In the first thirty (30) words tell "what," "when," and "where." --- first sentence
In the first seven (7) words tell what happened (verb).
Make what happened-the verb- an action verb.
If there is a "who," --
1. tell the who with a description if no one would recognize the name (no name)
2. tell the name of the who if the name is recognizable by the readers
  1. who -- an elderly Bismarck man
  2. who is famous/recognized -- basketball star Michael Jordan
Include "how" and "why" if short; otherwise tell it later in the story.
If the facts are facts -- write them. If the facts are disputable or questionable, cite the source.
1. Ann Hat, spokesperson for Michael Jordan, said...

Tips on Writing the News Story:

Never use “I” or “we” in a hard news story.
Keep sentences short.
Write each paragraph as a single thought. A paragraph may be one sentence long.
Try not to start every sentence with the word The.
Be sure of your facts, the rule of thumb is when in doubt, leave it out.
Check the spellings of names and places.
Always use a person’s full name (Joe Smith) the first time you mention him or her. On the second reference you can write Mr. Smith or just Smith.
Use quotes in the story.
Be fair and don’t just tell one side of a story. Make an effort to present other views. ^[1]

How do I interview?

Footnotes

First Steps to Journalism