An Introduction to Communication Studies The News Story An Introduction to Communication Studies

Writing Leads “Whether you're a newspaper journalist, a lawyer, a doctor. You have to organize your thoughts.” --Frederick Wiseman

Your Story, Your Leads First, you must identify the main point of your story before you write it! A good journalist always asks “So what?” or “What’s this about?” or “What’s my point?” when considering gathered information The lead is what opens any piece of journalism. Other than the headline, the lead is the only chance to “catch” your reader’s attention!”

Writing Your Lead Readers spend only 3 seconds deciding whether to read your story based on your lead! There are many types of leads; however, we will work with the most popular: a direct news lead. This consists of 1 or 2 sentences in the opening paragraph that contains the most important parts of the story (who, what, where, when, why, how)

Leads The following 2 examples are direct news leads that accurately tell the reader the most important information about the story! Local police captured two juvenile thieves Wednesday after the robbery of Rob’s Mini-Mart. The Student Council has made plans to donate 100% of all its proceeds from Friday night’s social event. The group plans to split the money between two local charities.

Lead Wrap Up Don’t be afraid to toy with leads until you create the best one! If you are having trouble, create as many different lead combinations in a short time. The pressure will help you to organize the most important elements!

Story Structures “A newspaper should be the maximum of information, and the minimum of comment.” --Richard Cobden

Organizing Your Story Now with a strong lead, the time has come to develop the rest of your story that includes the most interesting facts! Choosing the correct structure to benefit your readers is critical to the success of your story! There are 3 typical structures you will be using as a journalist: Inverted Pyramid Storytelling Pattern Chronological Order Pattern Also, you might use these patterns together in the same story!

Inverted Pyramid LEAD Most interesting news stories use this style for many reasons; it benefits: Hurried readers Beginning journalists Headline writers Page layout editors Most Important Details Less important details Least important details This style is beneficial to many different people because less time will be spent on the parts of the story that aren’t as important!

News Writing Inverted Pyramid The Inverted Pyramid of news suggests that news be told in order of most interesting or important to least interesting or important Most interesting or most important Least interesting or least important

News Writing Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. vs. Jack suffered a skull fracture and Jill is in serious condition after the pair tumbled down a hill during their ritual water-carrying chores yesterday.

News Writing The Newark Valley boys’ baseball squad played a game yesterday afternoon. vs. The Newark Valley boys’ baseball squad beat Candor at home yesterday in a thrilling extra-inning showdown between neighboring rivals.

News Writing Most Important or Interesting Least Important

Storytelling Pattern Lead This narrative form captures a reader’s interest without being as obvious as the inverted pyramid. After a beginning, middle, and end, the writer includes a clincher or a kicker which gives the reader something to remember without repeating previous information; a circle kicker returns back to the opening paragraph! Fact Clincher Fact

Chronological Pattern Lead Though similar to the narrative style, this pattern works very well when a writer is trying to convey critical points of a story! Foreshadowing Chronological Storytelling Climax at End

Story Structure Wrap Up Obviously the type of story structure you choose is based a great deal on the content. Keep your readers in mind when organizing your information, drafting your story, and finally revising!

Practice Using Leads Read the following lead and think about which news writing tools are used! *STATE COLLEGE--- The State College Area school board’s $102 million plan to reconfigure State High could be expected to cost more or less by early next month. Why? Who? What? How? Where? When?

Practice Using Leads Now, use the following tools to create your own lead. Who: The Senior Class Executive Committee What: Fundraiser Where: South Bend Senior High School When: October 2006-December 2006 Why: To raise money for a local children’s charity How: By collecting donations from all grade levels during homeroom Why? Who? What? How? Where? When?

Practice Using Leads What did you come up with?? Share your results with a friend or Teacher! Below are possible suggested leads: Students at South Bend recently began taking monetary collections during the second marking period for children in need at the local shelter. Or 2. Beginning in October, The Senior Executive Committee at South Bend will be raising funds for the local children by collecting donations in homerooms. Why? Who? What? How? Where? When?

Lead Writing Hat Banning: One Story, Six Possible Leads Who? — The Newark Valley Board of Education members passed a resolution last night banning the wearing of hats in all school district buildings. What? — Hat wearing was banned in all school district buildings last night after the Newark Valley Board of Education passed a new resolution.

Lead Writing Where? — In Newark Valley last night, the board of education passed a resolution to ban the wearing of hats in all school district buildings. When? — Last night, the Newark Valley Board of Education passed a resolution banning hat wearing in all school district buildings.

Lead Writing How? — By a 6-1 margin last night, the Newark Valley Board of Education passed a resolution banning hat wearing in all school district buildings. Why? — Citing a pattern of early-onset baldness in Newark Valley teenagers, the board of education last night passed a resolution that restricts hat wearing in all school district buildings.