Writing Story LeadsWriting Story Leads

Chapter 6Chapter 6

ObjectivesObjectives After this unit, you shouldAfter this unit, you should

Understand the elements of lead (rhymes Understand the elements of lead (rhymes with seed) writingwith seed) writing

Understand the inverted pyramid Understand the inverted pyramid structurestructure

Know how to write the traditional AP, or Know how to write the traditional AP, or summary leadsummary lead

Feel comfortable writing inventive, Feel comfortable writing inventive, colorful leads for all kinds of storiescolorful leads for all kinds of stories

Recognize good and bad story leadsRecognize good and bad story leads Know which lead techniques to avoidKnow which lead techniques to avoid

Leads—The BasicsLeads—The Basics Most frequently the first paragraph of the Most frequently the first paragraph of the

news storynews story Some leads, really more like introductions, Some leads, really more like introductions,

can run several paragraphscan run several paragraphs It is the most important paragraph of any It is the most important paragraph of any

story.story. It is where you win or lose the readerIt is where you win or lose the reader Lead must have impact and come to the Lead must have impact and come to the

point quickly.point quickly. Leads must grab a reader’s attention.Leads must grab a reader’s attention.

The Inverted PyramidThe Inverted Pyramid

A device used by journalists to catch A device used by journalists to catch their readers’ attentiontheir readers’ attention

The broad part where the main facts The broad part where the main facts go is the lead.go is the lead.

As the pyramid narrows, the facts As the pyramid narrows, the facts become less significant until, as you become less significant until, as you reach the bottom, the facts may not reach the bottom, the facts may not be essentialbe essential

Example of Inverted Example of Inverted PyramidPyramid

Central High defeated Tech High last night, 23-0

All-State Senior Rodney Morris scored twice for the Rams with a 27-yard run in the first quarter and a plunge over the goal line in

the second.

Sophomore Curtis Jones missed his first conversion attempt but then booted a 29-yard field goal later in the game.

Quarterback Jules Murphy, senior, led a 35-yard Pistons march downfield early in the

first quarter, but was stopped by a toughening

Rams defense.

The Pistons have lost their past three games . Central is now tied for first in the league with Lincoln South.

Reasons to use the I.P.Reasons to use the I.P. Natural way to tell a story—when you Natural way to tell a story—when you

tell a friend about a game, you begin tell a friend about a game, you begin by telling who won—you don’t start by telling who won—you don’t start with the kickoff.with the kickoff.

Enables the reader to get the Enables the reader to get the essential information without reading essential information without reading the entire story.the entire story.

An aid for the headline writer because An aid for the headline writer because the essential facts are right at the top.the essential facts are right at the top.

Makes it easy for the story to be Makes it easy for the story to be shortened—you can just cut from the shortened—you can just cut from the bottom up.bottom up.

The “AP,” or Summary, Lead The “AP,” or Summary, Lead

The Associated Press—or AP—is The Associated Press—or AP—is famous for straightforward, no-famous for straightforward, no-nonsense writing.nonsense writing.

Their leads are short, to the point, and Their leads are short, to the point, and filled with informationfilled with information

These leads are not creative, but they These leads are not creative, but they convey information quickly.convey information quickly.

They work well with the traditional They work well with the traditional inverted-pyramid stories.inverted-pyramid stories.

Examples of AP LeadsExamples of AP Leads A three-alarm fire Friday destroyed A three-alarm fire Friday destroyed

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

The City Council voted unanimously The City Council voted unanimously Monday to begin planning for a major Monday to begin planning for a major study of the city’s traffic patterns.study of the city’s traffic patterns.

Seniors Juan Garcia and Mara Jo Seniors Juan Garcia and Mara Jo Shanahan were named Nov. 12 as Shanahan were named Nov. 12 as King and Queen of Homecoming.King and Queen of Homecoming.

AP or Summary Lead AP or Summary Lead FormulaFormula

As a beginning journalist, using this As a beginning journalist, using this formula is fine:formula is fine:

1.1. Start with the news (“Traffic is Start with the news (“Traffic is smothering the city”)smothering the city”)

2.2. And follow it with who said it (“an urban-And follow it with who said it (“an urban-affairs specialist said”)affairs specialist said”)

3.3. And the time element (Tuesday)And the time element (Tuesday)

Lead: Traffic is smothering the city, an Lead: Traffic is smothering the city, an urban-affairs specialist told Optimist Club urban-affairs specialist told Optimist Club members Tuesday.members Tuesday.

Examples from a high school Examples from a high school paperpaper

With a key win against Manhattan, With a key win against Manhattan, the varsity girls’ team snapped a the varsity girls’ team snapped a three-way tie for the Centennial three-way tie for the Centennial league title two weeks ago.league title two weeks ago.

Promoted as the first dance of the Promoted as the first dance of the year, the Back to School dance was year, the Back to School dance was held on Friday, Sept. 2.held on Friday, Sept. 2.

Writing the LeadWriting the Lead

Picture the reader (you know what Picture the reader (you know what you want them to know)you want them to know)

You know the reader has choicesYou know the reader has choices Don’t bore your reader with a lead he Don’t bore your reader with a lead he

or she has seen a thousand times.or she has seen a thousand times. Don’t always use the AP/Summary Don’t always use the AP/Summary

style lead.style lead.

Be Objective and Be Be Objective and Be Creative!Creative!

Do not put your opinion into a lead for Do not put your opinion into a lead for a news or feature story (or anywhere a news or feature story (or anywhere else in the story).else in the story).

Make sure you use facts and don’t Make sure you use facts and don’t distort the story.distort the story.

The best leads are the ones that tell The best leads are the ones that tell the story the best.the story the best.

Leads are good when they make the Leads are good when they make the reader want to read the rest of the reader want to read the rest of the story.story.

The Quote Lead and The Quote Lead and the Question Leadthe Question Lead

Should not be used very often.Should not be used very often. Quote leads can lead to distortion—Quote leads can lead to distortion—

the reporter pulls one quote out of the reporter pulls one quote out of the story and slaps it at the top, and the story and slaps it at the top, and sometimes it changes the meaning.sometimes it changes the meaning.

Question leads contain no Question leads contain no information, they simply ask a information, they simply ask a question question

Some Criteria to Evaluate Some Criteria to Evaluate LeadsLeads

Does the lead summarize the main facts Does the lead summarize the main facts of the story in one or two sentences?of the 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 Does the lead avoid expressing the writer’s opinion?writer’s opinion?

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

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