Writing the Lead Telling the story and grabbing the reader s

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Writing the Lead

• Telling the story and grabbing the readers
  attention at the same time

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What is a Lead?

• The lead is the beginning of a news story that
  often contains one sentence between 30 45 words.

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Lead Example

• A 16-year-old West High School sophomore is in
  critical condition today at River City Hospital
  after being treated for smoke inhalation at his
  home last night.

We now know the basics of this story.
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The Leads Job

• Tell the reader what the story is about
• Make the reader want to read the story
• Create the proper mood for the story

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To Write a Good Lead, You Must

• Cut to the essence of the story What is the
  story about?
• Write succinctly Write very concisely
• Grab the readers attention Make them WANT to
  read the story.
• You will either catch or lose the reader within
  the first paragraph. This is why the must be
  the strongest area of your story.

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Qualities of a Good Lead

• Informative What is the story about?
• Brief Short enough not to lose the readers
  attention but long enough to give the necessary
  details.
• Accurate All information is TRUE.
• Simple No complex sentences or ideas presented
  in the lead.

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Qualities of a Good Lead

• Direct No flowery language. Simple to
  understand.
• Active Written in active, not passive, voice.
• Objective Reporters opinion is left out.
• Colorful Uses descriptive language.
• Good Taste The writing will not offend the
  average person.

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Checklist for Lead Writing

• Does the first word or phrase tell the most
  important idea in the story?
• Is the who of the story fully disclosed with
  name AND title or job description included?
• Is the what of what happened up to date,
  emphasizing the today or future angle if
  possible?

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Checklist for Lead Writing

• Are the questions when and where answered but
  secondary to more important information.
• Are the how and why given a prominent place
  in the lead if they apply?
• If the lead is long, has it been broken into two
  sentences or paragraphs for emphasis and easy
  reading?

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Checklist for Lead Writing

• Does the lead consider the so what consequences
  of the news?
• Does the lead really catch the spirit of the
  news story?
• Is the lead free from spelling or grammar errors?
• Have names been checked for spelling?

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Checklist for Lead Writing

• Are there unnecessary words or details?
• Is the authority, or source, suggested or
  explicitly named?
• Could the lead be cut from the rest of the story
  and published by itself?
• Is the lead written as colorfully as possible?
• Is the lead slanted toward the reader?