Want to craft a compelling news narrative? NCTJ courses provide a solid foundation, but there are six key questions every journalist needs to ask to build an unmissable story.
What, why, when, where, how and who?
Understanding the basics through high-quality training, such as newsassociates.co.uk/what-is-the-nctj, can help you turn those six simple questions into masterful communication tools.
A structured approach
These six questions are your basic framework. But they’re more than just a checklist; they’re a means of creating a narrative that doesn’t overlook any crucial elements of the story.
Craft your narrative
Start by prioritising the most relevant aspects of the story. For example, the ‘why’ may be more important than the ‘when’.
Craft your narrative with what’s most critical for engagement and understanding in mind. ‘Who’ and ‘what’ may be your starting point, but ‘why’ is a critical way to understand motivation and context.
Create an impact and capture the audience
A compelling lead and a natural flow of information are your goals. Never cram all six questions into your story. Instead, let it build through the strategic release of information.
Your lead should grab the audience’s attention. Asking ‘What’ helps you highlight the most surprising or impactful aspect of the story.
Now you can build the intrigue by weaving in your remaining questions to add meaning and depth.
Leaving a lasting impact
The six questions can help you understand your audience, strategise information and write a compelling narrative. Want to craft leads with lasting impact? Ask yourself what, why, when, where, how and who.
