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

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

3. 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!”

4. 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)

5. 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.

6. 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!

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

8. 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!

9. 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!

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. News Writing
Most Important
or Interesting
Least Important

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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!

17. 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?

18. 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?

19. 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?

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.