All of your excellent reporting is futile if your news story does not immediately engage your reader. All of your excellent reporting is futile if your news story does not immediately engage your reader. Writing news have identified four key elements that should be present in the first five paragraphs of any news story (not necessarily in any particular order). Writing news have identified four key elements that should be present in the first five paragraphs of any news story (not necessarily in any particular order). But, yes, there is more. But, yes, there is more.

News News News Impact Impact Context Context Emotion Emotion The News: The newest information: the basic facts of who, what, when, where, why and how... the most relevant information. The News: The newest information: the basic facts of who, what, when, where, why and how... the most relevant information.

Impact The Impact: What a situation means and who is effected. Tells readers how the news is going to change their lives, and, maybe, what they should do to cope with the change. The Impact: What a situation means and who is effected. Tells readers how the news is going to change their lives, and, maybe, what they should do to cope with the change.

Context The Context: This is the general perspective that frames the background of the news. It addresses the relationship of things around the news. Context helps readers understand whether something is normal or surprising. The Context: This is the general perspective that frames the background of the news. It addresses the relationship of things around the news. Context helps readers understand whether something is normal or surprising.

Emotion Emotion: The human dimension. Takes a story from abstract to reality. Offers personal elements that help readers understand the story. This is not necessarily a quote, but it could be. Emotion: The human dimension. Takes a story from abstract to reality. Offers personal elements that help readers understand the story. This is not necessarily a quote, but it could be.

Every News Story Needs: 1. Effective lead. Focused, short, memorable. 1. Effective lead. Focused, short, memorable. 2. A second paragraph that amplifies the lead. 2. A second paragraph that amplifies the lead. 3. A third paragraph that builds detail. 3. A third paragraph that builds detail. 4. Power quote. If available – an interesting quote that propels meaning. Not just a fluffy quote that gets in the way. 4. Power quote. If available – an interesting quote that propels meaning. Not just a fluffy quote that gets in the way.

Direct Leads The Summary lead is the most basic news lead, covering all of the essential elements. Simply summarize the 5 W's of news reporting. Who, What, Where, When and Why. The Summary lead is the most basic news lead, covering all of the essential elements. Simply summarize the 5 W's of news reporting. Who, What, Where, When and Why. The Analysis lead digs deeper into the ramifications (results) of the news. It puts the news into perspective by adding insight beyond the minimum required elements. The Analysis lead digs deeper into the ramifications (results) of the news. It puts the news into perspective by adding insight beyond the minimum required elements.

Delayed Leads The Anecdotal قصصى lead generally leads into lighter news features. The story is illustratedتصور through an anecdote, scene or quote. The Anecdotal قصصى lead generally leads into lighter news features. The story is illustratedتصور through an anecdote, scene or quote. A Significant Detail lead is nothing more than it claims to be. A significant detail, fact or statistic that is shocking and interesting. The reader will continue to read to find the background of such a detail. A Significant Detail lead is nothing more than it claims to be. A significant detail, fact or statistic that is shocking and interesting. The reader will continue to read to find the background of such a detail.

Delayed Leads The Emblem الشعارlead is the process of putting a human face on the issue. Typically this means pulling from the person's situation elements that are familiar and identifiable to the reader. Unique person, universal situation. The Emblem الشعارlead is the process of putting a human face on the issue. Typically this means pulling from the person's situation elements that are familiar and identifiable to the reader. Unique person, universal situation. The Round-Upجمع القصص حول موضوع ما lead is a hodgepodge (خربطة ) of anecdotes, illustrations and examples to display how the issue has followed a trend اتجاه. The Round-Upجمع القصص حول موضوع ما lead is a hodgepodge (خربطة ) of anecdotes, illustrations and examples to display how the issue has followed a trend اتجاه.

Write a Lead The following are tips on how to write a news lead and how to choose the right lead type to use. The following are tips on how to write a news lead and how to choose the right lead type to use. The first step towards writing an interesting news lead is to put you in the role as a reader. The first step towards writing an interesting news lead is to put you in the role as a reader. What about the story would your reader be most interested in or connect with? What about the story would your reader be most interested in or connect with?

Who could know more about the story at this point than you? Who could know more about the story at this point than you? After researching the issue and interviewing experts or eyewitnesses, the next best step is to interview yourself. After researching the issue and interviewing experts or eyewitnesses, the next best step is to interview yourself. What about this story do you think is valuable? What about this story do you think is valuable? What would make you want to pick up the article and read it? What would make you want to pick up the article and read it? Ask Yourself

Don’t Let the Lead Consume You When you begin writing your lead, you should not spend all of your time on it. When you begin writing your lead, you should not spend all of your time on it. The rest of the article is waiting for your attention as well. The rest of the article is waiting for your attention as well. If you are unhappy with the lead, come back to it later with a fresh perspective. If you are unhappy with the lead, come back to it later with a fresh perspective. Some leads arrive like pleasant doves; others need to be dug out of the ground. Some leads arrive like pleasant doves; others need to be dug out of the ground.

Revise Your Lead Revising your news lead is crucialحاسم to making it effective. Revising your news lead is crucialحاسم to making it effective. Read it Aloud. Make sure to read the lead out loud. If you stumbleالزلة over words, or are unable to complete it in a single breath, go back and clean up the problem words. Read it Aloud. Make sure to read the lead out loud. If you stumbleالزلة over words, or are unable to complete it in a single breath, go back and clean up the problem words. Your lead should be quick, one you can tell someone over the phone and have them understand. Your lead should be quick, one you can tell someone over the phone and have them understand.

Accuracy الدقة Ensure Accuracy and Clarity. Understanding is the requirement of a news lead. If the reader does not understand the story the lead has failed. Easy questions to ask include: Ensure Accuracy and Clarity. Understanding is the requirement of a news lead. If the reader does not understand the story the lead has failed. Easy questions to ask include: Is this accurate? Is this accurate? Is there industry jargon people won’t understand? Is there industry jargon people won’t understand? Is it full of clichésكليشات ? Is it full of clichésكليشات ? Does it make sense? Does it make sense?

Is it Wordy? Count the Words. Unnecessary words can clutterفوضى the lead. Count the words and anything that is not completely necessary. Count the Words. Unnecessary words can clutterفوضى the lead. Count the words and anything that is not completely necessary. Keep sentences to simple subject-verb- object agreements. A short and the lead will engage a reader quickly and easily flow into the rest of the story. Keep sentences to simple subject-verb- object agreements. A short and the lead will engage a reader quickly and easily flow into the rest of the story.

How to Choose a Lead What kind of news lead is appropriate for the situation? What kind of news lead is appropriate for the situation? Breaking news, where the time element is critical, should employ a simple and direct lead. Breaking news, where the time element is critical, should employ a simple and direct lead. If the story is exclusive to your publication, you will have the option of either a direct or delayed lead. If the story is exclusive to your publication, you will have the option of either a direct or delayed lead.