meaning of a news report

• How to Write a News Report

How to Write a News Report? - Tips and Points to Remember

Writing a news report would be an easy task if you are interested in the news and are constantly updated with the latest events. A report is a brief story of an event that is happening or has already happened. Being a report writer, you must aim to write the report in an understandable way and ensure the message is conveyed to the readers. It must, therefore, be written in simple language. The subject of the news report has to be presented clearly, and the style of writing must be precise.

Read through the article to learn how to write a news report in English.

Table of Contents

How to write a news report, visiting the site, interviewing witnesses, transcribing the interviews, introduction of the report, body of the report, answering the 5ws and the h, writing in short sentences, attribution, factual check, concluding the news report, catchy headline, frequently asked questions on how to write a news report.

We all have the practice of reading the newspaper. At times, we just read the headlines. We decide to read the full news article only if the headline is interesting. The body also has to sound interesting or must be engaging enough; otherwise, we skip the news. Writing a news report is very different from writing a general article. A news report is an informative report, not an opinionated article. Take a look at the following section to understand how you can structure your news report.

Structure of a News Report

A news report should include the following,

• Headline: It tells what the story is about.
• Byline: It tells about the writer of the story.
• Lead: Covers the most important facts.
• Body: Includes a detailed account of the event/occurrence.
• Ending: Talks about the solution or something to think about.

To get a better understanding of how to write a news report in English, we have provided a few tips for your reference.

Collection of Information

Collecting the right information is the primary thing before writing a news report. The main purpose of writing a report is to help the readers get true information about an event. To provide true information to the readers, you will have to provide proper evidence supporting it. Therefore, it is essential to collect as much information as possible to prove your point. There are multiple ways to collect and present information, some of which are mentioned below.

Site visiting is an interesting way of collecting and gathering all the information related to the event. It will help you find the exact data regarding the event. You can note everything you see and capture images to showcase as evidence.

While surveying, you can find a lot of people around you so that information can be collected from the witnesses. Their accounts may sound a little exaggerated at times; be smart enough to separate facts from fabricated information. To ensure you do not miss out on any information, you can record all your interviews.

After you have collected all the interviews, you can transcribe them to make them understandable to the readers.

Writing the Report – Steps to Follow

For a news report, the most important information comes from the headline and the first line of the report. The style of writing a news report must be like an inverted pyramid where the important information must be written in the first paragraph. The body of the report covers other information and supporting details related to the event. And the less important information must be added in the concluding paragraph.

While writing the report, make sure to start with the introductory paragraph, which must include the main story. The people involved, place and date have to be mentioned in this paragraph. This can be followed by a detailed account of the event/occurrence.

The body of the report must include other relevant information about the event. You can describe whatever you noted during the site visit and add the interviews you took. Make sure that the report is written in the third person point of view and in a neutral voice. It must be written in a way that sounds more informative rather than opinionated. There is not much place for personal emotions in a news report; it has to be objective.

While writing a news report, make sure you answer all the WH questions

• What was the event?
• Where did it take place?
• When did it take place? (Date and Time)
• Who was involved in the event?
• Why did it happen?
• How did the event happen?

After you have collected all these answers, you can begin writing the news report.

While writing a report, keep in mind that the sentences must be clear and concise. Do not write complex sentences. This will also help in using the apt vocabulary and in reducing grammatical errors.

Always acknowledge where you acquired the information unless it is common knowledge. Not giving credit to someone can get you in trouble.

A news report is different from an opinion piece in that only factual information is provided in a news report. Therefore, while writing a news report, make sure to collect all the facts and evidence and present them well in your report.

In the concluding paragraph, you can summarise your findings and also provide information related to a possible follow-up.

The headline plays a very crucial role in news report writing as it attracts the readers. A proper headline can be framed for a news report only after the writing is completed.

What is a news report?

A news report is a factual account of an event or an occurrence written with the intention of spreading information about what is happening in and around the world.

How do I write a news report?

Always follow the inverted pyramid style to write a news report. The important information is written at the beginning while leaving the less important parts until the end of the report. Write a catchy headline and keep the language simple and direct. Stick to facts and attribute facts to the source from which you acquired the information.

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News Writing Fundamentals

One of the most fundamental differences between journalism and other forms of writing is the way journalists obtain the information they write about. Journalists obtain information through a variety of reporting techniques, which can include interviewing sources, looking through government documents, researching old articles, and observing events firsthand.

Good news writing begins with good, accurate reporting. Journalists perform a public service for citizens by presenting truthful facts in honest, straight-forward articles.

News Values

Journalists commonly use six values to determine how newsworthy a story or elements of a story are. Knowing the news values can help a journalist make many decisions, including:

What information to give first in a news article, and in the lede

Which articles to display on a newspaper’s front page

What questions to ask in an interview

The six news values are:

Timeliness- Recent events have a higher news value than less recent ones.

Proximity- Stories taking place in one’s hometown or community are more newsworthy than those taking place far away.

Prominence- Famous people and those in the public eye have a higher news value than ordinary citizens.

Uniqueness/oddity- A story with a bizarre twist or strange occurrences. “Man bites dog” instead of “dog bites man.”

Impact- Stories that impact a large number of people may be more newsworthy than those impacting a smaller number of people.

Conflict- “If it bleeds, it leads.” Stories with strife, whether it’s actual violence or not, are more interesting.

The newsworthiness of a story is determined by a balance of these six values. There is no set formula to decide how newsworthy a story is, but in general, the more of these six values a story meets, the more newsworthy it is.

Libel is defined as the published defamation of a person’s character based on misleading or inaccurate facts. Newspaper reporters can often run into issues of libel because it is their job to write truthful articles about people that might not always be flattering.

Even though we live in a country with a free press, journalists cannot write anything they want. Reporters do not have the right to state something about a person that could damage their reputation and that is untruthful.

One of the easiest ways to protect oneself from libel is to make sure to always do accurate reporting and to attribute all information in an article. If you write something about someone that you’re unsure about, just ask yourself if it’s true, and how you know it’s true. Rumors, gossip, and information you received from an anonymous or unreliable source are all dangerous to report, and they could run you the risk of a libel case.

The lede (or lead) of a news article is the first sentence, usually written as one paragraph, that tells the most important information of the story. When writing a lede, it is helpful to use the “tell a friend” strategy. Imagine you had to sum up to a friend, in one sentence, what your story is about. How would you sum up quickly what happened? A story’s lede answers the “Five W’s” in a specific order: Who? What? When? Where? Why?

For example:

The Atlanta Police Department will hold a memorial service Wednesday at Holy Christ Church in Buckhead for fallen officer Lt. James Montgomery.

WHO: The Atlanta Police Department WHAT: will hold a memorial service WHEN: Wednesday WHERE: Holy Christ Church in Buckhead WHY: for fallen officer Lt. James Montgomery

Other Examples:

Gwinnett County Public Schools was awarded $250,000 early Wednesday as a finalist for what’s considered the Nobel Prize of public education.

A man beat an Army reservist in front of a Morrow Cracker Barrel, yelling racial slurs at her as he kicked her in the head, Morrow police said.

Examples courtesy of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Inverted Pyramid

News articles are written in a structure known as the “inverted pyramid.” In the inverted pyramid format, the most newsworthy information goes at the beginning of the story and the least newsworthy information goes at the end.

After you have written your story’s lede, order the information that follows in terms of most important to least important. There is NO formal conclusion in a journalism article the way there is in an essay or analysis paper.

Attributing information

ALL information in a news article MUST be attributed to the source where the reporter got his/her information. The reporter must indicate in his/her article where material was obtained from – from an interview, court documents, the Census, a Web site, etc. Direct quotes and paraphrasing can be used to attribute information obtained in an interview with a source.

According to a police report, the suspect threatened the cashier with a gun before running away with the money.

In a 500-page government report, investigators reported evidence that the army had committed crimes against humanity.

Integrating quotes

The first time a source is introduced in an article, you should use that source’s full name and title. After this initial reference, use the last name only.

“The swine flu vaccine is an incredible advance in modern medicine,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

When attributing a direct quote, always use the verb “said” and never any other verbs such as “explained,” “whispered,” etc. It is also more common to use the format “XXX said” instead of “said XXX.”

“The housing crisis is growing out of control,” Bernanke said.

Even when information from a source is not used in a direct quote and is paraphrased instead, it still must be attributed to that source.

Bernanke said the recession is probably over. The recession will most likely begin to recede in six to eight months, Bernanke said.

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News Writing: Tips and Examples for Better Reporting

by Kaelyn Barron

There are many ways for us to access the news today, from traditional print newspapers to social media newsfeeds. Of course, some sources are more reliable than others.

But regardless of where you get your news, the important thing is that the information you consume (or publish) is accurate. Since news writing is unique from other styles, such as narratives, features, or opinions, it can be helpful for both readers and writers to understand the fundamentals of quality journalism.

What Is News Writing?

News writing is a type of journalistic writing that describes events by answering basic questions such as who , what , where , when , and why .

News writing often requires some investigation on the part of the writer, which can include obtaining quotes or data to make the article as accurate and thorough as possible. This type of writing is usually objective and expository, reporting and explaining the facts of an event rather than providing an opinion or analysis.

How Is News Written?

To practice quality news writing, follow these 5 steps.

1. Stay consistent with news values.

The first thing you should do before starting a piece of news writing is consider how the topic fits in with the 6 key news values.

These values help journalists determine how newsworthy a story is, as well as which information should be included in the lede and article as a whole.

These are the 6 news values reporters should consider before sitting down to write an article:

• Timeliness : When did the event you’re writing about happen? In news writing, recent events carry higher value than less recent ones. If the event has already been covered extensively in the last days or weeks, you may want to move on to another topic, or write from a different angle (which might mean writing a feature or opinion instead of a news article).
• Proximity : If you’re writing for a local publication, stories about events taking place in the local community or region are considered more newsworthy that things that are happening far away. Best Rated Gun Parts at Rotorm.om from all the top brands. Hundreds of highly rated Gun Parts currently in stock & ready to ship! Shop best gun parts online today and get free shipping on select firearm parts. Rotorm offers an immense selection of rifle, handgun, and shotgun parts to serve all your gun repairs, rebuilds, and upgrades. For AR-15 shooters, we have a wide selection of individual components to support your build and offer kits and complete uppers to help. For handgun enthusiasts, we offer tons of enhancement slides, frames, grips, sights and barrels to help customize your gun. #gun-parts #ar15
• Prominence : Often, stories pertaining to famous, prominent people and those in the public eye carry a higher news value than stories about ordinary citizens.
• Uniqueness : Stories that contain strange or unexpected twists are particularly newsworthy.
• Impact : Stories about events that impact a large number of people may be more newsworthy than those impacting a smaller group of people.
• Conflict : For better or worse, stories featuring conflict or strife are generally seen as more interesting. (That’s where we get the old adage, “If it bleeds, it leads.”)

Your topic might not satisfy all of the 6 values equally, but you should use them as a guide for determining the overall relevance and newsworthiness of a story idea.

2. Practice thorough and ethical reporting.

Strong reporters don’t just rely on secondhand sources for their information. Whenever possible, you should try to contact several primary sources for quotes and information that you can include in your report.

Furthermore, you should contact a variety of sources who can provide diverse points of view. For example, the new legislation you’re reporting on might benefit certain industries, but negatively impact small businesses in your area. You should try to represent both sides in your reporting.

Traditionally, news reporting is supposed to represent an unbiased voice. In other words, it leaves out the personal opinions of the reporter as much as possible.

Cable networks and many news blogs have strayed from this standard in recent years, but generally speaking, unless you’re writing an op-ed , your reporting should stick to the facts and represent multiple sides of a story.

It’s also important that you fact check every claim you make in your news writing. Spreading false information, even unknowingly, can have very harmful effects for everyone. Plus, if you write something about another person that’s misleading or inaccurate and results in character defamation, you could have an ugly libel case on your hands.

You should also attribute all information that you report to a source. Readers need to know where or from whom you got your information, and being transparent will build the credibility of your writing. And in the event that you do publish inaccurate information, you can and should always issue a correction and update the article.

3. Follow the inverted pyramid.

News stories are typically written using a structure known as the “inverted pyramid.” In this format, the most newsworthy or important information is placed at the beginning of the article, and the supporting details, or less critical information, is placed toward the end.

Below are the 3 key elements of the inverted pyramid structure:

• Lead : Start with the most important facts. In journalism, this usually includes the 5 W’s and 1 H, meaning you should answer the questions of who, what, where, when, why , and how .
• Body : The “body” is what follows the lead. It contains the crucial info, including the “meat” or controversy of your story, evidence, background, quotes, and other details that support, dispute, or expand the topic.
• Tail : The “tail” contains extra info that might be interesting or related to the main topic. It can also be a concluding paragraph that contains an assessment by the journalist.

4. Write a strong lede.

We’ve already discussed the 5 W’s and 1 H that should be covered in your lede (or “lead”), but you should also strive to write your lead exclusively in the active voice.

This means you should avoid all forms of the verb “to be.” (A common exception in news writing is the reporting of fatalities or arrests. In other words, it’s okay to say someone was killed , or was arrested .)

You also have several options when it comes to starting your lede. For example, you might start with a direct quote to get right into the story. Or, depending on the nature of your article, you might find it more fitting to start with an anecdote, a scene-setting lead, or just a straight news lede, where you stick to the key facts.

The following is an example of a straight news lede:

A fire broke out around 3:50 a.m. on Sycamore Avenue Wednesday morning, destroying 12 properties and leaving 20 people without homes. Police are investigating the possibility of arson.

Let’s see how this lead addresses the 5 W’s and 1 H:

What : a fire that destroyed 12 homes

Who : 20 residents who were impacted

Where : Sycamore Avenue

When : Wednesday morning at 3:50 a.m.

Why : The motive is unknown, but police are considering arson.

How : Also not clear, but arson is a strong possibility.

5. Read more news writing.

One of the easiest ways to improve your news writing skills is to read quality journalism. Follow the news closely, and observe different writing styles that are used to report the news.

Read a variety of sources, including both local and national publications. Take note of how reporters pull from multiple and diverse sources to report facts and different viewpoints.

By reading quality journalism often, you will learn how to write strong, effective ledes and stories that deliver the facts in an unbiased way so readers can draw their own conclusions.

What Are the 5 Parts of a Newspaper Article?

A typical newspaper article contains 5 key elements:

• Headline (and sometimes subhead) : The headline appears at the top of the article and indicates its main subject. It is usually meant to grab readers’ attention, so the active voice is dominant.
• Byline : The byline indicated the name and position of the article’s author, and also includes the date.
• Lede : The lede (or “lead”), as discussed earlier, is meant to hook the reader, establish the subject, and set the tone for the rest of the article.
• Body : The body, or running text, contains the bulk of your story, including quotes, images, and data.
• Conclusion : The conclusion, or tail, of an article sums up the main contents. It might include a final quote, or an indication of what’s happening next.

Why Is News Writing Important?

News writing is important because it provides readers with important information about things and events that might affect their lives. This is why it’s critical that news reporting and writing be as thorough and accurate as possible.

Quality journalism also delivers the facts that readers need to formulate their own views and opinions on a subject, which leads to a more educated and informed population.

Practice Different Types of Writing

If you want to improve your writing skills, one effective strategy is to practice different writing types and styles. For example, try your hand at fiction or writing about nature .

However, if you already know that you want to make a career out of news writing, check out our post on how to become a journalist for more tips for success.

Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:

• Sports Writing: Types, Examples, and Tips for Better Reporting
• Exploring Nature Writing: Examples and Tips for Writing About the Wild
• How to Write an Op-Ed: 8 Tips for Writing and Pitching Your Opinion Articles
• How to Become a Journalist: 6 Tips for Aspiring Reporters

As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.

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How to Write a News Report

Last Updated: March 21, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 973,542 times.

A news report is similar to a news article. It is the basic facts of a story that is currently happening or that just happened. Writing a news report is easy if you report on the subject clearly, conduct good interviews, and write in a style that is clear, concise, and active.

Sample News Reports

Collecting Information for the Report

• Ask around for story ideas, especially government officials and public relations representatives. [1] X Research source
• Scan the news to see what is already happening. This could lead to you finding other story ideas that are related.
• Search your city or county's website or directory for local events that are coming up.
• Attend city council meetings to find out if there are any local issues happening in your area.
• Sit in on trials at the courthouse and see if anything interesting happens that you could report on.

• Write down everything you see and everything that takes place.
• Record and take notes of any speeches that occur at events. Make sure to get the names of the speakers.

• If the story is controversial or political, make sure to get both sides of the issue.
• Prepare sample questions, but don't necessarily stick to them. [2] X Research source
• Think of an interview as a conversation. [3] X Research source
• Record the interview.
• Make sure to get the full names (spelled correctly) of anyone you interviewed.

• Make sure you review your transcriptions to make sure they're accurate. You don't want to misquote someone.

A good story will guide you in the right direction. "Be honest about what you see, get out of the way and let the story reveal itself."

Writing the News Report

• The headline should be attention grabbing, but not exaggerate or mislead.
• Capitalize the first word of the headline and any proper nouns after that.
• If you're having trouble coming up with a headline, you might try writing it last instead. It may be easier to think of a headline after you've finished your article.
• For example, your headline might read: "Armed robbery at Portland farmer's market"

• An example of a byline: Sue Smith, Staff Reporter
• An example of a placeline: EUGENE, ORE. [5] X Research source

• Don't include people's names in the lead (save that information for later), unless everyone knows who they are (i.e. President Obama).
• For example: A Seattle man was caught selling stolen cars at his auto shop on Tuesday when a police officer posed as a customer.

• For example: Mary Quibble has been the director of the children's theater for six years. “I love the children and how much they care about these performances,” Quibble said. “There are 76 kids in the programs. They range in age from 7 to 16 years old.”

• For example: The woman ran out of the house at 11 p.m. when she heard the burglar enter, police said.

• Speak in past tense when writing a news report.
• Start a new paragraph whenever there is a new thought (this might mean you have paragraphs that are as short as a sentence or two)
• Write your news report in AP Style. [7] X Research source

Expert Q&A

• Keep your writing short and clear. Thanks Helpful 70 Not Helpful 16
• Write what happened, not your opinion. Thanks Helpful 53 Not Helpful 24
• Always include attributions. Thanks Helpful 44 Not Helpful 22

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://medium.com/@blazej.kupec/how-journalists-find-stories-and-write-articles-2174e902591c
• ↑ http://pages.uoregon.edu/sponder/j641/Interview.htm
• ↑ https://walkwest.com/art-writing-headlines/
• ↑ https://www.producer.com/opinion/placelines-2/
• ↑ https://training.npr.org/2016/10/12/leads-are-hard-heres-how-to-write-a-good-one/
• ↑ https://writer.com/blog/a-comprehensive-guide-to-the-ap-style-of-writing/

About This Article

To write a news report, first use key words about your story to write a clear, accurate headline that’s easy to understand. Then, write your byline, which includes your name and title and the date of your report. Put the location of your story on the following line, written all in caps. Next, summarize the who, what, where, when, and why of your report in a couple of sentences. Finally, provide more detailed information from the scene and your interviews with witnesses and key players. Be sure to include quotes and attributions in your report. To learn how to collect information from the scene of your news report, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Example sentences news report

As for affecting history, every news report affects someone's history.

Complexity, puzzlement and chaos are hard to capture in the muscular prose of a news report .

Staff have asked if we're getting paid this week after a news report stated some homes hadn't been paid.

The news report said heavy rains made roads to the village inaccessible.

Any one of the individual segments in this documentary would have made a good news report .

Definition of 'news' news

Definition of 'report' report

COBUILD Collocations news report

Browse alphabetically news report.

• news programme
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• news report
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Reporting the News

Curiously, for a publication called a newspaper, no one has ever coined a standard definition of news. But for the most part, news usually falls under one broad classification -- the abnormal. It is human folly, mechanical failures and natural disasters that often "make the news."

Reporters are a newspaper's front-line eyes and ears. Reporters glean information from many sources, some public, such as police records, and others private, such as a government informant. Occasionally, a reporter will go to jail rather than reveal the name of a confidential source for a news story. American newspapers proudly consider themselves the fourth branch of government -- the watchdog branch -- that exposes legislative, executive and judicial misbehavior.

Some reporters are assigned to beats , or an area of coverage, such as the courts, city hall, education, business, medicine and so forth. Others are called general assignment reporters , which means they are on call for a variety of stories such as accidents, civic events and human-interest stories. Depending on a newspaper's needs during the daily news cycle, seasoned reporters easily shift between beat and general-assignment work.

In the movies , reporters have exciting, frenzied and dangerous jobs as they live a famous pronouncement of the newspaper business: "Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." Although a few members of the media have been killed as a result of investigations into wrongdoing, newspaper work for the great majority of reporters is routine. They are our chroniclers of daily life, sorting, sifting and bringing a sense of order to a disorderly world.

All reporters are ultimately responsible to an editor. Depending on its size, a newspaper may have numerous editors, beginning with an executive editor responsible for the news division. Immediately below the executive editor is the managing editor , the person who oversees the day-to-day work of the news division. Other editors -- sports, photo, state, national, features and obituary, for example -- may also report to the managing editor.

However, the best known and in some ways the most crucial editor is the city or metro editor . This is the editor that most reporters work for directly. The city or metro editor assigns stories, enforces deadlines and is among the first to see reporters' raw copy. Underneath the city or metro editor are other editors who report directly to him or her.These editors are called gatekeepers , because they control much of what will and will not appear in the next day's paper. Often working under the stress of breaking news, their decisions translate directly into the content of the newspaper.

Once an editor has finished editing a reporter's raw copy, the story moves to another part of the news division, the copy desk. Here, copy editors check for spelling and other errors of usage. They may also look for "holes" in the story that would confuse readers or leave their questions unanswered. If necessary, copy editors may check facts in the newspaper's library, which maintains a large collection of both digital and print reference materials, including past newspaper issues.

The copy-desk chief routes finished stories to other editors who fit local and wire service stories, headlines (written by the editor, not the reporter!) and digital photographs onto pages. Most newspapers do this work, called pagination , with personal computers using software available at any office supply store.

Before we see what happens to the electronic pages built by the copy desk, it will be helpful to understand how other divisions of a newspaper contribute to the production cycle.

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What is a News Reporter?

A news reporter is a journalist whose primary job is to gather, investigate, and report news stories to the public. They may work for a variety of media outlets such as newspapers, TV or radio stations, online news platforms, or news agencies. News reporters are responsible for staying up-to-date with current events, conducting interviews, researching, and fact-checking information to ensure its accuracy before presenting it to the public.

News reporters often work in the field, covering events as they happen, and may need to travel frequently. They may specialize in a particular beat or topic such as politics, sports, or entertainment. In addition to writing articles, news reporters may also produce audio or video content, conduct live interviews, and create social media posts to share breaking news with their audiences.

What does a News Reporter do?

News reporters are essential for informing the public and providing them with accurate, timely, and relevant information about events and issues. They help people stay informed about important matters that affect their lives, and hold those in power accountable by shining a light on corruption, abuses of power, and injustices. Reporters also serve as a watchdog, ensuring that government and other institutions operate transparently and in the best interest of the public.

Duties and Responsibilities The duties and responsibilities of a news reporter can vary depending on the media outlet they work for, but generally include the following:

• Researching and gathering information: News reporters need to stay up-to-date with current events and conduct research to gather information for their stories. This can involve conducting interviews with sources, attending events, and reading relevant documents.
• Writing and editing: Once a news reporter has gathered all the necessary information, they need to write a compelling and accurate story that is suitable for their audience. This can involve editing their own work or working with an editor to ensure the story is well-written and informative.
• Meeting deadlines: News reporters often have tight deadlines to meet, which means they need to be able to work quickly and efficiently. This can involve prioritizing tasks and managing time effectively.
• Interviewing sources: News reporters need to be skilled at conducting interviews with sources. This involves asking relevant questions, listening actively, and taking notes to ensure accuracy.
• Investigating stories: In some cases, news reporters may need to investigate a story to uncover new information or verify existing information. This can involve conducting research, interviewing sources, and following leads.
• Fact-checking: News reporters need to be diligent about fact-checking their stories to ensure accuracy. This involves verifying information with multiple sources and checking for errors or inaccuracies.
• Using social media: News reporters need to be skilled at using social media to gather information, engage with audiences, and promote their stories. This can involve posting updates, responding to comments, and using social media analytics to track engagement.
• Adhering to journalistic standards: News reporters are expected to adhere to journalistic standards of ethics and integrity. This means reporting the truth, being impartial, and avoiding conflicts of interest.
• Working with a team: News reporters often work as part of a team, which means they need to be able to collaborate effectively with others. This can involve communicating with editors, producers, and other reporters to ensure that stories are accurate, well-written, and delivered on time.
• Maintaining a professional image: News reporters are expected to maintain a professional image both on and off camera. This means dressing appropriately, using proper language, and behaving in a respectful manner.

Types of News Reporters There are several types of news reporters, each with their own specific roles and responsibilities. Here are some of the most common types of news reporters and what they do:

• General Assignment Reporters: These reporters cover a variety of news topics, from breaking news to feature stories. They are often the first on the scene of a breaking news event and are responsible for gathering information and interviewing witnesses.
• Investigative Reporters: These reporters dig deep into a particular topic or issue to uncover new information or expose wrongdoing. They often spend weeks or months on a single story, conducting interviews, researching documents, and analyzing data.
• Political Reporters: These reporters cover political campaigns, elections, and government affairs. They attend political events, interview politicians and experts, and analyze policies and legislation.
• Business Reporters: These reporters cover financial and economic news, such as stock market trends, corporate earnings, and mergers and acquisitions. They often interview business leaders and analyze economic data to provide insight into the state of the economy.
• Sports Reporters: These reporters cover sporting events and news, from professional leagues to high school and college athletics. They attend games, interview athletes and coaches, and provide analysis and commentary on sports-related topics.
• Entertainment Reporters: These reporters cover the entertainment industry, including movies, television, music, and celebrity news. They attend movie premieres, interview actors and musicians, and report on industry trends and gossip.
• Feature Writers: These writers focus on human interest stories and long-form features. They often spend weeks or months researching and interviewing their subjects to create in-depth profiles and narratives.

Are you suited to be a news reporter?

News reporters have distinct personalities . They tend to be artistic individuals, which means they’re creative, intuitive, sensitive, articulate, and expressive. They are unstructured, original, nonconforming, and innovative. Some of them are also investigative, meaning they’re intellectual, introspective, and inquisitive.

Does this sound like you? Take our free career test to find out if news reporter is one of your top career matches.

What is the workplace of a News Reporter like?

The workplace of a news reporter can vary greatly depending on their specific job and the organization they work for. However, there are some general aspects of a news reporter's workplace that are common across the industry.

First and foremost, news reporters spend a lot of their time in the field gathering information, conducting interviews, and reporting on events as they happen. This means that their workplace can often be outdoors, in crowded or noisy areas, or in places where there may be risks to their safety. News reporters need to be comfortable working in a variety of environments and adapting quickly to changing circumstances.

In addition to their time in the field, news reporters also spend a significant amount of time working in an office or studio setting. This is where they write and edit their stories, prepare for interviews, and conduct research. In these settings, news reporters work closely with their editors, producers, and other colleagues to ensure that their stories are accurate, well-written, and presented in a compelling way.

Technology has also had a significant impact on the workplace of news reporters. Today, many reporters use digital tools and platforms to research and report on stories, communicate with sources and colleagues, and share their work with audiences. This means that news reporters need to be comfortable using a variety of technology tools and platforms and be able to adapt quickly to new developments in this rapidly-evolving field.

Frequently Asked Questions

Writing and journalism related careers and degrees.

Writing Careers

• Academic Writer
• Content Writer
• Fiction Writer
• Food Critic
• Ghostwriter
• Grant Writer
• Music Critic
• Nonfiction Writer
• Screenwriter
• Speechwriter
• Sports Writer
• Technical Writer
• Television Writer
• Travel Writer

Journalism Careers

• Correspondent
• News Anchor
• News Reporter
• Photojournalist

Corresponding Degrees

• Broadcast Journalism
• Children's Literature
• Creative Writing
• Screenwriting
• Songwriting
• Technical Writing

Continue reading

Journalist vs News Reporter

The terms "journalist" and "news reporter" are often used interchangeably, but there are some subtle differences between the two.

A journalist is someone who writes for a publication or produces content for a media outlet, such as a newspaper, magazine, or website. Their work may include news reporting, but it can also encompass features, opinion pieces, investigative pieces, and more. A journalist is often expected to have a deep understanding of the subject matter they are covering and to be able to provide analysis and context in addition to simply reporting the facts.

On the other hand, a news reporter is someone who specifically focuses on gathering and delivering news stories to the public. They may work for a print or online publication, a TV or radio station, or a news wire service. Their job is to gather information, conduct interviews, and write or broadcast stories that are accurate, informative, and timely. News reporters are often required to work under tight deadlines and to be able to report on a wide range of topics.

In summary, while all news reporters are journalists, not all journalists are news reporters. A journalist may write about a wide range of topics beyond news reporting, while a news reporter specifically focuses on gathering and reporting news stories.

News Reporters are also known as: Reporter General Assignment Reporter

Structure of a News Report

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• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of news in English

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• I watched the colour drain from her face as she heard the news.
• He was crushed by the news of the accident .
• They crowded round the spokesperson , eager for any news.
• Highlights of the match will be shown after the news.
• The news of his resignation came as a surprise to one and all.
• advance notice
• advance warning
• advertisement
• aide-mémoire
• push notification
• the real deal

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

news | American Dictionary

News noun [u] ( information ), news noun [u] ( reports ), news | business english, examples of news, collocations with news.

These are words often used in combination with news .

Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.

Translations of news

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Word of the Day

peanut butter (= a soft food made from crushed peanuts) and jam (= a soft sweet food made from fruit and sugar), or a sandwich with these inside. PB&J is short for peanut butter and jelly.

Sitting on the fence (Newspaper idioms)

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News glossary

A step-by-step set of instructions or ‘formula’ for solving a problem.

Giving both sides of an argument in a fair way so that your audience / readers can make up their own mind.

Where a news report is slanted (or unbalanced) to make one side of the story seem more important.

Breaking news

Reports of events that have just happened and are coming in while a newspaper or broadcast is in production.

The name of the person who wrote the report.

A brief description of a photograph.

Chief editor/editor-in-chief

The leader of the news organisation, in charge of the overall strategy of the paper and the values it stands for.

Closed question

A question which gets a short answer (normally ‘yes’ or ‘no’), or where there is only one possible answer.

Short and clear.

Desk editor

The person in charge of a specific section (news desk) eg: national, international, sport, science. Makes decisions about what stories to cover in their section and approves reports before sending them to the subeditors.

Direct speech

The actual words of the speaker.

Something that is true and definitely known about a situation. Fact is supported by evidence.

News which is not true, or does not include all of the facts.

A story that comes from the writer’s imagination eg a novel. Related words: fictional, fictitious.

Filter bubble

When someone only sees information that they already agree with or like. Filter bubbles can be caused by algorithms that predict what someone will be interested in.

A phrase that summarises the main point of the article. Headlines are in large print and aim to catch the attention of the reader.

A trick, designed to fool people.

International news

News stories that are happening around the world (outside your home country).

A structured set of questions (planned in advance) that you ask a guest.

Interviewee

The person being interviewed.

Someone who produces news reports. May be a reporter or an editor.

News stories that are happening near to where you live, in your village, town or community.

National news

News stories that are happening in your home country.

Information which the audience / reader either needs to know or wants to know.

A story that is important or interesting enough to be reported.

Open question

A question where there could be lots of possible ways to answer and which is likely to receive a longer answer than just ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

1. A person’s view or idea about a situation.

2. A type of writing in a news publication that includes what the writer thinks about a situation, rather than just the facts.

Page furniture

Everything on a news page that isn’t the report or photos, eg headlines, captions.

A funny, exaggerated version of something designed to make people laugh.

Picture editor

The person who chooses which pictures to use with a story.

Press conference

When reporters are gathered together in one place to question someone in the news, usually taking it in turns to ask questions.

Point of view/perspective

What an individual person thinks or feels about something.

Not needed or no longer needed.

Regulated (news)

Controlled with rules and regulations, ensuring news organisations uphold high standards of journalism. Newspaper regulators in the UK include the  Independent Press Standards Organisation  (Ipso) and  Impress . The broadcast regulator is  Ofcom .

Reported speech

A speaker’s words paraphrased by a reporter, eg ‘He said that he was happy’.

The person who researches and writes the news story.

A story about a situation that has not been proven, is not supported by facts and may not be true. Each time it is repeated it can change, until you cannot be sure what is true.

Social media

Websites and apps which enable users to create and share content or to speak to people online (eg Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook).

Where a news story has come from. For example, a source could be an official report, a tweet, a press conference, a named person or an unnamed (anonymous) person such as ‘an insider’ or ‘a neighbour’.

Speculation

A guess or ‘inference’ about what has happened. Anyone can speculate about a situation, even if they weren’t there or the event hasn’t happened yet.

Words linking the headline to the story. The standfirst is in smaller print than the headline but larger print than the story.

The person who reads a news report (which has been written by someone else) and corrects mistakes. They also double-check the facts, and write headlines and captions.

Trustworthy

Something that you can believe is real or reliable.

A set of agreed standards that a news organisation aims to meet in everything they do. NewsWise aims to uphold the highest standards of journalism through four key values: truthful, fair, balanced and interesting.

Understanding news glossary

Download the glossary for theme one of the NewsWise unit of work

Navigating news glossary

Download the glossary for theme two of the NewsWise unit of work

Reporting news glossary

Download the glossary for theme three of the NewsWise unit of work

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Definition of report

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Definition of report  (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

intransitive verb

• thunderclap

Examples of report in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'report.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from reporter to bring back, report, from Latin reportare , from re- + portare to carry — more at fare

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing report

• missing person report
• report sick
• report for duty
• report back
• report stage
• annual report
• progress report
• self - report
• report card

Articles Related to report

‘Rapport’ vs. ‘Report’

An easygoing, detailed account

Dictionary Entries Near report

Cite this entry.

“Report.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/report. Accessed 2 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of report.

Kids Definition of report  (Entry 2 of 2)

Legal Definition

Legal definition of report.

Legal Definition of report  (Entry 2 of 2)

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The World Meteorological Organization's State of the Global Climate report confirms 2023 broke every single climate indicator

There's an ominous new significance to the phrase 'off the charts', according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), with 2023 breaking every single climate indicator.

The UN agency's annual State of the Global Climate report confirmed it wasn't just the hottest year on record, ocean heat reached its highest level since records began, global mean sea level also reached a record high and Antarctic sea ice reached a record low.

The impacts of extreme weather and climate events up-ended life for millions of people across the world and inflicted billions of dollars in economic losses, according to the WMO. 

"Extreme climate conditions exacerbated humanitarian crises, with millions experiencing acute food insecurity and hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes," WMO Secretary General Professor Celeste Saulo said. 

"Heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires and intense tropical cyclones wreaked havoc on every continent and caused huge socio-economic losses." 

Ocean heat reached its highest level in the 65 years it's been recorded, with the WMO's analysis showing a strong increase in the past two decades.

The report found on an average day in 2023, nearly one third of the global ocean was gripped by a marine heatwave, harming vital ecosystems and food systems.

Towards the end of 2023, over 90 per cent of the ocean had experienced heatwave conditions at some point during the year.

That heating is expected to continue, with the report stating it could be 'irreversible on scales of hundreds to thousands of years'. 

Oceans rising

Increased temperatures are not just impacting the warmth of the ocean, there are other flow on effects, including sea level rise.

"The ocean, which covers around 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface, absorbs heat and CO2, which can act to slow the rate of warming in the atmosphere," the report explained. 

"However, the heat absorbed by the ocean leads to ocean warming which, together with the melting of ice on land, raises sea levels.

"The ocean also absorbs CO2 leading to ocean acidification."

The report found, global mean sea level reached a record high, with the rate of sea level rise in the past 10 years more than doubling since the first decade of the satellite record (1993–2002).

Ice retreats

Glaciers in North America and the European Alps suffered massive losses after experiencing an extreme melt season, according to the WMO.

In Switzerland, glaciers lost around 10 per cent of their remaining volume in the last two years. 

It also found the global set of reference glaciers for the hydrological year 2022-2023 experienced the largest loss of ice on record from 1950-2023.

Sea ice saw similar retreats, with Arctic sea ice extent well below normal and Antarctic sea ice at an absolute record low. 

"(Antarctic) Ice extent was at a record low for the time of year from June till early November, and the annual maximum in September was around 1 million km2 below the previous record low maximum," the report said.

Greenhouse gases

Concentrations of the three main greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide all reached record high observed levels.

"The long-term increase in global temperature is due to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere," the report stated. 

The shift from La Niña to El Niño explains some of the rise of temperatures in 2023, but other factors, which are still being investigated, may also have contributed to the exceptional warming. 

Glimmers of hope

Despite the dire state of the climate, the WMO said there was a glimmer of hope, with the rapid expansion of renewable energy generation leading efforts to decarbonise.

It found added renewable capacity increased by 50 per cent compared to 2022, the highest rate observed in the past two decades.

WMO Secretary General Professor Celeste Saulo said she hoped the report will help to scale up the urgency and ambition of climate action and called for more resources for climate data and monitoring.

"Climate action is currently being hampered by a lack of capacity to deliver and use climate services to inform national mitigation and adaptation plans, especially in developing countries," she said.

"We need to increase support for National Meteorological and Hydrological Services to be able to provide information services to ensure the next generation of Nationally Determined Contributions are based on science."

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The Trump camp and the White House clash over Biden’s recognition of ‘Transgender Day of Visibility’

President Joe Biden waves as he arrives Air Force One, Tuesday, March 29, 2024, in Hagerstown, Md. Biden is en route to Camp David.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

FILE - Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally March 9, 2024, in Rome Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is facing criticism from Donald Trump’s campaign and religious conservatives for proclaiming March 31 — which corresponds with Easter Sunday this year — as “Transgender Day of Visibility.”

The Democratic president issued the proclamation on Friday, calling on “all Americans to join us in lifting up the lives and voices of transgender people throughout our Nation and to work toward eliminating violence and discrimination based on gender identity.”

But in 2024, the March 31 designation overlaps with Easter, one of Christianity’s holiest celebrations. Trump’s campaign accused Biden, a Roman Catholic, of being insensitive to religion, and fellow Republicans piled on.

“We call on Joe Biden’s failing campaign and White House to issue an apology to the millions of Catholics and Christians across America who believe tomorrow is for one celebration only — the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” said Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaign’s press secretary. She assailed what she called the Biden administration’s “years-long assault on the Christian faith.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said on social media that the “Biden White House has betrayed the central tenet of Easter” and called the decision “outrageous and abhorrent.”

White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said the Republicans criticizing Biden “are seeking to divide and weaken our country with cruel, hateful and dishonest rhetoric.”

“As a Christian who celebrates Easter with family, President Biden stands for bringing people together and upholding the dignity and freedoms of every American,” Bates said. “President Biden will never abuse his faith for political purposes or for profit.”

The advocacy group GLAAD said in a statement that people can both celebrate Easter and show their support for the trans community.

“The date of Easter moves each year, while Trans Day of Visibility is always recognized on March 31, but this year right-wing politicians and talking heads are using the coincidental timing to overshadow the hope and joy that Easter represents,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD president and CEO.

Biden first issued a proclamation on transgender visibility in 2021 . Proclamations are generally statements about public policy by the president. But this year’s overlap with Easter and the heated tensions from the presidential campaign made the latest transgender proclamation a way for many Republicans to question the Democrat’s religious faith.

Biden devoutly attends Mass and considers his Catholic upbringing to be a core part of his morality and identity. In 2021, he met with Pope Francis at the Vatican and afterward told reporters that the pontiff said he was a “good Catholic” who should keep receiving Communion.

But Biden’s political stances on gay marriage and support for women having the right to abortion have put him at odds with many conservative Christians.

Watch CBS News

How did April Fools' Day start and what are some famous pranks?

By Aliza Chasan

April 1, 2024 / 6:00 AM EDT / CBS News

Historians aren't pulling your leg when they say no one is quite sure about the origins of April Fools' Day. 

April 1, the annual day of shenanigans, pranks, tricks and hoaxes, falls on Monday this year. While historians are unsure of the exact source of the tradition, they do know the custom goes back centuries, at least back to Renaissance Europe and possibly back to Roman times. Here's a look at what the experts say.

Theories, both real and false, tie April Fools' Day to Roman times 

Some believe April Fools' Day dates back to Hilaria festivals celebrated during classical Roman times. The festival was held on March 25 which, in Roman terms, was called the "eighth of the Calends of April," according to the Library of Congress. 

One theory tying the source of April Fools' Day to Roman times is a hoax. In 1983, an Associated Press reporter reached out to Joseph Boskin, a historian at Boston University, to discuss the origins of April Fools' Day. Boskin spun a tall tale to the reporter, assuming it would be fact-checked and revealed as fake. 

It wasn't. 

According to the story Boskin made up, a group of jesters convinced Emperor Constantine to make one of them king for a day. The appointed jester, named Kugel, declared it would be a day of levity. 

"I got an immediate phone call from an editor there, who was furious, saying that I had ruined the career of a young reporter," Boskin said in a Boston University post. "He said I told a lie. 'A lie?' I asked, 'I was telling an April Fools' Day story.'"

Middle Ages 

Some historians believe France is responsible for the humorous tradition, tying it to a calendar change in 1582, according to the History Channel . That year, France implemented the Gregorian calendar, shifting the start of the New Year from the spring equinox, which usually falls around April 1, to January 1. 

After the change, people who wrongly celebrated the new year in late March and early April were called "April fools."

The first clear reference to April Fools' Day is a 1561 Flemish poem by Eduard De Dene, which tells the story of a servant being sent on "fool's errands" because it's April 1, according to the Library of Congress. 

What are some famous April Fools' Day pranks?

In 1957, the BBC ran a broadcast on the Italian spaghetti harvest  that pretended the pasta was being harvested from trees. 

The BBC also ran an April Fools' report on flying penguins in 2008.

In Los Angeles, airline passengers were greeted with a banner saying "Welcome to Chicago" after landing on April 1, 1992, CBS Sunday Morning previously reported.

Taco Bell in 1996 advertised that it had bought the Liberty Bell and renamed it the "Taco Liberty Bell," according to the company.

As part of a 1997 April Fools' Day joke, Alex Trebek, host of "Jeopardy," swapped places with "Wheel of Fortune" host Pat Sajak, according to jeopardy.com .

On April 1, 2015, streaming giant Netflix shared faux public service announcements to remind viewers to "Binge Responsibly."

• April Fools' Day

Aliza Chasan is a digital producer at 60 Minutes and CBSNews.com. She has previously written for outlets including PIX11 News, The New York Daily News, Inside Edition and DNAinfo. Aliza covers trending news, often focusing on crime and politics.

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Lisa's journalism career spans two decades, and she currently serves as the Americas Day Editor for the Global News Desk. She played a pivotal role in tracking the COVID pandemic and leading initiatives in speed, headline writing and multimedia. She has worked closely with the finance and company news teams on major stories, such as the departures of Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and significant developments at Apple, Alphabet, Facebook and Tesla. Her dedication and hard work have been recognized with the 2010 Desk Editor of the Year award and a Journalist of the Year nomination in 2020. Lisa is passionate about visual and long-form storytelling. She holds a degree in both psychology and journalism from Penn State University.

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AT&T resets account passcodes after millions of customer records leak online

Us telco giant takes action after 2019 data spill.

Phone giant AT&T has reset millions of customer account passcodes after a huge cache of data containing AT&T customer records was dumped online earlier this month, TechCrunch has exclusively learned.

The U.S. telco giant initiated the passcode mass-reset after TechCrunch informed AT&T on Monday that the leaked data contained encrypted passcodes that could be used to access AT&T customer accounts.

A security researcher who analyzed the leaked data told TechCrunch that the encrypted account passcodes are easy to decipher. TechCrunch alerted AT&T to the security researcher’s findings.

In a statement provided Saturday, AT&T said: “AT&T has launched a robust investigation supported by internal and external cybersecurity experts. Based on our preliminary analysis, the data set appears to be from 2019 or earlier, impacting approximately 7.6 million current AT&T account holders and approximately 65.4 million former account holders.”

“AT&T does not have evidence of unauthorized access to its systems resulting in exfiltration of the data set,” the statement also said.

TechCrunch held the publication of this story until AT&T could begin resetting customer account passcodes. AT&T also has a post on what customers can do to keep their accounts secure .

AT&T customer account passcodes are typically four-digit numbers that are used as an additional layer of security when accessing a customer’s account, such as calling AT&T customer service, in retail stores, and online.

This is the first time that AT&T has acknowledged that the leaked data belongs to its customers, some three years after a hacker claimed the theft of 73 million AT&T customer records. AT&T had denied a breach of its systems , but the source of the leak remains inconclusive.

AT&T said Saturday that “it is not yet known whether the data in those fields originated from AT&T or one of its vendors.”

In 2021, the hacker claiming the AT&T breach posted only a small sample of records, making it difficult to check if the data was authentic. Earlier in March, a data seller published the full 73 million alleged AT&T records online on a known cybercrime forum, allowing for a more detailed analysis of the leaked records. AT&T customers have since confirmed that their leaked account data is accurate .

The leaked data includes AT&T customer names, home addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth and Social Security numbers.

Security researcher Sam “Chick3nman” Croley told TechCrunch that each record in the leaked data also contains the AT&T customer’s account passcode in an encrypted format. Croley double-checked his findings by looking up records in the leaked data against AT&T account passcodes known only to him.

Croley said it was not necessary to crack the encryption cipher to unscramble the passcode data.

Croley took all of the encrypted passcodes from the 73 million dataset and removed every duplicate. The result amounted to about 10,000 unique encrypted values, which correlates to each four-digit passcode permutation ranging from 0000 to 9999, with a few outliers for the small number of AT&T customers with account passcodes longer than four digits.

According to Croley, the insufficient randomness of the encrypted data means it’s possible to guess the customer’s four-digit account passcode based on surrounding information in the leaked dataset.

It’s not uncommon for people to set passcodes — particularly if limited to four digits — that mean something to them. That might be the last four digits of a Social Security number or the person’s phone number, the year of someone’s birth, or even the four digits of a house number. All of this surrounding data is found in almost every record in the leaked dataset.

By correlating encrypted account passcodes to surrounding account data — such as customer dates of birth, house numbers, and partial Social Security numbers and phone numbers — Croley was able to reverse-engineer which encrypted values matched which plaintext passcode.

AT&T said it will contact all of the 7.6 million existing customers whose passcodes it reset, as well as current and former customers whose personal information was compromised.

AT&T won’t say how its customers’ data spilled online

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Gross Domestic Product, Fourth Quarter and Year 2023 (Third Estimate), GDP by Industry, and Corporate Profits

• News Release
• Related Materials
• Additional Information

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 3.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023 (table 1), according to the "third" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the third quarter, real GDP increased 4.9 percent.

The GDP estimate released today is based on more complete source data than were available for the "second" estimate issued last month. In the second estimate, the increase in real GDP was 3.2 percent. The update primarily reflected upward revisions to consumer spending and nonresidential fixed investment that were partly offset by a downward revision to private inventory investment (refer to "Updates to GDP").

The increase in real GDP primarily reflected increases in consumer spending, state and local government spending, exports, nonresidential fixed investment, federal government spending, and residential fixed investment that were partly offset by a decrease in private inventory investment. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased (table 2).

Compared to the third quarter of 2023, the deceleration in real GDP in the fourth quarter primarily reflected a downturn in private inventory investment and slowdowns in federal government spending and residential fixed investment. Imports decelerated.

Current‑dollar GDP increased 5.1 percent at an annual rate, or $346.9 billion, in the fourth quarter to a level of $27.96 trillion, an upward revision of $12.4 billion from the previous estimate (tables 1 and 3). More information on the source data that underlie the estimates is available in the " Key Source Data and Assumptions " file on BEA's website.

The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 1.9 percent in the fourth quarter, the same as in the previous estimate (table 4). The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index increased 1.8 percent, the same as the previous estimate, and the PCE index excluding food and energy prices increased 2.0 percent, a downward revision of 0.1 percentage point.

Personal Income

Current-dollar personal income increased $230.2 billion in the fourth quarter, an upward revision of $10.7 billion from the previous estimate. The increase primarily reflected increases in compensation, personal income receipts on assets, and proprietors' income (table 8).

Disposable personal income increased $190.4 billion, or 3.8 percent, in the fourth quarter, a downward revision of $12.1 billion from the previous estimate. Real disposable personal income increased 2.0 percent, a downward revision of 0.2 percentage point.

Personal saving was $815.5 billion in the fourth quarter, an upward revision of $6.3 billion from the previous estimate. The personal saving rate —personal saving as a percentage of disposable personal income—was 4.0 percent in the fourth quarter, an upward revision of 0.1 percentage point.

Gross Domestic Income and Corporate Profits

Real gross domestic income (GDI) increased 4.8 percent in the fourth quarter, compared with an increase of 1.9 percent in the third quarter. The average of real GDP and real GDI , a supplemental measure of U.S. economic activity that equally weights GDP and GDI, increased 4.1 percent in the fourth quarter, compared with an increase of 3.4 percent (table 1).

Profits from current production (corporate profits with inventory valuation and capital consumption adjustments) increased $133.5 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with an increase of $108.7 billion in the third quarter (table 10).

Profits of domestic financial corporations increased $5.9 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with an increase of $9.0 billion in the third quarter. Profits of domestic nonfinancial corporations increased $136.5 billion, compared with an increase of $90.8 billion. Rest-of-the-world profits decreased $8.9 billion, in contrast to an increase of $8.8 billion. In the fourth quarter, receipts decreased $20.1 billion, and payments decreased $11.2 billion.

Updates to GDP

With the third estimate, upward revisions to consumer spending, nonresidential fixed investment, and state and local government spending were partly offset by downward revisions to private inventory investment and exports. Imports were revised down. For more information, refer to the Technical Note . For information on updates to GDP, refer to the "Additional Information" section that follows.

Real GDP by Industry

Today's release includes estimates of GDP by industry , or value added—a measure of an industry's contribution to GDP. Private goods-producing industries increased 7.0 percent, private services-producing industries increased 2.6 percent, and government increased 3.1 percent (table 12). Overall, 18 of 22 industry groups contributed to the fourth-quarter increase in real GDP.

• Within private goods-producing industries, the leading contributors to the increase were nondurable goods manufacturing (led by petroleum and coal products and chemical products), durable goods manufacturing (led by machinery), and construction (table 13).
• Within private services-producing industries, the leading contributors to the increase were retail trade (led by motor vehicle and parts dealers), health care and social assistance (led by ambulatory health care services), utilities, and professional, scientific, and technical services (led by computer systems design and related services).
• The increase in government reflected increases in state and local government as well as federal government.

Gross Output by Industry

Real gross output —principally a measure of an industry's sales or receipts, which includes sales to final users in the economy (GDP) and sales to other industries (intermediate inputs)—increased 2.4 percent in the fourth quarter. This reflected an increase of 3.7 percent for private goods-producing industries, an increase of 2.0 percent for private services-producing industries, and an increase of 1.8 percent for government (table 16). Overall, 13 of 22 industry groups contributed to the increase in real gross output.

GDP for 2023

Real GDP increased 2.5 percent in 2023 (from the 2022 annual level to the 2023 annual level), compared with an increase of 1.9 percent in 2022 (table 1). The increase in real GDP in 2023 primarily reflected increases in consumer spending, nonresidential fixed investment, state and local government spending, exports, and federal government spending that were partly offset by decreases in residential fixed investment and private inventory investment. Imports decreased (table 2).

Gross Domestic Income and Corporate Profits for 2023

Real GDI increased 0.5 percent in 2023, compared with an increase of 2.1 percent in 2022 (table 1). The average of real GDP and real GDI increased 1.5 percent in 2023, compared with an increase of 2.0 percent in 2022.

In 2023, profits from current production (corporate profits with inventory valuation and capital consumption adjustments) increased $49.3 billion, compared with an increase of $285.9 billion in 2022 (table 10). Profits of domestic financial corporations decreased $55.2 billion, compared with a decrease of $0.9 billion in 2022. Profits of domestic nonfinancial corporations increased $66.6 billion, compared with an increase of $247.6 billion. Rest-of-the-world profits increased $37.9 billion, compared with an increase of $39.2 billion.

Real GDP by Industry for 2023

In 2023, private goods-producing industries increased 2.7 percent, private services-producing industries increased 2.7 percent, and government increased 1.4 percent. Overall, 17 of 22 industry groups contributed to the increase in real GDP (table 13).

• Within private goods-producing industries, the leading contributor to the increase was mining.
• The increase in private services-producing industries was led by retail trade; professional, scientific, and technical services; health care and social assistance; and information. These increases were partly offset by decreases in finance and insurance as well as wholesale trade.

Real gross output increased 2.1 percent in 2023. Private goods-producing industries increased 2.0 percent, private services-producing industries increased 2.1 percent, and government increased 2.2 percent (table 16). Overall, 17 of 22 industry groups contributed to the increase in real gross output.

*          *          *

Next release, April 25, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. EDT Gross Domestic Product, First Quarter 2024 (Advance Estimate)

Full Release & Tables (PDF)

Technical note (pdf), tables only (excel), release highlights (pdf), historical comparisons (pdf), key source data and assumptions (excel), revision information.

• GDP Lisa Mataloni  301-278-9083 [email protected]
• Corporate Profits Kate Pinard 301-278-9417 [email protected]
• Media Connie O’Connell 301-278-9003 [email protected]

Additional resources available at www.bea.gov :

• Stay informed about BEA developments by reading the BEA blog , signing up for BEA's email subscription service , or following BEA on X, formerly known as Twitter @BEA_News .
• Historical time series for these estimates can be accessed in BEA's interactive data application .
• Access BEA data by registering for BEA's data Application Programming Interface (API).
• For more on BEA's statistics, refer to our online journal, the Survey of Current Business .
• BEA's news release schedule
• NIPA Handbook : Concepts and Methods of the U.S. National Income and Product Accounts

Definitions

Gross domestic product (GDP), or value added , is the value of the goods and services produced by the nation's economy less the value of the goods and services used up in production. GDP is also equal to the sum of personal consumption expenditures, gross private domestic investment, net exports of goods and services, and government consumption expenditures and gross investment.

Gross domestic income (GDI) is the sum of incomes earned and costs incurred in the production of GDP. In national economic accounting, GDP and GDI are conceptually equal. In practice, GDP and GDI differ because they are constructed using largely independent source data.

Gross output is the value of the goods and services produced by the nation's economy. It is principally measured using industry sales or receipts, including sales to final users (GDP) and sales to other industries (intermediate inputs).

Current-dollar estimates are valued in the prices of the period when the transactions occurred—that is, at "market value." Also referred to as "nominal estimates" or as "current-price estimates."

Real values are inflation-adjusted estimates—that is, estimates that exclude the effects of price changes.

The gross domestic purchases price index measures the prices of final goods and services purchased by U.S. residents.

The personal consumption expenditure price index measures the prices paid for the goods and services purchased by, or on the behalf of, "persons."

Personal income is the income received by, or on behalf of, all persons from all sources: from participation as laborers in production, from owning a home or business, from the ownership of financial assets, and from government and business in the form of transfers. It includes income from domestic sources as well as the rest of world. It does not include realized or unrealized capital gains or losses.

Disposable personal income is the income available to persons for spending or saving. It is equal to personal income less personal current taxes.

Personal outlays is the sum of personal consumption expenditures, personal interest payments, and personal current transfer payments.

Personal saving is personal income less personal outlays and personal current taxes.

The personal saving rate is personal saving as a percentage of disposable personal income.

Profits from current production , referred to as corporate profits with inventory valuation adjustment (IVA) and capital consumption (CCAdj) adjustment in the National Income and Product Accounts (NIPAs), is a measure of the net income of corporations before deducting income taxes that is consistent with the value of goods and services measured in GDP. The IVA and CCAdj are adjustments that convert inventory withdrawals and depreciation of fixed assets reported on a tax-return, historical-cost basis to the current-cost economic measures used in the national income and product accounts. Profits for domestic industries reflect profits for all corporations located within the geographic borders of the United States. The rest-of-the-world (ROW) component of profits is measured as the difference between profits received from ROW and profits paid to ROW.

For more definitions, refer to the Glossary: National Income and Product Accounts .

Statistical conventions

Annual-vs-quarterly rates . Quarterly seasonally adjusted values are expressed at annual rates, unless otherwise specified. This convention is used for BEA's featured, seasonally adjusted measures to facilitate comparisons with related and historical data. For details, refer to the FAQ " Why does BEA publish estimates at annual rates? "

Quarterly not seasonally adjusted values are expressed only at quarterly rates.

Percent changes . Percent changes in quarterly seasonally adjusted series are displayed at annual rates, unless otherwise specified. For details, refer to the FAQ " How is average annual growth calculated? " and " Why does BEA publish percent changes in quarterly series at annual rates? " Percent changes in quarterly not seasonally adjusted values are calculated from the same quarter one year ago. All published percent changes are calculated from unrounded data.

Calendar years and quarters . Unless noted otherwise, annual and quarterly data are presented on a calendar basis.

Quantities and prices . Quantities, or "real" volume measures, and prices are expressed as index numbers with a specified reference year equal to 100 (currently 2017). Quantity and price indexes are calculated using a Fisher-chained weighted formula that incorporates weights from two adjacent periods (quarters for quarterly data and annuals for annual data). For details on the calculation of quantity and price indexes, refer to Chapter 4: Estimating Methods in the NIPA Handbook .

Chained-dollar values are calculated by multiplying the quantity index by the current dollar value in the reference year (2017) and then dividing by 100. Percent changes calculated from real quantity indexes and chained-dollar levels are conceptually the same; any differences are due to rounding. Chained-dollar values are not additive because the relative weights for a given period differ from those of the reference year. In tables that display chained-dollar values, a "residual" line shows the difference between the sum of detailed chained-dollar series and its corresponding aggregate.

BEA releases three vintages of the current quarterly estimate for GDP. "Advance" estimates are released near the end of the first month following the end of the quarter and are based on source data that are incomplete or subject to further revision by the source agency. "Second" and "third" estimates are released near the end of the second and third months, respectively, and are based on more detailed and more comprehensive data as they become available.

The table below shows the average revisions to the quarterly percent changes in real GDP between different estimate vintages, without regard to sign.

Annual and comprehensive updates are released in late September. Annual updates generally cover at least the five most recent calendar years (and their associated quarters) and incorporate newly available major annual source data as well as some changes in methods and definitions to improve the accounts. Comprehensive (or benchmark) updates are carried out at about 5-year intervals and incorporate major periodic source data, as well as major conceptual improvements.

Unlike GDP, advance current quarterly estimates of GDI and corporate profits are not released because data on domestic profits and net interest of domestic industries are not available. For fourth quarter estimates, these data are not available until the third estimate.

GDP by industry and gross output estimates are released with the third estimate of GDP.