Lead writing

1. Leads
Revised September 2010

2. Summary lead or “lede”
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Summarizes the news – Ws and the H
Who
What
When
Where
Why
How

3. The inverted pyramid
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Write a terse lead
Provide background
Present news in order of
descending importance
Use quotations early and
throughout
Use transitions
Do not editorialize
Avoid “the end”

4. Tips for lead writers
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Identify the Ws and H.
Decide which element is the most important to
the reader.
Try to stick to one main idea.
Write one sentence of no more 25 words.
Write in past tense.
Use subject-verb-object order.
Sometimes the subject lends itself to a lead with
flair.

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

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

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

8. Pitfalls
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-- Trying to put the “when” or time
element first and using the exact time,
when more general time will do .
Example:
At 6:15 a.m. today police found a suspect in a
kidnapping of a Provo girl.
Better: Police arrested a suspect in the
kidnapping of a Provo girl early Friday.

9. Pitfalls
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-- Writing a lead that sounds like a
newspaper headline or lead in for a news
broadcast (usually in present tense and
without articles).
Example:
Police arrest suspect in Provo kidnapping.
Police arrested an Orem man Thursday in
connection with the kidnapping of a Provo girl.

10. Pitfalls
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Buried leads or “so what?” leads
Police Chief John Jones discussed the city’s crime
problem with interested townspeople at a
meeting Monday night.
So what? What is the problem?
There were more serious crimes reported in
Provo last year than during any 12 months in the
city’s history, the city’s police chief said Monday
night. (26 words)

11. Pitfalls
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-- Stating the obvious. Don’t just say that
something happened, but what was significant
about what happened.
Example:
President Obama spoke to a large crowd Sunday and a
choir performed during the annual program honoring the
constitutional framers.
Better:
Americans should emulate values of courage and
integrity, President Obama told hundreds gathered.

12. Pitfalls
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-- Using the name of little-know person in a
lead. Delay the identification of most people,
unless they are well known because of position
or notoriety .
Example:
BYU student Josh Jones faces charges in connection
with a hit-and-run accident that caused a pileup on I-15
yesterday.
Better:
Police arrested a 21-year-old BYU student Tuesday in
connection with a hit-and-run accident that caused a
pileup on I-15.

13. Pitfalls
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-- Using a question in the lead.
-- Using a direct quotation in the
lead
-- Trying to use two sentences.
Stick to one for this class.
-- Using “you” in the lead.

14. Pitfalls
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Too many words
In a bold bid to pursue the Republican economic agenda and spur economic
growth, President Bush plans to propose a sweeping package that would
eliminate the taxes individuals pay on stock dividends, accelerate incometax-rate cuts approved two years ago and provide $400 rebate checks for
middle-class parents. (47 words) Wall Street Journal
President Bush will propose today to stimulate the economy by eliminating
the tax on stock dividends and by cutting taxes this year for nearly 100
million taxpayers, at a cost of around $600 billion to the federal Treasury
over 10 years. (41 words) Reuters
President Bush yesterday said the economic plan he's unveiling today including family tax cuts and an end to taxing stock dividends - is geared to
"the working citizen," and he rejected Democratic charges that it's aimed at
the rich. (40 words) New York Post

15. Hints for success
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Don’t worry about feature and “special” leads
until you’ve mastered summary leads.
Example of a feature lead:
Kathy Porter, principal of Westmore Elementary
in Orem, knows she must find a way to boost
scores. And a mathematics program she's
considering, hoping it will do the trick, has
proven to be controversial.

16. Hints for success
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Don’t go with the first lead – rewrite
Avoid superfluous words
Write clearly and concisely
Use vivid verbs
Use colorful words
Use Subject-Verb-Object order -- S-V-O

17. Write a lead
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Example;
Who: Sven Wilson, a BYU assistant professor of political
science,
What: A new study has found that combat veterans' first
marriages are 62 percent more likely to end in
separation or divorce than other men's
Where: Study released in Provo
When: Thursday
What else: Wilson hopes the fact will be considered by
defense policy-makers in the future.

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