REPORT WRITING
A first hand description of an event, process or incident is called a report. It is a systematic, well
organised document which defines and analyses a subject or problem. It is a factual description
of what has already happened. Its main aim is to provide information. It records objective facts.
A newspaper report must convey the information quickly and briefly. The headline gives all the
pertinent information, the first paragraph (the lead paragraph) explains the entire story briefly
and following paragraphs add detailed information or quotes.
FORMAT: Magazine Report
TITLE / CATCHY HEADLINE
WRITER’S NAME
FIRST PARAGRAPH : Gives most important information -Should answer most of
the 5 Wh questions – who, what, when, where and why.
SECOND PARAGRAPH: Supplies detailed account of the event. Most important details come first.
THIRD PARAGRAPH : (Background and comment) Round off the news report. Include at least
one quote from the people you have interviewed.
Newspaper Report
TITLE ( Catchy headline –sums up the story)
REPORTER’S NAME
PLACE, DATE
FIRST PARAGRAPH : Gives most important information -Should answer most
of the 5 ‘Wh’ questions – who, what, when, where and why
SECOND PARAGRAPH : Supplies detailed account of the event -Most important
details come first
THIRD PARAGRAPH : (Background and comment) Round off the news report. Include at least one
quote from the people you have interviewed – Follow up action taken,
(incident) where necessary.
▪ Mention the place, date, time and other relevant facts about the event.
▪ Adopt simple and concise style of writing.
Eg: Onshore winds travelling at 45 Km per hour brought temperature down to 15 degree
Celsius. ( instead of - The wind was blowing fiercely and the air outside was growing
cold)
▪ Avoid too many long sentences.
▪ Do not use contractions of verbs and pronouns as these are ‘spoken forms’ (doesn’t,
can’t, it’s)
▪ Write in third person. Avoid the use of ‘I’ to make your writing more believable.
▪ The first time you use an abbreviation or acronym, you must spell out the full term
followed by the abbreviation or acronym in brackets. Subsequent use of the term is then
made by its abbreviation or acronym.
▪ Organize the details properly and present the material systematically and logically.
Camp / Visit / Exhibition Accident / Robbery / Calamity
1. Place / destination etc. ❖ Reason, motive
2. Organizer / sponsor ❖ Details in brief
3. Duration, date, etc. ❖ Eyewitness account, if any
4. Number of persons / visitors etc. ❖ Casualties, damage etc.
5. Description as applicable: ❖ Action taken
❖ Relief measures
● Theme of exhibition
❖ Conclusion / comments
● Places of sightseeing, food
● Purpose and nature of camp
❖ Overall response
Cultural / Sports / Event Competition
❖ Occasion / organizer / sponsor etc. ❖ Occasion / organizer
❖ Date, venue, time ❖ Date, venue, objective
❖ Chief Guest / special invitees ❖ Name of the competition
❖ Objective and main highlights ❖ Inaugural ceremony / welcome
❖ Chief Guest, judges etc.
❖ Prize distribution / annual report
❖ Highlights
❖ Message by Chief Guest
❖ Prize distribution
❖ Vote of thanks
❖ Special remarks / address (if any)
❖ Overall response ❖ Vote of thanks
Rally / Drive / Campaign Workshop / Talk / Seminar
● What, by whom ❖ What, by whom, for whom
● Duration ❖ Date. Venue. Duration
● Venue / places covered ❖ Speakers / experts
● Activities, ❖ Chief Guest
● Materials used: pamphlets, banners etc. ❖ Activities
● Remarks by the Chief Guest ❖ Aids used: charts films etc.
● Overall success ❖ Experts comment
❖ General impression
SAMPLE 1 – MAGAZINE REPORT
SPORTS DAY CELEBRATED
-- RAVI SHANKAR,
CLASS SEC
Delhi Public School (DPS) hosted the Annual Sports Day with great enthusiasm and gusto at the
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Saturday, 6 October 2018.
The ground wore a festive look with tracks marked afresh and colourful buntings at the periphery
of the centre field. The event saw a spirited participation of over 2000 children from classes I to
XII. Mr. S. Saini, Assistant Commissioner of Police, North-West was the Chief Guest. He
lighted the torch and declared the meet open. The event began with a colourful march past by the
four houses and rounded off by a series of brilliantly performed drills. Some novel items include
medley of aerobic exercises, pyramid formation, hop, step and jump which were specially
designed to test the balance, co-ordination, rhythm and concentration. The spectators sat
mesmerized as a number of items followed one after the other and enthralled everybody.
The programme ended with prize distribution. The winners were awarded trophies and medals
and certificates. In her vote of thanks, Mrs. G.P. Pradhan, Principal, thanked everybody and said,
“Sports is the best way to unwind oneself.”
SAMPLE 2 – NEWSPAPER REPORT
GASTRO OUT BREAK IN NOIDA
STAFF REPORTER
Noida, 22 October 2016
Health authorities in Noida and Ghaziabad are alarmed over the rise in of water-borne diseases.
Many cases of diarrhea and typhoid are being reported from various places of Noida where
residents have been complaining of contaminated water.
Water supply in these areas is erratic and there have been complaints of leaking pipelines.
Government doctors said there had been a steady increase in the number of patients coming with
symptoms of water-borne diseases. At the ESI hospital, over 60 per cent of the cases reported in
the past two weeks were of water-related diseases.
Hemant Kumar, Chairman of the Water Authority, Noida, said, “Recently, all underground
reservoir tanks have been cleaned and chlorinated. Water quality is being tested at regular
intervals. Tankers are also being rushed to areas from where we are getting complaints of low
supply.” He added that measures are taken to avoid any untoward eventuality in future.
Practice Questions:
● An Inter-school Music Competition was held at Sacred Heart School, Panipat. Your
school team won the first position. Mentioning the details of the event, write a report in
150 - 200 words for your school magazine. You are Aneesha/ Amit of XI- Bal Vikas
Vidyalaya, Panipat.
