The nut graf (short for "nutshell paragraph") is the paragraph that explains why the story matters. It usually appears right after the lede and gives the journalist the context they need to decide if this is worth covering beyond the raw facts.
If the lede tells you what happened, the nut graf tells you why you should care. It frames the announcement in the broader industry trend, cites supporting data or third-party research, and positions the news relative to what competitors or the market are doing.
Nut graf checklist
- Answers "why now" in one sentence
- Includes one stat or third-party reference
- Connects to a broader trend or problem
- Is between 40 and 80 words
Related terms
- Lede - The opening paragraph of a press release or news story, designed to summarize the essential facts.
- Press Release - A formal written statement distributed to media outlets to announce something newsworthy about a company or organization.
- Boilerplate - A short, standardized paragraph at the end of a press release that describes the company.
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