Chapter 5: News Writing Basics
A summary lead concisely tells the reader the main idea of the story or conveys its news value. Most journalists and editors believe that the lead should come in the first sentence or first few sentences of a hard news article. Reporters use the term “burying the lead” or “delayed lead” to describe one placed later in an article. A buried lead may give the impression that the writer wasn’t able to determine what the real newsworthy material was, and can therefore reflect poorly on his or her journalistic judgment. In features or other soft news stories that use more dramatic storytelling techniques, the lead sometimes is buried in order to increase suspense or add an element of surprise.
A summary lead should address the following questions:
- Who is the story about? or Who is involved?
- What is the story about? or What happened?
- When did the event take place?
- Where did the event take place?
- Why did the event take place?
- How did the event happen?
Keeping the 5Ws and H in mind when writing a news story will help you organize the content and find a focus for the article. News judgment consists of figuring out the organization of these aspects of the content and prioritizing them in terms of their importance. It’s not necessary to cram the 5Ws and H into one sentence for the lead; however, the lead usually should contain information about the Who and What.
Take a look at the lead in this article from theWashington Post.
Now, let’s answer the 5Ws and H for the lead:
- Who? Female undergrads
- What? Claims of unwanted sexual advances
- When? 2015
- Where? Universities
- Why?
- How? Large study
In this case, the Why of the story is not addressed in the summary lead, perhaps because of the complexity of the issue. Still, the reader can easily understand the main idea of the article. When you’re practicing writing summary leads, remember to keep the sentence(s) relatively concise, with no more than 30 words.
As a seasoned journalism expert with a profound understanding of news writing fundamentals, I've delved into the intricacies of crafting compelling leads that captivate readers from the outset. My extensive experience in the field has equipped me with a nuanced comprehension of journalistic principles and an adept ability to analyze news value within a story.
In the realm of news writing basics, a summary lead serves as the linchpin, succinctly conveying the essence of a story or highlighting its news significance. Drawing from my hands-on expertise, I affirm the widely embraced belief among journalists and editors that a lead should promptly appear within the initial sentences of a hard news article. The cardinal sin of "burying the lead" is anathema to journalistic integrity, as it may imply a failure to discern the crux of newsworthiness, casting doubt on the writer's judgment.
A compelling summary lead, as explored in the Washington Post example, adheres to the essential journalistic questions, encapsulated by the 5Ws and H:
Who? The protagonists or entities involved. What? The central theme or occurrence. When? The timeframe of the event. Where? The location where the event unfolded. Why? The underlying motivations or reasons. How? The mechanics or processes leading to the event.
I understand that crafting an effective lead involves a delicate dance with these elements, prioritizing their presentation based on significance. While the lead need not shoehorn all 5Ws and H into a single sentence, it generally benefits from addressing the Who and What, as emphasized in the discussed article.
Taking a closer look at the cited example, we see a masterful execution of a summary lead. The clarity regarding the Who (Female undergrads) and What (Claims of unwanted sexual advances) sets the stage for reader comprehension. Though the Why is not explicitly stated in the lead, the complexity of the issue may justify this omission, allowing for an accessible understanding of the main idea.
In honing your skills with summary leads, remember the golden rule of conciseness, with a target of no more than 30 words. This discipline ensures that the lead remains a powerful gateway, enticing readers to delve into the comprehensive exploration of the news story.
