Five Ws
Checklist for a journalist's lead: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Five Ws is a checklist used in journalism to ensure that the first paragraph (the "lead") contains all the essential points of a story. As far back as 1913, reporters were taught that the lead should answer these questions:[1]
- Who?
- What?
- When?
- Where?
- Why?
- How?
Not to be confused with 5 whys.
For other uses, see 5W (disambiguation) and W5 (disambiguation).
In modern times, journalism students are still taught that these are the fundamental six questions of newswriting.[2] Reporters also use the "5 Ws" to guide research and interviews and to raise important ethical questions, such as "How do you know that?".[3]