Normally a news article/story is broken down into many segments which includes the headline, the lead and the body of the story (including the tail). These segments are mostly presented in an inverted pyramid style of writing, where the lead constitutes the most important function.
A lead is composed of the opening sentences of a brief composition, or the first paragraph or two of a longer article or essay. It performs the pivotal function of introducing the story to the audience in an effectual and irresistible manner by condensing the important facts. The ideal lead consists of 20–25 words.
IMPORTANCE
In todays 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.
TYPES
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1.Direct Address Lead: The Direct Address lead is aimed directly at the readers and makes them relate to the facts in the story. It usually employs the pronouns “you” and “your“.
EXAMPLE: “You might not get relief from the harsh winds as the weather is going to be the same for next 10 days or more.”
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2.The Circumstantial Lead: This type of lead stresses on the circumstances under which the story occurred. It usually is usedin human interest stories.
EXAMPLE: A 60–year old retired bank employee raised the alarms when two unidentified persons entered her house with the intention to steal his most valuable and prized positions.
3.The Statement or Quotation Lead: Statement or quotation lead clutches the attention by stating the words said by a person, usually presented in quotation marks. It helps in understanding what exactly the speaker wanted to convey.
EXAMPLE: “I’d like to jail parents themselves who are so lax their kids are boosting the crime rate!” This statement came from Juvenile Court Judge Warren Jones, in releasing a report on the rapid rise in juvenile crime rate in this city.
4.The Descriptive Lead: Descriptive lead focuses on describing a person, place, or event in vivid detail. They aim on taping into the five senses of the readers, in order to paint a life like picture. Descriptive lead is used in both traditional and feature news stories.
EXAMPLE: Thousands dressed in scarlet and grey T–shirts eagerly shuffled into the football stadium as the university fight song blared.
5.The Summary Lead: Summary lead aims at providing the readers with the major facts about the article in a compacted form. This usually includes what? why? where? when? who? and how of a story.This helps in saving time and efforts of the reader.
EXAMPLE: Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan told Congress yesterday that U.S. economic growth appeared to be slowing, heading off for the moment any need to raise interest rates. Wall Street responded with a cheer, sending stocks and bonds soaring.
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6.Contrast Lead: The contrast lead grabs attention of the audience by presenting extreme ends relating to a situation – tragedy with comedy, past with present, age with youth, beauty with ugly.
EXAMPLE–Less than 3 years ago, two college friends decided to build a website to exchange their favourite videos. Today Your Tube is owned by Google and gets over 25 million unique visitors to the site each month.
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7.Anecdotal Lead: The anecdotal lead uses a short but fitting story to excite the audience. The anecdote presented must help in enhancing the understanding of the article, and it must explain the relevance and connection to that point in the first few sentences.
EXAMPLE: Sharon Jackson was sitting at the table reading an old magazine when the phone rang. It was a reporter asking to set up an interview to discuss a social media controversy involving Jackson and another young woman. “Sorry,” she said. “I’ve already spoken to several reporters about the incident and do not wish to make any further comments.”
8.Question lead: Question lead seizes the attention by asking the readers apposite query, which ignites curiosity in them, they feel obligated to find answers in the forthcoming text. The question asked in rhetorical which cannot be answered by a “yes” or “no”.
EXAMPLE: “What’s increasing faster than the price of gasoline? Apparently, the cost of court lobbyists.”
References
2. For importance– https://training.npr.org/2016/10/12/leads–are–hard–heres–how–to–write–a–good–one/
3. Video for understanding–https://youtu.be/3utuYnDlG1g
–Ananya Goel
Department of Journalism
LSR, Batch of 2022
19 Responses
The article is short and crisp .
One good thing about this article is that the writer has given examples for the types
The article is very specific and examples are very helpful. However, I feel that the writer could have added a separate heading to explain the basic principles of writing a lead or some tips regarding how to write a lead.
To read more about writing leads, you can go through these links:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/journalism_and_journalistic_writing/writing_leads.html
https://www.clearvoice.com/blog/the-dos-donts-of-writing-a-good-lead-according-to-dear-megan/
https://online.pointpark.edu/public-relations-and-advertising/how-to-write-a-lead/
The article is great! But, for a 25 marks question, I believe, the content isn't sufficient. And so, a bit elaboration under the heading 'Importance' could've been done. Also, another heading regarding how to write a good lead could've been added as well.
Ananya! It is crisp and to the point article with some well knit examples.
Though I personally feel things can be added to describe more about the significance of lead , their reach and their style
Overall the article is a crisp summation .
Malak Tariq
Lead is the the opening part of the newspaper and it must be accurate,brief and include all the important facts. All the information must be varified. The lead should be short and simple so that it will grab the attention of the newspaper reader. Lead should be generally of 30 words and 5W and 1H(what, who, when, where, why and how) . Lead must be written in such a way that it will grab the attention of the reader make them aware about the news. Lead must be varied depending on the what kind of news it is and audience. It’s essential to verify all facts, ensure clarity, and avoid complex language. A good lead not only informs but also sparks curiosity. Adapting the style of the lead based on the publication and story type, such as hard news or features.
Article is good! Bt the writer could have added about structure of the lead as well. Like, . If a statement is the most important aspect of a story, the reporter should paraphrase it in his lead. And individuals referred to in leads should have their full names and titles included. The lead of the news story is followed by the body or the rest of the story. The body should follow the lead logically. Although news stories should cover the event thoroughly, a reporter should not get carried away with details.
Hope it help!
Arya Krishnan
Fist year
Department of Journalism,LSR
Hey!
The article is well researched and provides considerable information related to leads and their importance.
I would like to suggest that the addition of tips to write good leads would have made it more comprehensive.
Here's the link for it-https://online.pointpark.edu/public-relations-and-advertising/how-to-write-a-lead/
Hope it helps!
Thank You
– Deepika Saini
– LSR
The article is crisp and to the point and I appreciate it very much
But it may not be enough for 20-25 marks. I'd suggest using examples from the recent news articles in the Indian media to give a better understanding
-Agrima Gulati
Ananya, This article is very good and well researched. However, the writer could have included a brief of how to write a good lead and the tips to do this as well.
More can be read on:
http://www.angelfire.com/nd/nirmaldasan/journalismonline/tol.html
https://online.pointpark.edu/public-relations-and-advertising/how-to-write-a-lead/
https://www.coursera.org/lecture/journalism/types-of-leads-5wAyj
I read this article and find it interesting. I just wanted to add about how can you write a good lead for this:
https://online.pointpark.edu/public-relations-and-advertising/how-to-write-a-lead/
And apart from this I would like to add :
A news report should tell its story in the fewest possible sentences. This is because both readers (for time considerations) and publishers (for space considerations) prefer shorter stories. As with leads, paragraphs in the body of the story should be kept short. Short paragraphs look better on a newspaper page and are easier to read than long ones.
Komal Singh
Department of journalism
I read this article and find it interesting. I just wanted to add about how can you write a good lead for this: https://online.pointpark.edu/public-relations-and-advertising/how-to-write-a-lead/
And apart from this I would like to add :
A news report should tell its story in the fewest possible sentences. This is because both readers (for time considerations) and publishers (for space considerations) prefer shorter stories. As with leads, paragraphs in the body of the story should be kept short. Short paragraphs look better on a newspaper page and are easier to read than long ones.
Today’s class was very interesting and informative. Our teacher taught us about news leads, including their types, importance, and relevance in a story. First, she explained the topic in detail, ensuring we understood it clearly. Afterward, she asked us to write down what we had learned in our notebooks. This activity helped us express the concepts in our own words, which not only reinforced our understanding but also improved our writing skills ,which is an essential quality for a good journalist.
The article is to the point and well written in terms of short and crsip answer but if we talk about leads further things could have been added like there are various other types of leads like quotaion, personal, gag etc. and how the lead have emerged to play a very imp role in getting readers attention in a changing world.
Further-http://www.angelfire.com/nd/nirmaldasan/journalismonline/tol.html
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/journalism/isaacs/client_edit/Mencher.html
The article is to the point and well written in terms of short and crsip answer but if we talk about leads further things could have been added like there are various other types of leads like quotaion, personal, gag etc. and how the lead have emerged to play a very imp role in getting readers attention in a changing world.
Further-http://www.angelfire.com/nd/nirmaldasan/journalismonline/tol.html
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/journalism/isaacs/client_edit/Mencher.html
A lead in the news story is the opening statement of the news story. It is one of the most important parts as most of the readers prefer to read the lead of a story to get the gist of the whole story. It is important because it introduces the story, grabs the attention, and informs quickly. A lead should be written interestingly and carefully. A lead must be accurate and brief. It should be written in approx 30 words. The lead is one of the most important parts because after reading this only, the reader decides to read the whole story or not. There are different types of leads for example:- summary lead, anecdotal lead, question lead, direct address lead, circumstantial lead, quotation lead etc. These different types of leads are needed for different types of news stories. To write a lead one should clarify 5Ws and 1H , Keep it simple and Accuracy, Brevity and Clarity.
A lead Is the opening paragraph or sentences of a news story,which summarizes the news story. It generally includes 5W’s: What,Why,When,Where and who.A strong lead is accurate,brief and engaging making it one of the most crucial parts of a news story.An effective lead plays a vital role in grabbing the reader’s interest in fast paced world,where people’s attention spans are short.
There are different types of leads such as direct lead,indirect lead,summary lead,quotational lead, parody lead,contrast lead,descriptive lead,question lead,circumstantial lead,etc.
The choice of lead depends on the nature of the story,whether it is hard news (factual, urgent stories) or soft news (features, human-interest stories).
While writing a lead we must identify the 5W’S and 1H, keep it simple and adhere
to the ABC of journalism I.e. accuracy, brevity and clarity in order to avoid burying the lead. Different leads is required to prevent monotony and keep the newspaper engaging for the readers.
A well-crafted lead sets the foundation for a compelling news story, ensuring that the audience remains interested and informed from the very first sentence.
In our Reporting and Editing class on the 1st of April, we had a student-led discussion on the topic of leads, facilitated by Dr. Vartika Nanda. My classmate Rinky guided the session after conducting thorough research on leads, presenting her findings in an engaging way. Through this discussion, I learned that a lead is the introductory sentence or paragraph of a news story, designed to capture the reader’s attention and convey the most important information right away. A good lead effectively summarizes the essence of the story in just a few words, creating curiosity and encouraging further reading. I also discovered the different types of leads, which are classified into direct and indirect leads. Direct leads are used in hard news stories, where clarity and immediacy are key, delivering the essential facts at the beginning. Indirect leads, more common in feature stories, aim to intrigue the reader with a creative or emotional hook. Our professor emphasised on the importance of leads and why do we need various types pf the same. We were then taught how to write an engaging lead with the help of several simple steps.
Additionally, I learned about creative leads that use humor, compelling questions, or quotes to engage the reader. By the end of the session, I realized how vital a lead is in not only presenting the key facts but also in determining whether a reader will continue engaging with the story. This lesson enhanced my understanding of how a well-crafted lead plays a pivotal role in making a news story both informative and captivating.
A news lead is the opening paragraph of a news story, serving as the first impression and a crucial element in drawing the reader attention.It is designed to provide a concise overview of the story’s key elements. Different types of leads exist, including summary leads that offer a quick synopsis, delayed leads that build suspense, anecdotal leads that use a brief story, question leads that spark curiosity, and quote leads that feature impactful statements.The lead’s primary function is to hook the reader, influencing their decision to continue reading. A strong lead is concise, clear, and focuses on the most important information. It should use strong, engaging language to create an informative and compelling introduction that sets the stage for the rest of the article.
A lead (also spelled “lede” in journalism) is the opening part of a piece of writing—such as an article, story, blog post, or report—that grabs the reader’s attention and sets the tone for what follows.
The lead consists of the initial sentences of a brief piece or the first one or two paragraphs of a longer article or essay. Its primary function is to introduce the story to the audience in a compelling and concise manner, encapsulating the essential facts. An effective lead typically contains 20–25 words.
Significance of the Lead:
In today’s fast-paced world, readers often allocate minimal time to news stories. The impact of a lead on the reader’s mind usually determines whether they will invest time in reading the entire story. The lead initiates the narrative, guiding the subsequent facts and details. It acts as a magnet, drawing readers in and sparking their curiosity to continue.
Different Types of Lead
1. Direct Address Lead:
This lead speaks directly to readers, making them relate to the story’s facts, often using pronouns like “you” and yours.
2. Circumstantial Lead: Emphasizes the conditions under which the story unfolds, commonly used in human interest pieces.
3. Descriptive Lead: Focuses on vividly detailing a person, place, or event, engaging the reader’s senses to create a lifelike picture. Suitable for both traditional and feature news stories.
4 Summary Lead: Provides readers with the main facts of the article in a condensed form, addressing the what, why, where, when, who, and how of a story, thereby saving the reader’s time and effort.
5. Contrast Lead: Captures the audience’s attention by presenting stark contrasts related to6 a situation—such as tragedy versus comedy, past versus present, age versus youth, beauty versus ugliness.
7. Anecdotal Lead: Utilizes a brief but relevant story to engage the audience. The anecdote should enhance the article’s understanding and its relevance should be clarified early in the text.
8. Question Lead: Engages readers by posing a pertinent question that ignites curiosity, compelling them to seek answers in the subsequent text. The question is typically rhetorical and cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or no