WRITING LEADS

JOUR 102 Wenger

What is a lead?
The opening to a news story
In print or online is generally the first sentence

(25-30 words) In broadcast is the first sentence or less

(CNN) -- Isaac slashed its way further inland Thursday, claiming its first fatality and stranding residents in floodprone areas even as it threatened to wreak more havoc in the days to come. (31 words)

What is a good lead?

It grabs attention!
You must determine which of the 5Ws and the

H matter most in the story.

(CNN) -- Isaac slashed its way further inland Thursday, claiming its first fatality and stranding residents in flood-prone areas even as it threatened to wreak more havoc in the days to come. (What? When?)

What is a good lead?

It considers the audience.
What is going to interest readers/users/viewers

the most?

The Summary Lead

Most common type of lead
Summarizes the main focus
Seldom includes all 5Ws and the H

Harvard University is investigating about 125 undergraduates accused of jointly submitting responses, some word-for-word identical, on a spring take-home final exam in violation of an explicit no-collaboration policy. What questions are answered?

Whats the story?

You cant write your lead until you have

a story focus.
You should be able to articulate the focus in one

sentence or less. Ask yourself: What the most interesting thing I learned?

Whats the story?

Whats the story?

Story focus for the backpack expert interview:
1. The impact of wearing a backpack improperly. 2. How to solve the heavy backpack problem.

Whats the story?

For your own interview:
1. Develop a focus for a possible story (one sentence or

less).
2. Come up with at least two more interviews you would

need to do for your story, and what information you need to get.
3. Post all of the above under Discussions on Bboard.