Optimal image location in news stories?

[TheaterMania]

We recently watched a video where a Google News developer advocated displaying large images near the top of articles.

As a matter of practice, we tend to follow the below formats instead. Are we shooting ourselves in the foot?

1. Use a gallery at the top: http://www.whatsonstage.com/west-end-theatre/news/07-2014/great-britain-billie-piper-west-end_34919.html
2. Use a medium size square image on the right side: http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/07-2014/arts-council-funding-npo-orange-tree_34910.html
3. Use a large image with a caption at the top: http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/07-2014/meera-syal-national-theatre_34913.html
4. Also, do elements like a 'Buy ticket' console in the middle of article pages hurt us?: http://screencast.com/t/rqqMk2dATfmE