Purpose
As a future professional in the field of communications, it is important that you understand and can apply
the fundamental elements of writing a short news story. This assignment gives you the opportunity to
practice and demonstrate that you have these skills. Length: Approximately 200 words ONLY!!
Task
Write a news story for The National.
Using the story facts below you are required to write a news story structured and organized appropriately
with a headline, byline, dateline, strong lead paragraph, and a quotation. As you draft consider the
following:
• Organize according to the inverted pyramid;
• Consider the 5Ws and H for your lead paragraph; use specific day of the week
• Check accuracy, spelling, grammar, and punctuation; use AP style
• Use simple language and keep sentences short—no unnecessary words;
• Proofread your work before submission.
Story Facts
• A robbery took place today at the Holiday Inn in Abu Dhabi.
• Hotel is located on Dhafeer Street at Airport Road.
• Shahid Khan was robbed just outside his hotel room. Khan is 42.
• Robbery took place around 9:15 a.m.
• Robber threatened Khan with a knife. Robber was wearing a ski mask. Robber took an undetermined
amount of money and fled on foot toward Airport Road.
Additional information: Khan came to Abu Dhabi from Dubai, where he lives, to visit Ahmed Khan, an
engineering student at HCT, who is Khan’s son. Shahid Khan was taking his luggage into his room when a
person approached him. Khan described the robber as a male wearing jeans, green T- ‐shirt and blue denim
jacket. Robber has not been caught or identified. Source: Abu Dhabi Police Department report.
Khan said (quote): “All I know is that it was a knife, and I wasn’t going to ask any questions.”
Assessment Criteria
This assignment is worth 4 percent of your final grade. You will be assessed according to the following
criteria:
• Organization
• Quality of the lead
• Clarity, brevity and accuracy
• Grammar, capitalization, spelling and punctuation
• Appropriate attribution of quotation
Sample Solution