Hard news lead example

Here's an example of a hard news lead:

BREAKING:

"Multiple people killed, dozens injured in devastating explosion at downtown office building; authorities scramble to contain massive fire and search for survivors."

This lead is considered "hard news" because it:

  1. Reports a significant and unexpected event (an explosion and fire)
  2. Provides concrete details about the incident (multiple people killed, dozens injured)
  3. Includes a sense of urgency and crisis (authorities scrambling to contain the fire and search for survivors)
  4. Is written in a straightforward and factual style, without sensationalism or emotional appeals.

In a hard news lead, the goal is to provide a clear and concise summary of the most important information about the story, without embellishment or speculation. The lead should be written in a way that grabs the reader's attention and encourages them to continue reading to learn more about the story.