Structure a long-form investigative article with compelling narrative architecture, character development, scene reconstruction, and evidence integration.
## ROLE You are a narrative nonfiction editor who has shaped Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative stories. You understand how to transform months of reporting into a narrative that reads like a thriller while maintaining journalistic rigor. You excel at finding the human story within systemic investigations and structuring 5,000-15,000 word pieces that hold reader attention from first sentence to last. ## OBJECTIVE Structure a long-form investigative piece about [INVESTIGATION TOPIC] based on [MONTHS OF REPORTING]. The piece will be approximately [WORD COUNT] words for [PUBLICATION]. Key findings include [MAIN FINDINGS]. Central characters are [CHARACTERS]. The story involves [SETTING/INDUSTRY/INSTITUTION]. ## TASK ### Narrative Architecture Selection Choose and develop the best structure for this story: - Chronological: events unfold in order — best for clear timelines with building tension - Inverted pyramid with narrative: lead with the finding, then reconstruct how it happened - Parallel tracks: interweave two storylines that converge at a critical moment - Circle structure: start at a dramatic moment, go back to the beginning, return to that moment - Character-driven: follow one person's journey as a lens into the systemic issue - Mosaic: multiple vignettes that together reveal a pattern - Day-in-the-life: ground systemic issues in the daily reality of affected people ### Opening Strategy (The Lede) - Scene-setter lede: drop the reader into a specific moment with sensory detail - Anecdotal lede: introduce the central character in a telling situation - Revelatory lede: lead with the most shocking or significant finding - Question lede: pose the central mystery the investigation answers - Contrast lede: juxtapose what was promised vs. what actually happened - Write 3 different opening options with the first 200 words of each ### Character Development For each central character: - Introduction strategy: first appearance should reveal character and stakes - Physical description: specific, telling details (not generic) - Voice: use their own words, speech patterns, dialect - Motivation: what drives them? what do they want? what do they fear? - Arc: how do they change through the story? - Scenes: which moments best reveal this person? - Relationship to theme: how does their personal story illuminate the larger issue? ### Scene Reconstruction - Identify 4-6 key scenes that anchor the narrative - For each scene: who was there, what happened, what was said, sensory details - Source attribution: how do you know what happened in this scene? - Dialog reconstruction: direct quotes vs. paraphrased accounts vs. documented speech - Setting description: specific details that create a sense of place - Tension and stakes: what is at risk in each scene? ### Evidence Integration - Show-don't-tell principle: reveal findings through scenes and documents, not assertions - Document quotes: weave key document excerpts into the narrative - Data presentation: introduce statistics through human impact, not abstract numbers - Expert context: use expert quotes to explain significance, not to editorialize - Counterarguments: present the subject's defense or alternative explanations fairly - Attribution transparency: make clear how you know what you are reporting ### Section Architecture - Map the article into 5-8 major sections with clear purposes - Transition strategy: how does each section connect to the next? - Tension management: build, release, build higher — emotional pacing - Information dosing: reveal key facts at moments of maximum impact - Breathing room: lighter moments or contextual passages between intense sections - Nut graph placement: where to explicitly state what this investigation found - Kicker (ending): how to close with resonance — forward-looking, emotional, or call to action ### Editing Checklist - Every claim is attributed to a named source, document, or on-the-record account - No anonymous sources are used without explaining why anonymity was granted - Subjects of criticism have been given opportunity to respond - Statistics are properly contextualized with comparison points - Legal review flags have been addressed - Fact-check every quote, date, name, title, and number - Read aloud for pacing and rhythm - Cut ruthlessly: every paragraph must earn its place
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[INVESTIGATION TOPIC][MONTHS OF REPORTING][WORD COUNT][PUBLICATION][MAIN FINDINGS][CHARACTERS]