Use this checklist to make sure you always add a human angle to news stories to help your audience identify with your content better.
The checklist is based on the article Including the human angle in journalism by Bob Eggington. We suggest you read the article before working through the points below.
For news organisations to succeed, they must attract and retain audiences. The human touch is vital for building trust and engagement.
Important coverage of politics, the economy, international affairs, and other heavy-duty subjects needs to be thoughtful and thorough. But the coverage is much more effective if it also demonstrates the human angle.
The human angle checklist
- [ ] Put a face to the story: Instead of just reporting on a policy or an event, find an individual who is affected by it. People connect with other people more easily than they do with abstract concepts.
- [ ] Find the real-life impact: Look for how a situation changes the daily lives of citizens. For example, if a price rises, talk to a parent who now struggles to buy food for their children.
- [ ] Use the human story as your lead: Start your report with the personal experience to grab the attention of your audience immediately. You can then explain the broader facts later in the piece.
- [ ] Favour personal detail over statistics: While numbers are important for accuracy, they can be boring. Use the words and emotions of your interviewees to bring the story to life.
- [ ] Interview people directly involved: Speak to those on the ground rather than only relying on official spokespeople or government news/press releases.
- [ ] Simplify complex information: Use a person’s story to help explain difficult topics. If you are writing about a new law, show how it works by describing how it affects one person’s rights.
- [ ] Maintain impartiality and fairness: Even when focusing on a personal story, ensure you include the necessary context so the audience gets a complete picture.
- [ ] Ask the right questions: When interviewing your human angle source, ask how they feel and what the situation means for their future. These details provide the emotional heart of your report.
In summary, by focusing on how events affect real people, you transform a dry report into a meaningful story that resonates with your community. This approach ensures your journalism is both accessible and relevant, fulfilling the vital role of explaining the world through the eyes of those who live in it.
