NONTRADITIONAL LEADS

Not all leads begin by giving the facts, or answers to the five W questions.
• Some reporters rely on a well-turned phrase or ironic twist: a zinger.
• Some reporters lure their readers into their stories with a tale: an anecdote.
• Others begin by setting the scene of the story.
• Some reporters may lead with a quotation or a question.
• Nontraditional leads are also called soft leads, which grab readers’ attention with a turn of phrase or a
scene that shows what the story ultimately will tell.
• In these leads, a reporter decides to delay the hard news, and to delay the delivery of the
story’s basic facts.
• We call this a light, subtle delivery of news…
• But though these leads don’t immediately summarize the news, they must be on point and
resolved quickly so that readers know where the story is going.
1- ZINGER/ AMAZING FACT LEADS
• A zinger is a lead that grabs readers with a snappy (catchy) or clever phrase, often a play on words. It
usually gives readers a little surprise, highlighting something that is unlikely or seemingly absurd.
• It is a punchy introduction that opens with the interesting or amazing fact that arouses reader interest.
Examples of zinger leads:
His last meal was worth $30,000 and it killed him.
When the person(s) mentioned in the news is/are important. It involves a clever turn of phrase, name, or word.
• Example: Bill Clinton will finally get taken to the cleaners. So will Dracula and a bunny. The three are
among some 6,000 smoke-damaged costumes that will visit dry cleaners in the next few days, because of
a fire that broke out Wednesday night at Morris Novelty, a popular costume and novelty store.
2- ANECDOTE/ STORYTELLING LEADS
• It is when the reporter tries to interest readers in an issue by telling the story of one or more people whose
experience makes the subject vivid.
• An anecdote is an entertaining account of an event.
• It should not be long or dull, but short and interesting.
• Uses a narrative style.
• Begin by introducing main characters, conflict, perhaps story setting.
• Makes readers feel the drama and want to know what happens next.
Example:
• DETROIT -- "Get on the ground," a man holding a gun screamed. "I'll blow your heads off if you move."
Dennis Grehl and a co-worker complied. Dreamlike, he found himself lying face down on a cold, gritty
black-tile floor, a pistol against the back of his head. "Please, mister, don't make me shoot you," a second
 gunman threatened. A crazy memory: tiny specks of light floating in the tile; that, and the paralyzing
weight of helplessness. Mr. Grehl is a pharmacist, unassuming, mild- mannered. A family man with a
wife and a daughter. He was being robbed.
3- SCENE SETTERS/ SCENIC LEADS
• Scene setter’s leads are also called descriptive leads. They draw readers into a story by painting a picture
of where it takes place. They draw a visual image…
• These leads may provide the opportunity for creative, colorful writing, but they should not
be used as opportunities for verbosity and affectation.
• The best scene setters are unforced; the power of the scene speaks for itself.
• Begins with a description of the scene surrounding the event.
• Can be used to strike a more appropriate mood for the story.
• Typically used for stories in which setting is prominent, e.g., festive events, performances, sports.
Example:
The lights shine down and the music surrounds her as she spins across the stage into the arms of her partner. The
audience roars its approval as the music slows and the curtains begin to close. It's the end of just another workday
for teenager Chelsea Rittenhouse. At 18, the Howell resident is the youngest member of the New York Theater
Ballet.
4- QUOTATION LEADS
• Quotation leads should be used in those rare cases when the newsmaker has said something that introduces
the story better than the reporter can, or when the quotation is powerful and it calls out to be at the top of
the story, or it is a statement made by a V.I.P., or when you have a great quote that draws the reader in.
• These leads should be used sparingly. They only work if the quote is short, sharp, and central to the story.
Quote leads should not be used because the reporter can’t figure out any other way to begin.
• Make sure the quote and lead-in are supported; always include commentary.
5- QUESTION LEAD:
The first sentence raises important questions. It can be useful in grabbing attention, but rarely as effective as other
types of leads in terms of clearly and concisely providing the main point of a story. In this case, the second
paragraph must carry a lot of the weight that would normally be handled in the lead.
Example: Who is responsible for the mess of Delhi roads?