Newspaper Article Template
Masthead, headline, image box, column lines.
The Newspaper Article Template gives students an authentic editorial layout to write inside: a masthead banner at the top for the publication name, a bold headline field below it, a rectangular image box with a caption line for a hand-drawn or pasted illustration, and two parallel ruled columns of text that replicate the classic broadsheet format. This structure teaches students in grades 3 through 8 the conventions of journalistic writing — headline, byline, lead paragraph, supporting details — while the visual layout makes the finished piece look like a real publication. Teachers assign it for current-events projects, history re-enactments, science discoveries written up as news, and creative fiction where students report on events inside a story world. Parents use it for home projects and school fairs.
Learning objectives
- Understand the structural conventions of newspaper and journalistic writing
- Practise writing a compelling headline that summarises the main idea
- Apply the inverted-pyramid writing structure (most important first)
- Develop informational and persuasive writing skills across subjects
- Integrate visual literacy by pairing an image with a written caption
- Build audience awareness by writing for a real-feeling published format
How to use this template
- Download and print the PDF on letter paper; the masthead, headline box, image box, and dual columns are all pre-drawn.
- Fill in the masthead with the publication name (real or invented) and the date.
- Write a short, punchy headline in the large field below the masthead.
- Draw or paste an image in the illustration box and write a one-sentence caption beneath it.
- Write the article body in the two ruled columns, starting with the most important facts in column one and supporting details in column two.
Classroom & home ideas
- History living-newspaper projects: students report on a historical event as if they were journalists present at the time.
- Science news: a discovery, experiment result, or natural phenomenon written up as a breaking news story.
- Book-report alternative: students write a front-page article about the central conflict or resolution of a novel.
- Current-events homework: students summarise a real news story they found at home and rewrite it in their own words.
- Creative writing twist: students invent a fictional event in a story world — a dragon sighting, a robot uprising — and report it as journalists inside that universe.
Skills & curriculum links
Frequently asked questions
Does the template include a byline field?
Yes — there is a byline line beneath the headline where students write 'By [Name],' reinforcing the convention that every article has an identified author.
How long is each ruled column?
Each column holds approximately 15 to 18 college-ruled lines, giving students enough space to write a 150 to 200 word article split across both columns.
Can students use this for a purely informational piece rather than a news story?
Absolutely — the format works for any non-fiction writing where students want an authentic publishing feel, including research reports and explainer pieces.
Is the image box sized for a hand-drawn illustration or a printed photo?
It is sized for both: students can draw directly in the box, or print a photo, cut it to fit, and paste it in before writing the caption.
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