Who, What, When, Where: Becoming a News Reporter
Imagine your classroom hamster escaped during recess! A news reporter's job is to find out exactly what happened and tell everyone the true story. Real reporters ask questions, write notes, and share news in newspapers, on websites, and on TV.
What You'll Learn
In this lesson you will learn: - The four big questions every reporter asks: Who, What, When, and Where - What a headline is - What a byline is - How to interview someone for a story
The Big Questions Reporters Ask
Reporters always try to answer these questions: Who was there? What happened? When did it happen? Where did it happen? Sometimes they add a fifth question, Why did it happen? If a reporter can answer all of these, readers get the whole picture of the story.
Talking to People: The Interview
When reporters want to know what happened, they talk to people who saw it — this is called an interview. A good reporter brings a notebook and pencil, asks clear questions, listens carefully, and never interrupts while someone is answering.
Always ask 'Can you tell me more about that?' — it's the question real reporters use to get the best details.
Headlines and Bylines
A headline is the big title at the top of a news story. It should be short and make readers want to keep reading. A byline is the line under the headline that tells you who wrote the story, like 'By Maya Chen.'
Which four questions does a reporter always try to answer?
What is a byline?
Write Your First News Report
Pick something that really happened at school or home today. Interview a friend or family member who saw it, and write down their answers to Who, What, When, and Where. Then write a 3-sentence news story with a headline at the top and your byline (By Your Name) underneath.
Want to keep learning?
Sign up for free to access the full curriculum — all subjects, all ages.
Start Learning Free