This slideshow explains the basics of writing a lead in journalism.

1. Writing a good lede
“I’ve always been a believer that if I’ve got two
hours in which to do something, the best
investment I can make is to spend the first
hour and 45 minutes of it getting a good lead,
because after that everything will come
easily”
Don Wycliff
Chicago Tribune

2. Summary Lede
• Most traditional lede
• To the point and factual
• Gives reader quick summary of story in as few
words as possible.
• Usually one sentence.
• Summary ledes often focus on the who and what
of the story and then follow closely with the
when and where. The how and why may be
explained or suggested further into the story.

3. For example
The purchase of new computers will strain
next year’s budget, Adelphi University
President Robert Scott announced at last
week’s faculty meeting.
(Under 25 words, focuses on who and what)

4. Tips for writing a summary lede
• Use few words (25 max.)
• Focus on the most important of the 5W’s
and H.
• Summarize the most newsworthy fact
within the first 10 words.
• Begin with the subject of the most
newsworthy fact (usually the who or what)
• Cite source of any opinions.
• Consider a delayed identification or blind
lede.

7. Blind lede
• Unless the names or locations are
extremely well known AND of high
interest, begin with the interesting fact and
lead the reader into the subsequent
paragraphs to get the specifics. Most of
the time it’s best to use this approach for a
summary lead.

8. For example
For saving the life of the victim of a hit-
and-run accident, two Adelphi University
juniors were honored for bravery.
In a ceremony held last week, Dave
Davidson and Tiffany Ng received a
plaque naming them heroes. Davidson
and Ng pulled communications professor
Mary Johnson from a car just before it
exploded.

9. Creative ledes
• Unless you’re writing hard news in a daily
newspaper, the summary lede just doesn’t reel
in readers. Leads for the stories you will be
writing for your Circle assignments generally
require more creativity. Consider:
The three bears lived happily ever after once
upon a time before Goldilocks ate all the
porridge and broke Baby Bear’s chair.

10. For example
Not even subzero temperatures could stop
progress. With a thud, bulldozers churned the
icy earth, beginning work on the College’s new
technology center.
“The Hancock Technology Center will offer
students state-of-the-art facilities and relieve
overcrowding of current computer labs,” Nassau
Community College President Dennis Murray
said at the ground-breaking ceremony Monday.
(This story could have been given a standard
summary lede, but this has more flair.)

11. Don’t forget the nut graph
• When you use a creative lede, it may not contain
the most important facts or tell exactly what the
story is about right up front. That info may be
delayed until a later paragraph, which is known
as the “nut graph.”
• The nut graph is the paragraph that contains the
basic core – or nutshell – of the story.
• Don’t take too long getting to the nutgraph. Hit it
by the third paragraph at the latest.

12. For example
“Clones! Or am I seeing double? Hey,
are you guys related?”
Junior twins Andrew and Doug Overton
say dealing with “lame” jokes is just one of
the disadvantages of going through life as
a twin. But they admit there are plenty of
advantages, too.
(nut graph is in second paragraph)

13. Scenic Lede
• Begin with a description of a scene
surrounding an event.
• Typically used for stories in which the
setting is prominent, such as
Homecoming, commencement, Freshman
Orientation, plays, etc.

14. For example
Bubbles floated through sea-green
streamers. Turquoise light played on the
walls. Sea shells cupped glimmering
candles.
With the first notes of ‘Atlantis,’ Alpha
Sigma Tau’s ‘Under-the-Sea’-themed
Winter Ball began.

15. Storytelling lede
• Using a narrative style, begin by
introducing the main characters, the
conflict and perhaps the setting of the
story.
• Make readers feel the drama and want to
know what’s going to happen next.
• Identification of people can be postponed
until a later paragraph to avoid disrupting
the flow of the lede.

16. For example
The man reached out a dirty hand,
palm up.
“All I’ve got is a few bucks,” Matt
O’Malley said, reaching into his pocket.
The next thing O’Malley knew, he was
on the ground with a boot on his chest.
The Adelphi University junior was being
mugged.

17. Punch lede
• Open with an amazing fact or startling
statement that arouses reader interest.
Adelphi University students spend an
average of seven hours per day surfing
the Internet.

18. Opposite lede
• Cite one point of view or observation and
then follow with the opposite view.
Facebook rots the brain, according to
new research by Adelphi University
psychology professor Kendrick Jones.
Anita Patel, an honors student at Adelphi
University, says that just isn’t true.

19. Bad Ledes
• Avoid using a question or quote as your lede. It’s
usually overused and misused.
• Similary, avoid “picture this” or “imagine this.”
Readers have seen this too many times.
• Avoid topical ledes, like “Students posting on the
website JuicyCampus.com is a controversial
issue.
• Similary, “Harvard professor Cornel West spoke
about race relations at Adelphi University last
week.”

20. More examples of topical ledes
• Adelphi’s basketball team battled Pace in a
crucial conference playoff Saturday.
• The school board convened Tuesday night to
discuss complaints about the cafeteria.
• This past weekend was Adelphi’s annual Family
Weekend, which included a list of events
students were able to attend with their family
members.
• Held in the Student Center on Friday, October 5,
the annual Fall 2007 Leadership Conference
took place, which lasted from 3- 6 p.m.

21. Also avoid
• Avoid stating the obvious in your lede: “Winter is
here again.” Or “This election is expected to be
one of the most significant in history.” (They say
that about ALL elections.)
• Wordiness. Be concise. Eliminate unnecessarily
wordy phrases. You don't need to say "will be
going" when "will go" or "goes" will work just fine.
• Never use a dictionary definition. It’s a lazy way
out.

22. More tips
• Avoid when ledes, unless the time
something occurred is by far the most
important fact. Too many stories start with
a dull accounting of time, such as “This
year..” or “On Oct. 4…” or “Last week…”

23. For example
• Bad lede: On Friday, July 15, 2001, three
students won a regional choral
competition.
• Good lede: Three Adelphi juniors took
home $500 and top honors Friday in a
regional choral contest.

24. Finally
• Don’t settle for the first lede you come up
with. Try several before choosing the best
one.