How to structure your popular media article

When writing a popular media article, it’s important to choose a headline that grabs your readers’ attention. A catchy headline sparks the readers’ curiosity about the writing topic. However, ensure that your title is not overly dramatic. Try to keep it short and simple while still capturing the main characters and takeaway from your article.

Here are some ideas for writing catchy headlines:

• Keep it short and to the point
• Avoid jargon in your title
• Use questions to spark interest
• Use statistics or figures to show the urgency of the topic

Below are some examples of published popular media article titles:

The rise and fall of antibiotics. What would a post-antibiotic world look like? (read the full article on The Conversation)

Allen Cheng, Monash University

Using questions as a title is often very effective for media articles. In this example, the ‘What’ question gets straight to the point and sparks the readers’ curiosity. When used properly, this makes a strong impact and clearly introduces the main topic: the post-antibiotic world. Also note that the use of jargon is minimal in this example.

49 women have been killed in Australia so far in 2023 as a result of violence. Are we actually making any progress? (read the full article on The Conversation)

Anastasia Powell, RMIT University, Jacqui True, Monash University, Kristin Diemer, University of Melbourne, and Kyllie Cripps, Monash University

This title is engaging due to its powerful use of facts and figures. An effective use of numbers in your title can remind your readers why they should care about the topic, and encouraging them to continue reading.

Worried about getting a blood test? 5 tips to make them easier (and still accurate) (read the full article on The Conversation)

Sapha Shibeeb, RMIT University

This title is built around the reader's experience of getting a blood test, which many members of the general public may wish to know more about. This can build a closer link with the audience and widen engagement.

Back Next

It’s crucial to begin with information that would be most interesting to your audience. The introduction is one of the most important elements that you need to get right to perform two main functions: to grab your reader's attention quickly and to establish the article’s focus.

The structure of the introduction usually consists of two main elements: the hook and the introductory paragraph(s).

The hook

This is usually presented as one or two short paragraphs, with the main function to grab your readers’ attention.

Hooking the readers can be done in a few ways:

• Begin with an anecdote. Stories can be powerful to draw your readers in.
• Use a relevant quotation.
• Start with a fact or statistic to set the scene.
• Draw on popular culture or a common experience to develop a connection with your readers.
• Use a current event or trend to emphasise the relevance of your topic.

Introductory paragraphs

After hooking your readers’ attention, you need to establish the aim and focus of the article. You also can introduce the main elements of your popular media articles in these introductory paragraphs (what, who, when, where, why, and how).

Here are some examples of introductions from published popular media articles:

Back Next

Like in any other types of writing, body paragraphs in popular media articles present the main ideas and detailed information about the topic. This is where you present facts, evidence, and in-depth explanation about the topic you’ve introduced in the introductory section. In order to maintain your readers’ interest, there are a few strategies you can use to structure the body section of your popular media articles:

Back Next

The conclusion section should explicitly state the main takeaways of the article. This is where you explain to your readers why it matters. The length of the conclusion varies; it can be a paragraph or a few paragraphs with complementing points.

Here are some ideas to conclude your popular media article with:

• Practical advice - A good way of ending your article is to offer some how-to advice. This usually works well in an investigative piece where you present a problem as the main topic.
• Future developments - You can also end your article with possibilities for future research/discoveries. This works well in an article where you do a deep dive into the latest research or exciting discovery in a field.
• A quotation - Just like in the introduction section, you can also use a quote to end your popular media article. You can draw on a quote from an expert/public figure/research participant to make a lasting impression.
• A call to action - A call to action can be addressed to relevant stakeholders-government, politicians, researchers, general public, etc.

Let’s have a look at some sample conclusions of published popular media articles:

Back Next