28 ChatGPT Prompts for News Writing (Brewing Breaking Bulletins)

ChatGPT is transforming the realm of news writing.

From generating news topics to drafting engaging articles, analyzing reader comments, and even enhancing team discourse—its scope is genuinely groundbreaking.

But with endless potential, it's challenging to figure out the initial step.

That's the purpose of this guide.

Within this guide, I'll utilize real-world journalism situations and extensive hours of testing with ChatGPT to present reliable ChatGPT prompts for news writing.

Let's get started.

ChatGPT Prompts for News Writing

Generate ideas for news stories

In the fast-paced world of news, coming up with fresh and engaging story ideas can be a challenge.

But, ChatGPT can help you identify potential story angles, hot topics, or overlooked subjects in your area of interest.

Simply provide a general news category or theme, and ChatGPT can generate newsworthy story ideas.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced news editor to generate compelling news story ideas.

The focus is on technology advancements and their impact on society.

Give me 5 interesting news story ideas that I could assign to my journalists.

Conduct interviews with relevant sources

ChatGPT can simulate conducting interviews, gathering information, and creating insights, making it a valuable tool for news writing.

You can ask ChatGPT to role-play as a journalist interviewing a source about a specific event, topic, or issue.

However, keep in mind that it can only generate responses based on its training data and can't interact with real people.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Role-play as an investigative journalist interviewing a whistleblower about recent corporate malpractices.

Ask questions to gather as much detailed and specific information as possible.

Start the interview with the following question: Can you share details about the malpractice you witnessed in the corporation?

Write a compelling headline

Crafting a catchy headline can make or break your news article.

Grabbing your reader's attention is key, and ChatGPT can assist you in this task.

Give it the context of the news article, and it can generate compelling headlines that will entice readers to click and read further.

For instance, you can feed it with a short summary of your news story and ask for a headline.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced news editor and create a compelling headline for the following news story:

Local mayor announces a groundbreaking initiative to combat homelessness in the city by providing job training and affordable housing options.

Develop an engaging lede

Crafting a compelling lede is the heart of news writing, and with ChatGPT's help, it's never been easier.

Provide ChatGPT with key details of the news story - who, what, where, when, why, and how - and it can help you frame an engaging lede that instantly grabs your reader's attention.

For instance, you can ask ChatGPT to generate a lede for a breaking news story.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced news writer and develop an engaging lede for the following news story:

A local tech company has just launched a groundbreaking AI software that can predict weather patterns with 98% accuracy.

The software was unveiled today at their headquarters.

Structure the news story (Inverted Pyramid)

When it comes to news writing, ChatGPT can help structure your story in the Inverted Pyramid format, which is the standard in journalism.

The inverted pyramid structure prioritizes information from most to least important, ensuring that the reader gets the most critical details upfront.

Just provide the facts of the story and ask ChatGPT to structure it accordingly.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced journalist and structure the following information in the Inverted Pyramid format.

Key facts: A fire broke out in a downtown office building yesterday evening, leading to the evacuation of hundreds of workers.

Firefighters were able to contain the blaze after two hours.

No casualties were reported, but damage to the building is extensive.

Incorporate quotes and statements into the news story

Incorporating quotes and statements into a news story can lend credibility and provide a unique perspective.

ChatGPT can help you do just that.

Feed ChatGPT with the information, the context of the news story, and the desired statements or quotes.

It will then intelligently weave these quotes into the narrative, making your news story more compelling and authentic.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced news writer tasked with incorporating the following quotes and statements into a news story about the recent rise in cryptocurrency.

1.

Cryptocurrency is the gold of the digital age, said Blockchain expert, John Doe.

2.

A recent statement by the Federal Reserve hinted at the potential for regulatory changes in the cryptocurrency market.

Provide a balanced viewpoint on controversial issues

In the world of news writing, it is vital to present balanced viewpoints, particularly on controversial issues.

ChatGPT can help you in ensuring that you're covering all sides of the issue at hand by providing opinions or perspectives from various parties involved.

You can ask ChatGPT to generate arguments, counterarguments, or just provide different viewpoints on an issue.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced news writer providing a balanced viewpoint on a controversial issue.

The issue is the implementation of stricter gun control laws.

Provide arguments from both supporters and opponents of this legislation.

Write an effective news summary

In journalism, writing a precise and concise news summary is crucial.

ChatGPT can help in crafting summaries for any news article, blog, report, or press release.

Just feed ChatGPT with the text you want to summarize and ask it to write an effective summary.

It can identify the main points and key details to ensure your summary is comprehensive.

For instance, you can ask ChatGPT to provide a concise summary of a news article.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As a seasoned news writer, summarize the following news article into a digestible and concise format.

Here is the news article:

Describe the scene or event in detail

When writing a news article, it's essential to provide a vivid description of the scene or event to give readers a sense of being there.

ChatGPT can help you create such a narrative.

Simply provide it with factual information regarding the event, including the who, what, when, where, and why.

With this information, ChatGPT can paint a detailed picture, making your news story more engaging and immersive.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced news reporter and describe in detail the following scene:

At 10 a.m., a fire broke out in a residential building in downtown Los Angeles.

Firefighters are currently battling the blaze, and residents have been evacuated.

Incorporate relevant data and statistics

In news writing, data and statistics play a crucial role in substantiating your story and giving it credibility.

ChatGPT can be a useful tool to assist journalists in finding and incorporating relevant data into their news articles.

The AI model can be fed with information about the topic of the article, and it can help generate sentences that smartly incorporate the desired statistics.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As an experienced news writer, incorporate the following data into a news article about the impact of the pandemic on global education:

1) UNICEF data shows around 1.6 billion learners across the world have been affected by school closures.

2) The World Bank predicts a $10 trillion dollar earning loss for this generation of students.

Use AP Style guidelines in news writing

ChatGPT can be used to review your news articles and ensure they adhere to AP Style guidelines.

This includes checking for correct usage of abbreviations, capitalization, numerals, punctuation, and more.

All you have to do is provide the text of your news article and ask ChatGPT to review it based on AP Style.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced editor using AP Style guidelines to review this news article.

Please point out any discrepancies and suggest corrections accordingly.

Here is the news article to be reviewed:

Proofread and edit the news story

Whether you're a journalist looking for an extra set of eyes or a news agency wanting to ensure the highest quality content, ChatGPT can proofread and edit your news stories.

It can check your grammar, sentence structure, and punctuation.

It can also assist in editing for brevity, clarity, and style.

Simply provide the news story and ask ChatGPT to proofread and edit it.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a seasoned editor to proofread and improve the following news story.

Make sure to check for grammar, style, clarity, and brevity.

Here is the story to be edited:

Fact-check information in the news story

Accuracy and reliability are crucial in news writing.

ChatGPT can assist in fact-checking articles or news stories by cross-referencing information with trusted databases, resources, or other reliable news sites.

In addition, it can identify any inconsistencies or discrepancies in the information provided and flag them for further investigation.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As an experienced journalist, fact-check the following news story.

Identify any inconsistencies or discrepancies and provide suggestions for trustworthy sources to verify the information.

Here is the news story that needs to be fact-checked:

Write photo captions for the news story

Writing descriptive and engaging photo captions for news stories can be a challenging task.

However, ChatGPT can help you craft precise and compelling captions that provide context to the image, enhance the news story, and pique the reader's interest.

You just need to provide the AI with an image and any relevant information about the news story.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a news writer to craft a detailed and catchy caption for the following news story photo.

The photo shows firefighters attempting to control a massive forest fire.

This event is taking place in the Amazon Rainforest, and it's the largest fire in the past decade.

Develop a kicker ending for the news story

Writing an impactful ending for a news story can sometimes be challenging.

However, ChatGPT can help you construct a powerful kicker that leaves readers engaged and satisfied.

Just provide ChatGPT with the key details of your news story, and it will create a concise and impactful ending.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced news reporter tasked with creating a compelling kicker for this news story.

The story is about the recent increase in renewable energy use in the city, a move initiated by the city council to combat climate change.

Compose a powerful ending that leaves readers pondering about the implications.

Generate story ideas for follow-ups

Use ChatGPT to generate story ideas for follow-ups in news writing.

Provide it with the latest news articles or current events and ask it to suggest relevant follow-up stories that can be written on the same topic.

ChatGPT can help to maintain the flow of the news and keep the audience engaged with its continuous coverage.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As an experienced news editor, generate compelling follow-up story ideas based on this current news event:

Write a news report on a press conference

News writing is a craft that requires precision, objectivity, and the ability to convey a message clearly and efficiently.

With ChatGPT, you can ask it to generate a succinct and comprehensive news report based on a press conference.

Provide it with the details of the event such as the key speakers, topics discussed, major announcements, and it will formulate an objective report on it.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As a news writer, draft a report on a press conference that was held today.

The conference was about the launch of a new environmental policy by the government.

The key speakers included the Prime Minister and the Minister of Environment.

Conduct research for background information

If you're unsure where to begin gathering information for a news article, ChatGPT can assist in this process.

You can ask it to conduct research on any given topic or event by presenting key points or questions for it to explore.

ChatGPT can even help identify reliable sources of information and provide a summary of the gathered data, thereby saving you time and effort.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As a diligent journalist, carry out research for a news article about the recent advancements in renewable energy sources.

Identify and summarize key points from credible sources.

Also, include any relevant statistics or data that would be important for the piece.

Write an opinion piece on a current news topic

In the fast-paced world of news, having an AI like ChatGPT help in writing an opinion piece can be quite beneficial.

It can take your perspective, combine it with the current news topic, and express it in a compelling manner.

All you need to do is provide the topic and your stance on it.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a seasoned journalist asked to write an opinion piece on the current political climate.

I am of the view that despite increasing polarization, bipartisan cooperation is not only possible but necessary for effective governance.

Compose an article reflecting this viewpoint.

Write a breaking news report

ChatGPT is proficient in crafting breaking news reports swiftly and accurately.

It can adhere to the guidelines of news writing, maintaining journalistic ethics, and ensuring a story is newsworthy.

Provide ChatGPT with the critical details of the event or incident, and it will generate a news report based on those facts.

For instance, it can be given the task of writing a breaking news report on a significant political event.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced news reporter and write a breaking news report on the following information:

A major political event has just occurred.

The Prime Minister has announced a surprise resignation due to health reasons.

This has caused a political stir in the country.

Write a report covering this incident.

Develop teaser text for social media promotion

Struggling to create compelling social media teasers for your latest news articles?

ChatGPT can craft catchy teasers that pique readers' curiosity and encourage clicks.

Just provide the main points of your news article, and let ChatGPT create an intriguing teaser that will grab your audience's attention.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As a seasoned news writer, create engaging social media teaser text for the following news article:

The city council has passed a new sustainability initiative aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 20% over the next decade.

Write a news feature story

ChatGPT is capable of writing a news feature story, blending fact and narrative in a captivating manner.

By providing it with core facts, figures, and themes, it can construct a comprehensive story that appeals to readers' curiosity and desire for information.

For instance, you can ask ChatGPT to write a news feature story on a recent significant event.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As a seasoned journalist, write a news feature story on the recent breakthrough in renewable energy technology.

Here are some facts: the technology was developed by a startup named EnergyPlus, it increases solar panel efficiency by 30%, it has received significant funding from prominent investors.

Include perspectives from the startup team, the investors, and experts in the field.

Prioritize news stories for the front page

In journalism, not all stories are made equal, and the art of prioritizing them is crucial.

As an AI, ChatGPT can help in selecting and prioritizing news stories for the front page based on relevance, impact, interest, and timeliness.

You can feed the model with a list of stories and ask it to rank them based on these parameters.

For example, you can ask the AI to prioritize the day's top news stories to create a compelling front page.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As an experienced editor, prioritize the following news stories for the front page based on relevance, impact, interest, and timeliness.

Here is the list of stories to be evaluated:

Write an effective byline

ChatGPT can assist journalists and writers in creating an effective byline for their news articles.

Just provide the key details of your article, such as the main topic, any significant figures involved, and the location.

ChatGPT will then use these details to construct a byline that is informative, engaging, and precise.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a seasoned journalist crafting an effective byline for a news article.

The article is about the recent increase in cyber crime rates in New York City, focusing on the impact on small businesses.

Generate a compelling byline that encapsulates the essence of this news story.

Create a compelling news package with visuals and multimedia

News writing is not just about text anymore.

It's about telling a story in the most engaging way.

With ChatGPT, you can create a compelling news package with visuals, multimedia, and the relevant content that effectively communicates your story to your readers.

Simply provide ChatGPT with the main points of your news story, and it can suggest a layout, write the content, and even suggest the type of multimedia that would best enhance your report.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As an experienced news editor, create a compelling news package based on the following points.

The news is about the recent advancements in renewable energy sector.

Here are the main points: recent breakthroughs, benefits for the environment, global leaders in the sector, public opinion, and future prospects.

Suggest the type of multimedia and visual content that could enhance the report.

Write a news roundup on a specific topic

ChatGPT is capable of providing a succinct summary of top stories on a specific topic.

Provide it with a topic of interest, and it will sift through the vast world of news articles to bring you an overview of the most relevant and noteworthy events.

For instance, you can ask ChatGPT to compile news on the latest advancements in technology.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a professional news writer and provide a roundup of the top 5 news stories this week related to technological advancements.

Include key details such as the main event, key players involved, and the potential impact.

Prepare for a live news report

ChatGPT can assist you in preparing for a live news report by helping you structure your report, identify key points, and create an engaging narrative.

Feed ChatGPT with the background information, key facts, and figures related to the news story, and it will help you create a succinct and engaging script for your report.

For example, you can ask ChatGPT to create a script based on the information provided.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced news reporter preparing for a live news report.

Here is the information about the story:

Write a news obituary.

Even though writing a news obituary could be emotional, ChatGPT can help you strike the right balance between honoring the person's life and maintaining journalistic integrity.

Whether you're looking for a traditional, biographical-style obituary or a more narrative one, ChatGPT can assist you.

Just provide the necessary details such as the person's name, notable accomplishments, and other key points, and ChatGPT will draft a news obituary.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Create a dignified news obituary for a renowned journalist, John Doe, who contributed significantly to the field of investigative journalism for over four decades, worked with leading newspapers, and won multiple awards.

 

Conclusion

Great job! We've traversed a considerable expanse.

From designing captivating news headlines to developing engaging stories, creating concise news summaries, and interpreting audience reactions, ChatGPT is revolutionizing every facet of news writing.

It’s your dependable ally for when you hit a writer's block, your compass for navigating complex narratives, and your imaginative collaborator for innovative storytelling.

But bear in mind:

ChatGPT is an aid, not a substitute for your journalistic prowess. Combine its potent abilities with your personal insight to produce truly compelling news articles.

Now the baton passes to you.

Choose a couple of prompts from this guide and try them in your next news article, story session, or editorial meeting. You may find yourself amazed at how much more productive—and creative—you are.

And if you’re ready to venture into even more robust tools that transcend ChatGPT, take a peek at Galaxy.ai.

With a suite of AI tools at your fingertips, it’s the pinnacle of efficiency for modern news writers.

Happy news writing! 🚀