LQTQ

1. lead paragraph

2. transition paragraph

   1. more detail

   2. sets up the next paragraph

3. quotation

   1. interviews

   2. research

4. transition

5. quotation

what is a lead?

1. it’s the first sentence of the story, the beginning.

2. it tells the most important information and the newest information.

3. it grabs your readers’ attention

what must your lead do?

1. start a flow of energy for your story

2. tell something interesting about the subject of the story

3. show the significance of the story

4. set pace and tone

5. establish your voice

the news or summary leads

1. tells the 5Ws and H in 35 words or fewer

2. starts with the MOST IMPORTANT or INTERESTING information first

3. can start with any of the 5Ws or H, but some choices are better than others.

types of new leads

1. use these often:

   1. “what” lead - started with what happened or what the story is about

   2. “why” lead - begins with the cause of the story, why it happened

   3. “how” lead - begins with how the event happened

2. use these sometimes:

   1. “who” lead - starts with a person or group. use this if “who” the story is about is well-known or interesting.

3. avoid these:

   1. “when” lead - begins with time. rarely the most important factor

   2. “where” leads - begins with a place. rarely is this the most important factor.

The “who” lead

1. when the person you’re writing about is the most important reason you’re writing the story, then start with “who”

2. does not need a name to work. sometimes identifying the “who” by an occupation or accomplishment will do it - as long as the person is interesting enough to hook your reader.

the “when” lead

1. does not start with the time element. It is rarely the most important factor

The “where” lead

1. don’t start with a place, either. It is rarely the most important or interesting factor

2. news writers handle the “where” with a DATELINE, a city name in all caps before the lead to say where the story originated.

3. datelines are not used on local news stories where the place is understood. Similarly, there’s no need for datelines in student newspapers, websites, and yearbooks to name your school. readers know where you are.

The “why” lead

1. this kind of lead starts a story by explaining WHY something unusual happened. WHY answers: What caused this to happen? use this often

The “how” lead

1. similar to the “why” lead, this kind of lead explains how something happened. Use this only when the explanation is short, clear, and interesting

2. “How” sometimes requires more explanation than you can fit in a lead, but you can use the how.

the “what” lead

1. use this most often. this is the most straightforward. if you can’t write this lead, you don’t know enough to be writing the story

2. WHAT tells WHAT HAPPENED. there might be more than one “what” in the story, so figure out which “what” is most interesting to your readers.

why learn to write the summary lead?

1. basic leads

   1. basic news or summary lead

   2. anecdotal or narrative (storytelling)

   3. descriptive (scene-setting)

2. less-used feature leads

   1. metaphor or simile

   2. wordplay: puns, alliteration

   3. action

   4. contrast, twist of fate

   5. shocking statement

   6. freak lead

three leads to avoid

1. question leads

   1. usually, question leads are just weak and uninteresting. Get to the point with a summary lead instead.

2. quote leads

   1. quotes need context. the reader needs to know who is speaking. seldom is a quote so compelling and well-said that it can set the tone and focus for the whole story.

3. topic leads

   1. is not enough to just state the topic of your story.

every story needs a summary

1. regardless of what you are writing about, the 5Ws and H belong in the story.

2. if you get in the habit of writing a summary lead for EVERY STORY, you will always have the basics covered - even if you end up with a different kind of lead

3. your feature leads will have a better focus because they have to lead into your summary.

how to write an effective news lead

1. collect all your facts. REPORTING is key

2. sum it up, boil it down

   1. if you had just 10 seconds to tell the story, what would you say? how would you tell it to your best friend? how would you tweet it? if telling your mom, would you tell it differently?

   2. tell the story out loud to yourself or a friend

3. and prioritize the 5Ws

   1. which of the 5Ws or H is most compelling, and most interesting?

   2. write a draft of our lead focussing on that fact, usually the what, why, and how

   3. to use the who only if the person is someone interesting or prominent

4. rethink, revise, rewrite

   1. is this written so everyone can understand it?

   2. is it in the active voice?

      1. who did what to whom?

   3. are there extra words you don’t need

   4. will this grab your reader’s attention