Top stories are the results that appear on Google search engine result pages (SERPs) when users enter a query that’s related to a particular event or person. These articles usually come from news sites, but they can also arrive in SERPs from other sources if they meet certain criteria.
When writing a top story, it’s important to focus on the most relevant information for your audience. This means avoiding opinionated language and sticking to verified facts. If you have to use opinions, try to convey them objectively and avoid jargon and technical terms.
The top of a news article often includes a summary lead, followed by three or four paragraphs that answer the most pressing questions about the event or person. This format is called an hourglass structure because it resembles the shape of the inverted pyramid. Poynter’s Scanlan has written extensively about the structure and how it can help new reporters.
One of the most important parts of a top story is the nut paragraph, or nut graf. According to the Poytner Institute, which offers journalism training and education, the nut graf “justifies the story” by explaining why it matters or why the reader should care about it.