5W1H

5W1H is a problem-solving and information-gathering approach that centers on six questions: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. It is widely used in journalism to ensure coverage of essential facts and is also applied in research, planning, and investigations to define scope and guide data collection.

Who identifies the subject or actors involved; What describes the event, object, or issue; When and Where establish time and place; Why explains causes, purposes, or motivations; How outlines the process, method, or degree of change. In practice, these questions help structure notes, interviews, and narratives, and they often guide the ordering of information in reports or presentations. In journalism, answers to 5W1H are used to shape the news story, sometimes aligning with the inverted-pyramid style that prioritizes the most important facts first.

Applications extend to project planning, problem-solving, and quality improvement, where 5W1H clarifies requirements, risks, and impact. It also serves as a checklist for research design, meeting notes, and impact assessments. Limitations include that not all situations require all six questions, some information may be unknown, and the method may oversimplify complex phenomena or overlook context and nuance.

Example: A city council announcement might ask: Who attended the meeting, What was decided, When and Where did it take place, Why is the issue being addressed, and How will the decisions be implemented.