How to Write a Compelling, Informative News Lede

How to Write a Compelling, Informative News Lede The lede  is the first paragraph of any news story. It’s also the most important part. The lede must accomplish three things: Give readers the main points of the story;Get readers interested in reading the story;Accomplish both â€Å"a† and â€Å"b† in as few words as possible. Typically, editors want ledes to be no longer than 35 to 40 words. Why so short? Readers want their news delivered quickly. A short lede does just that. What Goes in the Lede? For news stories, journalists use the inverted pyramid format, which features the five â€Å"W’s and the H† – who, what, where, when, why and how. Who – who is the story about?What – what is the story about?Where – where did the event you’re writing about occur?When – when did it occur?Why – why did this happen?How – how did this happen? Example 1:  Let’s say you’re writing a story about a man who was injured when he fell off a ladder. Here are your five W’s and H: Who – the manWhat – he fell off a ladder while paintingWhere – at his houseWhen – yesterdayWhy – the ladder was ricketyHow – the rickety ladder broke So your lede might go something like this: A man was injured yesterday after falling from a rickety ladder which collapsed as he was painting his home. This sums up the main points of the story in just 19 words, which is all you need for the lede. Example 2:  Let’s say you’re writing a story about a house fire in which three people suffer smoke inhalation. Here are your five W’s and H: Who – three peopleWhat – they suffered smoke inhalation and were hospitalized after a house fireWhere – at the houseWhen – yesterdayWhy – a man fell asleep smoking in bedHow – the cigarette ignited the mans mattress Heres how this lede might go: Three people were hospitalized for smoke inhalation yesterday from a house fire officials say was ignited when a man in the home fell asleep while smoking in bed. This lede clocks in at 28 words a little longer than the last one, but still short and to the point. Example 3: Heres something a bit more complicated. This is a story about a hostage situation. Here are your five W’s and H: Who – six people, one gunmanWhat – the gunman held six people hostage in a restaurant for two hours before surrendering to policeWhere – at Billy Bobs Barbecue JointWhen – last nightWhy – the gunman tried robbing the restaurant but police arrived before he could escapeHow – he ordered the six people into the kitchen Heres how this lede might go: A failed robbery of Billy Bob’s Barbeque last evening resulted in six being held hostage as police surrounded the building. The suspect surrendered without incident following a two-hour standoff. This lede is 29 words, which isnt bad for a story that has a bit more complexity to it. Write Ledes on Your Own Here are some examples to try on your own. Who – Barrett Bradley, the president of Centerville CollegeWhat – he announced tuition will be raised 5 percentWhere – at a gathering in the colleges amphitheaterWhen – yesterdayWhy – enrollment is dropping and the college is facing a $3 million deficitHow – he will ask the colleges board of trustees to approve the tuition hikeWho – Melvin Washington, point guard for the Centerville High School basketball teamWhat – he scores a record 48 points to lead the team to the state championship over the rival team at Roosevelt High SchoolWhere – in the schools gymnasiumWhen – last nightWhy – Washington is a gifted athlete who observers say has an NBA career ahead of himHow – he is a remarkably precise shooter who excels at making 3-pointersWho – Centerville Mayor Ed JohnsonWhat – he holds a press conference announcing he has a drinking problem and is stepping down from his postWhere – in his office at City HallWhen – todayWhy – Johnson says he is entering rehab to deal with his alcoholismHow – he will step down and deputy mayor Helen Peterson will take over