1. Writing News Leads Chapter 6

2. The Inverted Pyramid Main facts first (lead) Main facts first (lead) Most important to least important details Most important to least important details Natural way to tell a story Reader can get main info without reading entire story Aid for headline writer Easy to trim a story down

3. AP (Summary) Lead Formula: Plug in the Facts Formula: Plug in the Facts News+ Attribution+ Verb + Subject+ Time element News+ Attribution+ Verb + Subject+ Time element “Traffic is smothering the city, an urban- affairs specialist told Optimist Club members Tuesday.” “Traffic is smothering the city, an urban- affairs specialist told Optimist Club members Tuesday.”

4. Writing the Lead p. 132 Be creative Be creative Be Objective Be Objective Find the right Lead: The best lead tells the story the best. Find the right Lead: The best lead tells the story the best.

5. The Five W’s and the H Who? Who? What? What? When? When? Where? Where? Why? Why? How? How?

6. Writing Process in Journalism Prewriting: gathering and organizing info, preparing interviews, all facts Prewriting: gathering and organizing info, preparing interviews, all facts Drafting: write longer than needed, get story written Drafting: write longer than needed, get story written Revising/Editing: strengthen lead, accuracy, transitions, etc. Revising/Editing: strengthen lead, accuracy, transitions, etc. Publishing: Final copy of story Publishing: Final copy of story

7. Good Leads in text New York Times p. 135-137 New York Times p. 135-137 Student papers p. 138-139 Student papers p. 138-139

8. Other important definitions Soft-news leads: stories about individuals or lifestyle issues Soft-news leads: stories about individuals or lifestyle issues Used when needed; fillers Used when needed; fillers Hard-news leads: breaking news Hard-news leads: breaking news Must report hourly, daily, immediately Must report hourly, daily, immediately