The News Article: Just Report the Facts

Award-winning writer Kathy Widenhouse has helped hundreds of nonprofits and writers produce successful content and has gained 600K+ views for her writing tutorials. She is the author of 9 books. See more of Kathy’s content here.

An online devotional for writers

A Word From The Word

They called the church together and reported everything God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, too. (Acts 14:27, NLT)

A Word For Writers

A news article reports the facts about an event. 

It differs from a feature article, which presents the impact of the event.

Luke gives us a good example of a news story in Acts 13-14. 

Paul and team members Barnabas and John Mark were sent out by the church at Antioch in Syria to share about Jesus with people in Asia Minor.

Luke “reported everything God had done.” 

• Paul sailed in and out of Cyprus
• Paul led the Roman governor in Paphos to Christ
• Paul encountered a sorcerer and struck him blind
• Paul team member, John Mark, resigned
• Paul spoke at an event that attracted nearly the entire city of Antioch of Pisidia
• Paul was attacked by a mob and escaped
• Paul healed a Lystran cripple
• Paul survived a stoning

After the summary, Paul himself offers an example of how a feature article slants the same story. He explained how the trip “opened the door of faith to the Gentiles” (Acts 14:27) – a clear example of feature writing in that it explains the impact of the trip.

Luke reported the facts. Paul offered analysis.

A news article reports straightforward facts.

A feature article examines the significance of those facts.

A Wise Word

A news article reports straightforward facts.

A Word To Pray

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for facts – those pieces of information that can be verified by evidence. Show me how to report the facts with truth and clarity. Let my news articles be clear and concise.

In Jesus’s name, Amen.

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