If you're new to journalism, you may have heard the term "nutgraf" or “nut graf” (or, less commonly, “nut graph”) tossed around by editors. In short, a nutgraf is a paragraph, typically near the top of a news story, telling readers the story's concise summary and essential theme.

Think of the nutgraf as the "kernel" of your article. Just like how a nut contains the beginnings of what will eventually grow into a tree, the nutgraf contains the essential idea that the rest of a story will expand upon. A nutgraf is also different from a lead (lede), which refers to the opening of a story. The nutgraf typically occurs somewhere in or after the lead, and signals to readers what the story is about and why they should care.

A good nut graf is specific and vivid. It distills the who, what, where, when, why and how of the story into a succinct statement (Which is the whole goal of the inverted pyramid approach, really). If a hurried reader only looked at the headline and nutgraf, even without reading the whole story, they should still walk away with a clear understanding of the story's main point. They don’t have to read the rest of the story to grasp its essence.

Origins of the Nut Graf

The term nutgraf was in American newsrooms by the 1970s, but its usage might date all the way back to a Wall Street Journal editor in the early 1940s, according to a blog from the Poynter Institute. Editors would scribble "Needs nutgraf!" in the margins of stories that jumped into details without clearly explaining the central point upfront.

In the fast-paced world of newspapers, every story had to quickly communicate its relevance to readers who were scanning pages. The nutgraf became the tool to grab the reader's attention and lock in their interest. Major newspapers like The Washington Post, the Philadelphia Inquirer and others still rely on nutgrafs consistently to this day.

Over time, the nut graf has become a staple of journalistic writing across all media, from newspapers to magazines to online articles. Even though digital media has forced formats and styles to evolve in our digital age, clearly conveying the "so what?" of a story remains as important as ever.

Nut Graph in A News Story

The nut graph is short, but includes supporting material as needed to pique a reader’s interest. To see how nutgrafs work, let's look at a few examples from published stories:

"The nation's employers kept hiring briskly in November despite high inflation and rising interest rates - a sign of resilience in the face of aggressive action by the Federal Reserve." (The New York Times)

This nutgraf sums up the main news (continued hiring), puts it in context (despite inflation and rate hikes), and suggests why it matters (shows economic resilience).

"Officials investigating the fatal shooting of six people at a Walmart said that the gunman bought the rifle just hours before the killings and left a “death note” on his phone." (The Associated Press)

This nut graf tells the complete story, covering the news article’s angle and key facts: Who was killed, where it happened, how the shooting occurred, and a chilling detail about the gunman's state of mind. It leads with “Officials investigating” to provide attribution – this is what the officials said.

"Every year, hundreds of young and healthy greyhounds are killed because they lack racing potential. Now, an effort is underway to end this practice and find these dogs new homes." (National Geographic)

This nutgraf introduces the story's driving narrative conflict: Greyhound dogs being euthanized vs. the movement to save them. It makes you want to keep reading to see how this effort unfolds.

As you can see, a nutgraf isn't a full summary of everything in the article. Rather, it's a "nut" of information that captures the essence of the story and entices the reader to crack open the rest of the piece.

The next time you're reading a news article or magazine story, see if you can spot the nutgraf. Notice how it encapsulates the key ideas and piques your curiosity to continue reading. Then try applying this technique to your own writing. Explain significance, reveal your central theme, and tee up the supporting details to keep your readers engaged.

Crafting a strong nutgraf is a valuable skill for any journalist or nonfiction writer to develop. With an eye for nutgrafs, your stories are sure to be a whole lot nuttier. ⬥