[📰 HARD NEWS / STRAIGHT NEWS(Page 94)
Easy Notes, Model Examples and Writing Steps
📝 1. What is Hard News?
Hard News or Straight News is a news report that presents important information about an event in a clear, short and factual manner. It answers the 5Ws and H – Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. It does not include the writer's personal opinions. Hard news follows the Inverted Pyramid Structure, presenting the most important information first.
📰 2. THREE MODEL NEWS REPORTS
🚗 Example 1: Road Accident (5 Scores)
Question 1. A road accident occurred near your school when a car collided with a motorcycle. Two people were injured and taken to hospital. Prepare a short news report for a local newspaper.
✅ Model Answer
Road Accident Leaves Two Injured
Staff Reporter
KOZHIKODE, 10 November 2026:
Two people were injured when a car collided with a motorcycle near a school in Kozhikode on Tuesday morning.
The accident occurred around 9 a.m. when the car reportedly hit the motorcycle at a busy junction.
Local residents rushed to the spot and helped the injured. Both were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The police reached the spot and started an investigation into the cause of the accident.
Traffic was disrupted for a short time before normal movement resumed.
🌳 Example 2: Tree Plantation Programme (6 Scores)
Question 2. Your school organised a tree plantation programme as part of World Environment Day. Students and teachers participated in the event. Prepare a news report for a local newspaper.
✅ Model Answer
Students Organise Tree Plantation Drive
Staff Reporter
KOZHIKODE, 5 June 2026:
Students and teachers of Government Higher Secondary School, Kozhikode, organised a tree plantation programme on Friday as part of World Environment Day celebrations.
The programme aimed to create awareness about environmental protection and the importance of planting trees.
The school Principal inaugurated the event by planting a sapling on the campus.
Students planted more than 100 saplings in and around the school premises. Members of the Nature Club actively participated in the programme.
Teachers spoke about the importance of protecting forests and reducing pollution.
The programme concluded with an environmental awareness pledge taken by the students.
🌲 Example 3: Missing Children Rescued (8 Scores)
Question 3. Four children who went missing after a plane crash in the Colombian Amazon rainforest were rescued after 40 days. Prepare a hard news report about the incident for a newspaper.
💡 Hints: Plane crash – 1 May 2023 – Colombian Amazon – four siblings – missing for 40 days – search operation – soldiers – Indigenous volunteers – rescued alive – medical treatment.
✅ Model Answer
Four Children Found Alive After 40 Days
Staff Reporter
BOGOTA, 10 June 2023:
Four Indigenous children who went missing after a plane crash in the Colombian Amazon rainforest were found alive on Friday, 9 June 2023, after surviving 40 days in the jungle.
The children, aged 13, 9, 4 and 1, were travelling in a small aircraft that crashed on 1 May 2023. Three adults, including the children's mother, died in the accident.
After the crash, the four children were left alone in the dense forest. The eldest child, Lesly, helped her younger siblings survive by finding food and protecting them.
The Colombian authorities launched a major search operation called Operation Hope. Soldiers and Indigenous volunteers searched the jungle for several weeks.
The rescue teams used helicopters and other equipment to locate the missing children. They also received help from local Indigenous communities who were familiar with the forest.
On 9 June, the rescue teams finally located all four children alive. They were weak and suffering from the effects of spending many days in the jungle.
The children were taken for medical treatment following their rescue.
The successful operation brought relief to their families and the people of Colombia.
Note: Examples 1 and 2 are imaginary reports prepared for examination practice. Example 3 is based on a real incident.
📝 3. STEPS FOR WRITING HARD NEWS
Hard news follows the Inverted Pyramid Structure.
🔻 Three Important Parts
🟢 1. LEAD: Give an attractive headline, byline and dateline. Begin the report by answering the 5Ws and H.
🔵 2. BODY: Explain the event in detail. Include important facts, reasons, background information and statements from reliable sources.
🟣 3. TAIL: Add less important details, additional information or follow-up actions.
⭐ Remember the Structure
🟢 LEAD → 🔵 BODY → 🟣 TAIL
IMPORTANT FACTS → MORE DETAILS → ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
📚 4. THE 5Ws AND H
| Question | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 👤 Who? | Who was involved? | Four children |
| ❓ What? | What happened? | They were rescued |
| 📅 When? | When did it happen? | 9 June 2023 |
| 📍 Where? | Where did it happen? | Colombian Amazon rainforest |
| 💭 Why? | Why were they missing? | Their plane had crashed |
| ⚙️ How? | How were they rescued? | Through a search operation |
🎯 5. IMPORTANT EXAM TIPS
- Give a short and clear headline.
- Include a byline and dateline.
- Answer the 5Ws and H.
- Present the most important facts first.
- Use simple and formal English.
- Avoid personal opinions and emotional descriptions.
- Use the past tense for completed events.
- Include only relevant and reliable information.
- End with additional details or follow-up information.
✅ Easy Memory Trick
HEADLINE → BYLINE → DATELINE → LEAD → BODY → TAIL]
വാർത്തയിൽ ആര്, എന്ത്, എപ്പോൾ, എവിടെ, എന്തുകൊണ്ട്, എങ്ങനെ എന്നീ ആറ് ചോദ്യങ്ങൾക്കുള്ള ഉത്തരങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ടായിരിക്കണം.
വാർത്തയുടെ മൂന്ന് ഭാഗങ്ങൾ:
- Lead: ഏറ്റവും പ്രധാനപ്പെട്ട വിവരങ്ങൾ.
- Body: സംഭവത്തിന്റെ കൂടുതൽ വിശദാംശങ്ങൾ.
- Tail: അധിക വിവരങ്ങൾ.