Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Writing Leads
Writing Leads
Leads are the bait to hook the reader Stimulates the reader to pay attention Readers will decide whether the
Be Brief
Lead should be direct and to the
point.
lead.
Example
Columbia Gas Transmission Corp. has
started discussions with its subsidiaries and major customers that could result in increasing the supply of natural gas to its Kentucky subsidiaryand thus to industrial users in the central and northeastern parts of the state who now face a total cutoff of supplies this winter.
Example
Columbia Gas Transportation Corp.
has started a search for ways to save industrial users in central and northeastern Kentucky from a threatened total cutoff of gas this winter.
Avoid Jargon
Specialized language that all groups
develop.
general vocabulary
Correct:
Example
Passive: A downtown jewelry store
Use Said
When attributing a statement to a
Neutral word
Use repeatedly
Example
Police chief John Jones discussed the
have grown increasingly concerned about the safety of their neighborhoods. reported here in the last 12 months than during any year in the citys history.
information
Example
Incorrect: On Jan. 15, XYZ Company
Example
Incorrect: Palace President Tom
Wilson announced that parking will be free at all Palace events for the remainder of January.
the Palace of Auburn Hills will be free for the rest of January, said President Tom Wilson.
Summary Leads
tells or summarizes the facts of the story; the
used most often with stories written in contain the most important fact or facts create interest and indicate importance of
story
Practice Leads
Facts
Fire destroys home of Mr. and Mrs. C.J. James, 222 Birch
Couple at movie last night Dog, Rover, left in basement, apparently perished in fire Frame building enveloped in flames when firemen arrived Faulty electrical wiring believed cause $75,000 estimated damage
Possible Leads
A fire ravaged an east-side home Monday,
Facts
Private plane crashes in Rochester In blinding rainstorm Friday night Two passengers, A.D. Brown and Walter Smith, both of Flint
Claude Stokes, resident, heard plane flying low and crashing Called county sheriff Bodies removed this morning Crash about 5 miles north of Rochester, near Romeo Road
Possible Leads
Two Flint men were killed in the crash of a
private plane during a blinding rainstorm near Rochester Friday night. night in the midst of a blinding rainstorm, killing two Flint men.
Jose Flores, president of club, presided Charles Becker, former mayor, named Man of the
Year
For work with the clubs youth program Sam Smith, owner of Smiths Grocery at 1100 S.
Main, received Best Booster award for attending all meetings of the year
Possible Leads
The Utica Boosters Club named former
mayor Charles Becker its Man of the Year at its annual awards dinner on Friday. Mayor Charles Becker as its Man of the Year for his work with the clubs youth during its awards dinner on Friday.
Jet aircraft piloted by Hymes crashed No one on the ground was injured or killed 15 cars were destroyed in malls parking lot when the
Hymes had no known local connections. He was killed. He was stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base.
Possible Leads
An Air Force major was killed Wednesday when
the plane he was piloting crashed into the parking lot of the Pebble Creek Shopping Mall on the citys east side.