LeadsLeads

Revised September 2010Revised September 2010

Summary lead or “lede”Summary lead or “lede”

Summarizes the news – Ws and the HSummarizes the news – Ws and the H WhoWho What What WhenWhen WhereWhere WhyWhy HowHow

The inverted pyramidThe inverted pyramid

Write a terse leadWrite a terse lead Provide backgroundProvide background Present news in order Present news in order

of descending of descending importanceimportance

Use quotations early Use quotations early and throughoutand throughout

Use transitionsUse transitions Do not editorializeDo not editorialize Avoid “the end”Avoid “the end”

Tips for lead writersTips for lead writers

Identify the Ws and H.Identify the Ws and H. Decide which element is the most Decide which element is the most

important to the reader.important to the reader. Try to stick to one main idea.Try to stick to one main idea. Write one sentence of no more 25 words.Write one sentence of no more 25 words. Write in past tense.Write in past tense. Use subject-verb-object order.Use subject-verb-object order. Sometimes the subject lends itself to a Sometimes the subject lends itself to a

lead with flair.lead with flair.

Summary leadSummary lead

WASHINGTON – The Supreme WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court preserved affirmative action in Court preserved affirmative action in university admissions on Monday by university admissions on Monday by only a one-vote margin but with a only a one-vote margin but with a forceful endorsement of the role of forceful endorsement of the role of racial diversity on campus in racial diversity on campus in achieving a more equal society. (New achieving a more equal society. (New York Times,35 words)York Times,35 words)

Revised Summary leadRevised Summary lead

WASHINGTON – The Supreme WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court preserved affirmative action in Court preserved affirmative action in university admissions on Monday by university admissions on Monday by only a one-vote margin but with an only a one-vote margin but with an endorsement of the role of racial endorsement of the role of racial diversity on campus. diversity on campus.

Multi-element or double-Multi-element or double-barreled leadsbarreled leads

Oklahoma City bomber Timothy Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh met with one of his lawyers McVeigh met with one of his lawyers Thursday about his chances of Thursday about his chances of avoiding execution, even as prison avoiding execution, even as prison officials moved full speed ahead to officials moved full speed ahead to carry out the death sentence in five carry out the death sentence in five days.days.

PitfallsPitfalls

-- Trying to put the “when” or time -- Trying to put the “when” or time element first and using the exact element first and using the exact time, when more general time will dotime, when more general time will do. .

Example:Example: At 6:15 a.m. today police found a suspect At 6:15 a.m. today police found a suspect

in a kidnapping of a Provo girl.in a kidnapping of a Provo girl. Better: Police arrested a suspect in the Better: Police arrested a suspect in the

kidnapping of a Provo girl early Friday.kidnapping of a Provo girl early Friday.

PitfallsPitfalls

-- Writing a lead that sounds like a -- Writing a lead that sounds like a newspaper headline or lead in for a newspaper headline or lead in for a news broadcast (usually in present news broadcast (usually in present tense and without articles).tense and without articles).

Example:Example: Police arrest suspect in Provo kidnapping.Police arrest suspect in Provo kidnapping. Police arrested an Orem man Thursday in Police arrested an Orem man Thursday in

connection with the kidnapping of a Provo connection with the kidnapping of a Provo girl.girl.

PitfallsPitfalls

Buried leads or “so what?” leadsBuried leads or “so what?” leads

Police Chief John Jones discussed the city’s Police Chief John Jones discussed the city’s crime problem with interested crime problem with interested townspeople at a meeting Monday night.townspeople at a meeting Monday night.

So what? What is the problem?So what? What is the problem? There were more serious crimes reported There were more serious crimes reported

in Provo last year than during any 12 in Provo last year than during any 12 months in the city’s history, the city’s months in the city’s history, the city’s police chief said Monday night. (26 words)police chief said Monday night. (26 words)

PitfallsPitfalls

-- Stating the obvious. Don’t just say that -- Stating the obvious. Don’t just say that something happened, but what was something happened, but what was significant about what happened.significant about what happened.

Example:Example: President Obama spoke to a large crowd Sunday President Obama spoke to a large crowd Sunday

and a choir performed during the annual program and a choir performed during the annual program honoring the constitutional framers.honoring the constitutional framers.

Better:Better: Americans should emulate values of courage and Americans should emulate values of courage and

integrity, President Obama told hundreds integrity, President Obama told hundreds gathered.gathered.

PitfallsPitfalls

-- Using the name of little-know person in a -- Using the name of little-know person in a lead. Delay the identification of most lead. Delay the identification of most people, unless they are well known because people, unless they are well known because of position or notorietyof position or notoriety..

Example:Example: BYU student Josh Jones faces charges in BYU student Josh Jones faces charges in

connection with a hit-and-run accident that connection with a hit-and-run accident that caused a pileup on I-15 yesterday.caused a pileup on I-15 yesterday.

Better:Better: Police arrested a 21-year-old BYU student Police arrested a 21-year-old BYU student

Tuesday in connection with a hit-and-run accident Tuesday in connection with a hit-and-run accident that caused a pileup on I-15.that caused a pileup on I-15.

PitfallsPitfalls

-- Using a question in the lead.-- Using a question in the lead. -- Using a direct quotation in the -- Using a direct quotation in the

leadlead -- Trying to use two sentences. -- Trying to use two sentences.

Stick to one for this class.Stick to one for this class. -- Using “you” in the lead.-- Using “you” in the lead.

PitfallsPitfalls

Too many wordsToo many words In a bold bid to pursue the Republican economic agenda and spur In a bold bid to pursue the Republican economic agenda and spur

economic growth, President Bush plans to propose a sweeping economic growth, President Bush plans to propose a sweeping package that would eliminate the taxes individuals pay on stock package that would eliminate the taxes individuals pay on stock dividends, accelerate income-tax-rate cuts approved two years ago dividends, accelerate income-tax-rate cuts approved two years ago and provide $400 rebate checks for middle-class parents. (47 and provide $400 rebate checks for middle-class parents. (47 words) Wall Street Journalwords) Wall Street Journal

President Bush will propose today to stimulate the economy by President Bush will propose today to stimulate the economy by eliminating the tax on stock dividends and by cutting taxes this eliminating the tax on stock dividends and by cutting taxes this year for nearly 100 million taxpayers, at a cost of around $600 year for nearly 100 million taxpayers, at a cost of around $600 billion to the federal Treasury over 10 years. (41 words) Reutersbillion to the federal Treasury over 10 years. (41 words) Reuters

       President Bush yesterday said the economic plan he's unveiling President Bush yesterday said the economic plan he's unveiling

today - including family tax cuts and an end to taxing stock today - including family tax cuts and an end to taxing stock dividends - is geared to "the working citizen," and he rejected dividends - is geared to "the working citizen," and he rejected Democratic charges that it's aimed at the rich. (40 words) New York Democratic charges that it's aimed at the rich. (40 words) New York PostPost

Hints for success Hints for success

Don’t worry about feature and “special” Don’t worry about feature and “special” leads until you’ve mastered summary leads.leads until you’ve mastered summary leads.

Example of a feature lead:Example of a feature lead: Kathy Porter, principal of Westmore Kathy Porter, principal of Westmore

Elementary in Orem, knows she must find a Elementary in Orem, knows she must find a way to boost scores. And a mathematics way to boost scores. And a mathematics program she's considering, hoping it will do program she's considering, hoping it will do the trick, has proven to be controversial. the trick, has proven to be controversial.

Hints for successHints for success

Don’t go with the first lead – rewriteDon’t go with the first lead – rewrite Avoid superfluous wordsAvoid superfluous words Write clearly and conciselyWrite clearly and concisely Use vivid verbsUse vivid verbs Use colorful wordsUse colorful words Use Subject-Verb-Object order -- S-V-Use Subject-Verb-Object order -- S-V-

OO

Write a leadWrite a lead

Example;Example; Who: Sven Wilson, a BYU assistant professor of Who: Sven Wilson, a BYU assistant professor of

political science,political science, What: A new study has found that combat veterans' What: A new study has found that combat veterans'

first marriages are 62 percent more likely to end in first marriages are 62 percent more likely to end in separation or divorce than other men'sseparation or divorce than other men's

Where: Study released in ProvoWhere: Study released in Provo When: ThursdayWhen: Thursday What else: Wilson hopes the fact will be considered What else: Wilson hopes the fact will be considered

by defense policy-makers in the future.by defense policy-makers in the future.

LeadLead

Combat veterans' first marriages are Combat veterans' first marriages are 62 percent more likely to end in 62 percent more likely to end in separation or divorce than other separation or divorce than other men's marriages, a new study by a men's marriages, a new study by a Brigham Young University professor Brigham Young University professor shows . (30 words)shows . (30 words)