Inverted Pyramid

The inverted pyramid is a model used by journalists and journalism educators to represent the structure of a news story that begins with a statement of the most essential, newsworthy facts and continues with related information in diminishing order of newsworthiness. Though a pyramid by definition is a three-dimensional figure, the inverted pyramid structure in journalism is illustrated as a triangle balanced on one point. The shape signifies the unfolding content of a story, from its wide top to the narrow bottom. This entry explores the function, structure, and history of the inverted pyramid structure from its emergence in the 19th century through its use by journalists and strategic communicators in the digital age.