英语新闻知识

Structure of the News Report 新闻报道的结构The inverted pyramid(倒金字塔法) & the chronological style（时间顺序法）绝大多数的新闻都会采取倒金字塔法，这种结构的特点是按新闻内容的重要性递减的顺序安排全文段落：将最重要、最精彩、最吸引人的事实放在最前面，一般称为导语；其次的放在后面，依次排列，最次要的置于末尾。

The inverted pyramid is a metaphor used by journalists and other writers to illustrate the placing of the most important information first within a text. It is the most widely preferred method in writing news stories.The "inverted" or upside-down"pyramid" can be thought of as a simple triangle with one side drawn horizontally at the top and the body pointing down. The widest part at the top represents the most substantial, interesting, and important information the writer means to convey, illustrating that this kind of material should head the article, while the tapering lower portion illustrates that other material should follow in order of diminishing importance. It is sometimes called a "summary news lead" style.The format is valued because readers can leave the story at any point and understand it, even if they don't have all the details. It also allows less important information at the end to be more easily removed by editors so the article can fit a fixed size.Other styles are also used in news writing, including the "anecdotal lead," which begins the story with an eye-catching tale or anecdote rather than the central facts; and the Q&A, or question-and-answer format.'Who,' 'when', 'where', 'what' and 'how' are addressed in the first paragraph. As the article continues, the less important details are presented. An even more pyramid-conscious reporter or editor would move two additional details to the first two sentences: That the shot was to the head, and that it was expected to prove fatal. The transitional sentence about the Grants suggests that less-important facts are being added to the rest of the story.News Lead 新闻导语The structure of the news from VOA generally consists of the news lead, body, and the background information, in which the first two parts are necessary. News lead is the first sentence in each piece of news, the key sentence that domains the whole news and conveys important information.新闻导语的特点是简明扼要，突出要素，大都会交代人物who、时间when、地点where、事件what，关于时间的前因后果why/how放在导语后，即本体中作进一步报道。

背景资料有时放在最后，有时在本体中穿插交代，这就构成了新闻的倒金字塔结构。

It can be divided into two main types:Direct lead & Delayed lead1. Direct lead (or straight lead)—— the simplest and most common styleIt should: - a single paragraph of a single sentence- no more than 30 words- Summarize most newsworthy information.i.e. “what”, “where” and “when” of the news (sometimes also “why” and “how”, only if there’s roo m)e.g.: Fire destroyed a house on Main Street early Monday morning.what: Fire destroyed a housewhere: on Main Streetwhen: early Monday morningIf there is more space, the lead should summarize the “why” and “how” (also “who” if it is involved in the story)e.g.: An elderly man died early Monday morning when fire sparked by faulty wiring raged through his MainStreet home.who: An elderly manwhy:…fire…raged through his Main Street homehow:… sparked by faulty wiring…Exercise: President Obama arrived in Oslo on Thursday morning to formally accept the Nobel Peace Prize and to attend a daylong series of events to commemorate the award.who: President Obamawhat: arrived (in Oslo)when: on Thursday morningwhere: Oslowhy:to formally accept the Nobel Peace Prize and to attend a daylong series of events to commemorate the award2. Delayed lead- delay the real stuff of leads -- the 5W's- start with an attention grabber-"nut graf" -- a paragraph following the attention-grabber; supplies the 5W's, the message and the angle. (NUT GRAF—Paragraph in a story containing the "meat" details of what the story is all about, often directly following an anecdotal lead.)Types of delayed leadsA. Narrative lead- Reporters work from their own scenario, not yours- Many of the techniques of fiction can be usefully applied -- a vivid or atmospheric setting, colorful character description, a lively event.e.g.:Chris is grinning with satisfaction as her computer screen erupts in noisy celebration. It's the same happy look she used to wear when she wiped out a nest of electro-villains, in those video games she used to play.But today the challenge is algebra. She's getting ahead in her homework, using new educational software designed to teach math and physics to grades K-12, in a program of free online education tools for school systems nationwide.B. Question lead:e.g.:Will teachers be the latest profession to be automated out of their jobs by computers? A new online education system will allow students to teach themselves math and physics by playing video games.The new programs, for use at home and in the classroom, are being made available for free to school systems nationwide. They are designed to make learning fun for students in grades K-12.C. Quote lead:- allows a personality to enter the stage, complete with enthusiasms, opinions, and other influences that you couldn't allow in straight news lead.- there are people and not just ideas in this story.e.g.:"It's going to revolutionize the world of education as surely as the word-processor revolutionized the workplace," says software developer Arthur Johnson. "I've seen it changes some kids from near drop-outs to 'A' students.”He's talking about a new free online education program for studying math and physics in grades K-12. The interactive teaching games, available at no cost to school systems nationwide, are designed to make learning fun.。