Writing News Story LeadsWriting News Story Leads

Understanding the elements of Understanding the elements of lead writinglead writingUnderstanding Understanding inverted pyramid structureinverted pyramid structureKnow how to write traditional “AP” Know how to write traditional “AP”

or or summary leadsummary leadBecome comfortable writing inventive, colorful Become comfortable writing inventive, colorful

leads for all kinds of news storiesleads for all kinds of news storiesRecognize good / bad story leadsRecognize good / bad story leadsLearn what lead Learn what lead techniques to avoidtechniques to avoid

KEY CONCEPTS:KEY CONCEPTS:

LEADLEAD SUMMARY LEADSUMMARY LEAD INVERTED PYRAMIDINVERTED PYRAMID TEASETEASE FIVE W’S AND THE HFIVE W’S AND THE H QUOTE LEADQUOTE LEAD QUESTION LEADQUESTION LEAD

Keep in mind:Keep in mind:

The danger of teaching/emphasizing The danger of teaching/emphasizing streamlined, straight-news approachstreamlined, straight-news approach can be can be discouraging for student journalists looking to discouraging for student journalists looking to practice creative writing. It needs to be practice creative writing. It needs to be stressed, that in journalism education, it is stressed, that in journalism education, it is important to important to build a basic skill basebuild a basic skill base so that one so that one can run with their imagination when it comes to can run with their imagination when it comes to writing, as soon as they learn to walk.writing, as soon as they learn to walk.

There is no “right way” to write a leadThere is no “right way” to write a lead, or a , or a story for that matter!story for that matter!

The lead is the The lead is the “do or die” paragraph“do or die” paragraph

It’s the place where you win or lose the It’s the place where you win or lose the reader.reader.

The lead has to have impact.The lead has to have impact. It It usuallyusually should come to the point quickly. should come to the point quickly.

Most frequently the first paragraph of the Most frequently the first paragraph of the news story.news story.

Some can be more like introductions and will Some can be more like introductions and will run for several paragraphsrun for several paragraphs

The Inverted PyramidThe Inverted Pyramid

Top = broad part where main facts go. Top = broad part where main facts go. LeadLead

As pyramid narrows, facts become less As pyramid narrows, facts become less significant.significant.

Pointed bottom: facts may not be essential.Pointed bottom: facts may not be essential. Print media:Print media: For people in a hurry!For people in a hurry! Aid for headline writerAid for headline writer Easy to trim story that won’t fit in allotted spaceEasy to trim story that won’t fit in allotted space Decision to make: which facts go first?Decision to make: which facts go first?

Use News Judgment- Requires practice + creativityUse News Judgment- Requires practice + creativity

The Associated Press “AP” or The Associated Press “AP” or Summary Lead:Summary Lead:

StraightforwardStraightforward No-nonsense writingNo-nonsense writing ShortShort To the pointTo the point Filled with infoFilled with info Mostly non-creative, but convey info Mostly non-creative, but convey info

quicklyquickly

EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES:

The Inverted PyramidThe Inverted Pyramid Central High defeated Central High defeated

Tech High last night Tech High last night 23-0.23-0.

Note: readers may not Note: readers may not know who scored the know who scored the touchdowns, or how or touchdowns, or how or when, but they know when, but they know the essential fact: they the essential fact: they know who won.know who won.

The “AP”/ Summary The “AP”/ Summary Lead:Lead: A three-alarm fire A three-alarm fire

Friday destroyed Friday destroyed several fuel-storage several fuel-storage tanks just outside tanks just outside Centerville, injuring Centerville, injuring three firefighters and three firefighters and causing an estimated causing an estimated $1 million in damage.$1 million in damage.

Evaluation Checklist:Evaluation Checklist:

Does the lead summarize the main facts of the Does the lead summarize the main facts of the story in one or two sentences?story in one or two sentences?

Is it written in a succinct and direct, yet Is it written in a succinct and direct, yet interesting, way?interesting, way?

Does the lead avoid expressing the writer’s Does the lead avoid expressing the writer’s opinion?opinion?

Has the writer avoided beginning with a question Has the writer avoided beginning with a question or quote?or quote?

Is the lead correctly punctuated and free from Is the lead correctly punctuated and free from capitalization and spelling errors?capitalization and spelling errors?