Transion/Quote Formula for News
(LQTQ)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Important informaon not found in the lead. Provides a
transion or set-up to the rst quote.
LEAD:
The most interesng and important informaon.
Include most of the 5Ws & H. In news, focus on what’s
newest or what’s coming up. In news and features, try to
hook your readers to keep reading.
DIRECT QUOTE:
Connects to the addional informaon, or somemes fol-
lows directly out of the lead. Use more than one sentence.
Aribute aer the rst sentence of the quote.
TRANSITION:
Next important fact or addional informaon, linking the
quote above to the next. Use transion words to help the
story ow. Transions can be a fact, an indirect quote or a
paral quote. Make sure you aribute all info!
DIRECT QUOTE:
Connects to the rst transion. Use more than one sen-
tence. Aribute aer the rst sentence of the quote. Do not
repeat the transion in the quote! The quote should elabo-
rate on the transion, providing opinion, emoon or details.
TRANSITION:
Next important fact or addional informaon, linking the
quote above to the next. Use transion words to help the
story ow. Transions can be a fact, an indirect quote or a
paral quote. Make sure you aribute all info!
DIRECT QUOTE:
Connects to the second transion. Use more than one
sentence. Do not repeat the transion in the quote! The
quote should elaborate on the transion, providing opin-
ion, emoon or details.
NOTES:
1) Each box is a
new paragraph.
2) Story should
ow from most
important to least
important informa-
on.
3) Use quotes to
add opinion, emo-
on and details.
4) Use transions
to add facts and
details.
and so on, unl the story is done.
Linked
Linked
Linked
IMPORTANT NOTE
about ENDINGS:
Avoid summarizing
the story in your own
words. Save a quote
to end with!
This is called a
“kicker quote.”