Any successful news piece begins with interest and curiosity, where one wants to know what actually happened and the significance of it. Consider the last story that you read or wrote. What was the immediate attention grabber? There was probably a concise headline which informed you as to who was involved, what occurred, and where it occurred. It is no accident, it is a consequence of the writing rule that journalists have been using over the course of decades: the 5Ws and H.
Six fundamental questions Who, What, When, Where, Why and How are the foundations of every great report. They instruct journalists on how to write clear, factual and complete stories. They are needed even to make an exciting story confusing or incomplete.
It could be a crime story or a political report, or a human interest story, these questions allow a reporter to be focused on what is most important, and that is the truth and being clear. They are the backbone of effective news writing in that they ensure that the readers have all the important information within a short time, without necessarily searching to understand.
Understanding the 5Ws and H
The 5Ws and H is a reporter’s compass. They contribute to showing the story towards the right direction. Every question is a response to something the reader is eager to know at once:
- Who- informs us who was involved.
- What- explains what happened.
- When- gives the time or period.
- Where- indicates location or location.
- Why- tells the reason or motive.
- How- characterizes the procedure or the outcome.
To illustrate, when a journalist is covering a fire case in Lagos Nigeria, an entire story may start as follows:
“The fire (When) that occurred in Alaba Market in Lagos (Where) in the middle of the night (When) burnt down more than 50 stores (What) and dozens of traders (Who) were counting the resulting losses (How) as the firefighters worked the entire hours. The cause of the tragedy is blamed on poor electrical wiring (Why).“
With that brief paragraph, the answer to all major questions is received, and the readers have the entire picture. Now we shall discuss the action of each of these elements in detail.
Who: The Individuals who Originated the Story
Every story contains people whose actions or experiences make the event meaningful. The ‘Who question’ assists the reader to know the key players.
In a case of a student winning an essay competition nationwide, the person might be:
“Sarah Okafor, a 15-year-old student of Queen’s College, Lagos has emerged the winner of the 2025 National Essay Competition of the Ministry of Education.“
In this case, the readers are aware of the central figure of the story at once. Having names, titles and concise descriptions brings reality and believability.
A journalist should never settle on names and information without checking. Confusion of identities is harmful to trust. A background addition (such as a brief quote or description) assists in getting readers to identify with the piece. For instance:
“Frequent cheating on the part of students is reducing the quality of academic work, and Sarah has not been an exception, when she told her classmates about spending two weeks doing research prior to writing the essay.“
The story is real and memorable due to that small human touch.
What: The Heart of Every News Story
The ‘What’ makes the readers know what has happened. It is the main message, the throb of the news.
In case a journalist writes about a protest, e.g. what should respond to this question: What happened?
“On Tuesday, hundreds of students blocked the university gate in order to demand reduction in the tuition fee and improve hostel facilities.“
That’s clear and simple. The ‘what’ makes the readers choose whether to spend time on this story or not. It must be on the very first page, not buried under the details or quotes.
When: The Power of Timing
News depends on time. The When informs the readers about whether the story is up to date, continued or historical. A narrative minus a proper sequence of time will seem unfinished.
For example:
“Yesterday, the Lagos State Government unveiled the intention to construct new drainage systems to avoid future floods.“
The urgency and precision of your story are created by the use of definite words such as yesterday, today, last week or a definite date. Time is crucial in breaking news.
Imagine that in a reading, it is stated that a bridge collapsed. The initial question you will enquire about is When. Was it this morning or was it last year? That is one big difference.
“A bridge collapsed this morning on the Ojuelegba Road leaving a large number of motorists stranded and creating panic as well as heavy traffic.“
That is straightforward, new and educative.
Where: Providing A Setting to the Story
The story is grounded in the place with the use of ‘Where’. It can be an online location, school, village, or city.
“People living in Kubwa, a suburb in Abuja, woke up to flooded streets following heavy rainfall at night.“
In this case, the ‘where’ establishes the setting, and makes the readers visualize the situation.
Why: Reason and Explanations of the Story
The ‘why’ takes the meaning further. It informs the readers of the motive or cause behind the event.
For example:
“ENUC teachers have also staged a strike because of nonpayment of salaries and unfavourable working conditions.“
That “because” answers the “why.”
In another story:
“The rise in oil prices was brought about by the rising world oil prices and new government tax policies.“
The why makes the readers know why it happened, but also why it is important.
Journalists ought to be cautious not to speculate. They ought to seek authentic facts or quotations which explicate the cause.
How: Demonstrating the Process or Outcome
Lastly, the ‘How’ provides the reader with a feeling of the process, how something is or how it influences people.
For example:
“Emergency officials claimed that the building fell down when it was poorly anchored by a heavy rain.”
The chain of events is made clear to the readers by that one sentence.
Human experience can also be described in the form of the how:
“Following the explosion, the residents fled to safety, and rescue troops used the debris to find survivors.“
It introduces movement and life in the story.
In an investigative or in-depth report, how may be used to mean how a system or a process solved a problem, such as:
“The case study reveals the importation procedures of fake drugs into the country via unregulated border channels before they find their way into the domestic markets.“
The journalist can relate facts by responding to how and demonstrating the whole picture.
Applying 5Ws and H to Structure a Story
These six questions are not merely arbitrary items, they are a framework. The inverted pyramid style is common among journalists:
- Begin with the most significant facts (Who, What, Where, When).
- Provide supporting information (Why and How).
- Conclude with background or quotes.
In that manner, even the readers who may stop halfway are able to get the main idea.
An example of this is in a news report of a flood:
“Thousands of people (Who) were forced to flee their homes (What) in the state of Bayelsa (Where) on Thursday (When) after days of heavy rains (Why). The affected societies are currently turning to the assistance of emergency agencies (How).“
That is all, all compact, all clear, all six elements in a paragraph.
That is the reason journalism schools and editors claim that the 5Ws and H are the key to successful reporting. They render a story powerful, organized and comprehensible.
Five Golden Rules of Reporting Using the 5Ws and H
From all six questions, ensure that your notes provide answers to each.
- Begin with the greatest fact. In most cases the ‘what or who’ get the attention the fastest.
- Avoid long introductions. The first two sentences are supposed to give the reader the main point.
- Use simple language. Write like you are talking to a friend, and not trying to be fancy.
- Include real people. Stories are relatable because of quotes and brief details about the human.
- Double-check facts. Names, times, and places, especially, must be right.
These basic habits can make the report an ordinary piece of journalism into a professional one.
Why 5Ws and H Still Matter Today
The 5Ws and H are important even under the conditions of social media and fast online news. Even a good tweet or brief posting will respond to at least three or four of these questions.
For example:
“Three suspects (Who) are arrested by police (What) in Port Harcourt (Where) at the beginning of Tuesday morning (When).“
That’s short but complete. It provides all the most important facts immediately by itself – the same applies to long-form journalism, videos, and even podcasts.
Amidst rumors and falsehoods, 5Ws and H have maintained the truthfulness and transparency of journalists in the world. They teach us to remember that there is nothing like accuracy ahead of speed, nor clarity ahead of style.
Conclusion: The Basis of Good Journalism
Journalism, at its core, is concerned with enabling people to cognize the world. The easiest and surest method of doing that is the 5Ws and H. These are the leaders who help reporters to narrate complete, truthful, and easy-to-follow stories.
All stories, whether it is a breaking tragedy or feel-good community story, are better when there is a clear-cut answer to these six questions.
Those who would one day be reporters, when they have mastered them, are not learning how to write, they are learning how to think like a journalist, curious, correct, and fact-oriented.
Finally, the 5Ws and H are not questions. They are the instruments that make journalism alive, honest and beneficial to the people. Learn them, and know how to tell a story.
