
"New Rules for Teenagers" | "UK Government Raises Legal Age for Energy Drinks to 18"
"A Big Problem in Our Town" | "Local River Floods Three Streets After Heaviest Rainfall in a Decade"

Step 2: Write the lead paragraph

The lead (or "intro") paragraph is the most important sentence or short paragraph you will write. It must answer as many of the five Ws as possible in 30–40 words:

Who is involved?

What happened?

Where did it happen?

When did it happen?

Why or How did it happen?

Example lead paragraph (39 words):

A Year 9 pupil at Riverside Academy in Sheffield raised over £2,000 for the local food bank last week by completing a sponsored 50-kilometre cycle ride, despite having broken his arm just six weeks earlier.

This single paragraph contains all five Ws. A reader who stops here knows the complete story. Everything that follows adds detail, not new essential facts.

Step 3: Add supporting paragraphs with quotes

The body of your article expands the lead. Each paragraph should cover one new piece of information. Critically, you should include at least one direct quote from a relevant person — an eyewitness, an expert, or an official. Quotes:

Are enclosed in double inverted commas: "Like this."

Are attributed immediately: "I was amazed he did it," said Mrs Johnson, his form tutor.

Use said as the standard verb of attribution in news writing (not "stated," "claimed," or "expressed" unless specifically appropriate)

A typical KS3 news article body paragraph structure is:

Fact or claim — state the key piece of new information

Quote — support it with a direct quote from a relevant source

Context — add one sentence of background or explanation

Step 4: Close with context or future steps

The final paragraph of a news article typically states what happens next, or provides a piece of broader context. It does not need to "conclude" in the way an essay does. Examples:

"The council will vote on the proposed changes on Thursday 19 June."

"This is the third incident of its kind in the borough this year."

Do not write "In conclusion" or summarise what you have already said. That is an essay convention, not a journalistic one.

A worked example with annotations

The following is a model KS3 news article on a fictional school event. Annotations explain each feature.

YEAR 9 TEAM WINS NATIONAL SCIENCE COMPETITION FOR FIRST TIME ← Headline: present tense, active verb, specific detail

By Alex Thornton, School Reporter, 16 June 2026 ← Byline

A team of three Year 9 students from Parkside Academy in Leeds has won the National Junior Science Challenge for the first time in the school's 45-year history, beating 87 other schools with a project on microplastics in local rivers. ← Lead paragraph: Who, What, Where, When (implied), Why/How — 40 words

The winning project used water samples taken from the River Aire to demonstrate levels of microplastic contamination three times above the national average, data that the team presented to a panel of five scientists at the final in London on 14 June 2026. ← Body paragraph: key factual detail

"We couldn't believe it when they called our name," said team member Priya Mehta, 14. "We spent eight months on this and never really thought we'd get this far." ← Direct quote with attribution

The school's science department has now been invited to present the findings to Leeds City Council's environment committee. ← Closing context: what happens next

Common KS3 mistakes to avoid

Writing in the first person. News reports use third person throughout. Do not write "I think this is important" — write "the school's headteacher described the event as significant."

Forgetting quotes. A newspaper article without any quoted speech feels flat and loses marks for form. Include at least two quotes in a full KS3 article.

Making the headline vague. "Interesting Event at School" does not tell the reader anything. Be specific and active.

Writing chronologically instead of by importance. Students often write articles as stories, starting at the beginning of an event. Instead, lead with the most important or surprising fact.

Using informal language. Newspaper articles use formal Standard English. Avoid slang, contractions in narration ("it's," "can't"), and colloquial phrases.

Frequently asked questions

What is the structure of a newspaper article for KS3 English?

A KS3 newspaper article follows the inverted pyramid structure: a headline, a lead paragraph answering Who, What, Where, When, and Why/How in around 30–40 words, body paragraphs in descending order of importance (most important detail first), direct quotes from relevant people, and a brief closing sentence about context or next steps. Unlike an essay, it does not build to a conclusion — the key information must appear at the very top.

How do you write a good headline for a KS3 newspaper article?

A strong headline is under 10 words, uses the present tense and an active verb, and states the specific subject of the article. Avoid vague phrases like "big problem" or "something happened." Instead, be precise: "School Bans Mobile Phones After Exam Breach" gives the reader exactly what the story is about. At KS3 you may also use alliteration or a pun if appropriate, but only if accuracy is preserved.

What is the difference between a news report and a feature article in KS3 English?

A news report is objective and third-person: it states facts, reports quotes, and avoids expressing personal opinion. A feature article is longer, more discursive, and may include a first-person perspective or personal experience. At KS3, most newspaper writing tasks ask for a news report unless the question specifically says "feature" or "comment piece." Check your task wording carefully before deciding which voice to use.

How many paragraphs should a KS3 newspaper article have?

Most KS3 newspaper articles are four to six paragraphs. You need a headline, a lead paragraph, two or three body paragraphs each covering a different aspect of the story, at least two direct quotes, and one closing sentence. A typical well-structured KS3 news article is around 200 to 350 words — concise, factual, and purposeful.

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