Diamond

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 605.

Hourglass

A modified form of the inverted pyramid is known as the “hourglass” structure. It begins, in a similar fashion, with the most important information — but after a few paragraphs it takes a turn and becomes a narrative, usually told in chronological order. Sticking with the example of the story about the massive storm, a reporter could start with a hard lead, provide a few paragraphs of support, and then tell the story of the storm as witnessed by one survivor. This kind of story form requires a clear transition between the opening section and the narrative. A reporter might write something like, “Farmer Iqbal Khan was in his barn when the wind kicked up …” to begin the bottom half of an hourglass story. Some stories are written in a purely chronological form, but this structure is most often used for features.

Still another story form is the “diamond” structure. A reporter using this structure would begin with an anecdote, introducing a character whose experience illustrates what the story is all about. This small story would then broaden out to show its wider significance. Toward the end, the reporter would return to the individual character's story as a way of concluding the narrative.

Reporters using this structure often use a device known as a “nut” paragraph (or nut graph) to explain why the story matters — the word “nut” signifying the hard center of the story. Jack Hart, managing editor of Portland's Oregonian newspaper, says nut graphs “can answer any questions raised in leads, explain why stories are significant, and place stories in meaningful contexts.” The nut graph needs to be early enough in the story to make clear to the reader why he or she should bother to keep reading.

The diamond form is frequently used in television news and newspaper reports. For example, a reporter might begin a story about a new AIDS treatment by introducing a patient who needs the treatment, then describe the experimental drug and how it works, and conclude by noting that doctors give the patient we met earlier only a limited time to live if the new treatment is not effective. Whatever form you choose, the middle of the story should keep the audience engaged and interested. Good writing, a magazine editor once said, makes the reader want to find out what happens next.