How to Write a News Story

I honor Mr. Pulkkinen for writing the following news story with admirable economy, particularly for the direct opening line, and for the koan-like restraint of the final quote.

Piano falls in Battery Street Tunnel

By LEVI PULKKINEN
P-I REPORTER

Traffic through Seattle's Battery Street Tunnel was briefly blocked Wednesday afternoon by a piano.

Apparently the upright piano was being hauled through the tunnel when, around 12:35 p.m., it fell onto the southbound lane of state Route 99, police spokeswoman Renee Witt said. City engineers removed the piano an hour later.

Police spokeswoman Debra Brown said it wasn't immediately clear who owned the instrument.

"Obviously, someone lost this piano," Brown said.