In constructing corporate governance stories, it is often a good idea to break down complex information into smaller “bites,” or pieces, for readers and viewers.

List technique

Often used for budget stories, this method also lends itself to other stories that include a number of highlights or important points. This method starts with a traditional lead — usually a news lead — followed by a few paragraphs of backup information, then a list of supporting points.

Tick tock

This slang term (referring to the sound of minute or second hands on a clock ticking off time) is used to describe a background story that traces chronologically the development of a major news event, usually from the viewpoint of the principal players.

Sections technique

This is primarily a visual device that serves to divide a story into sections, like book chapters, to alert the reader to various kinds of subject matter. The sections are separated by graphic device such as a large dot or large capital letter, or by subheads.

Wall Street Journal formula

This technique, named for the newspaper that developed and perfected it, is usually used for a feature or news feature story. It begins with a “soft” or feature lead that focuses on a person, scene or event. The story usually begins with the specific and proceeds to the general. It must have, in the third or fourth paragraph, a “nut graph,” which states the main theme or focus of the story.