ADITI CHAUHAN
DEFINITION- A lead is defined as the opening paragraph of a news story which is crisp and has the role of grabbing the reader’s attention. It is an outline of what will follow in the subsequent paragraphs in detail.After the headline, it is the most informative and impactful part of the entire story.
In today’s fast moving world the audience devotes a minimal amount of time on news stories. The impact of a lead on the reader’s minds is usually the deciding factor of whether or not one will spend their precious time by indulging in the whole story. It is the lead which sets everything in motion, it directs the forthcoming facts and details. It acts like an orb, that attracts the reader towards the bright and shine of the entire story. Like a magnet, its job is to attract the reader and create a curiosity for them to follow.A well-crafted lead effectively summarises the key aspects of the news story while establishing the tone and direction of the narrative .
Journalistic writing emphasises the “Five W’s and H” (who, what, when, where, why, and how) approach to writing a lead. By addressing these fundamental questions in the lead, writers can provide essential context and draw readers into the story. Emphasising specific details, using active sentence structures, and avoiding unnecessary words or phrases are also key considerations in crafting an effective lead .
SIGNIFICANCE-The significance of the lead lies in its ability to offer a compelling and informative entry point to a news article, ultimately shaping the reader’s initial impression and decision to engage with the full story. Therefore, mastering the art of writing a strong lead is fundamental in the realm of newspaper journalism, as it directly influences reader engagement and the overall impact of news reporting.
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