What is lead in news writing

In news writing, a lead, also known as a lede (American English) or introduction, is the opening paragraph of a news article that aims to grab the reader's attention and draw them into the story. A good lead should provide a clear and concise summary of the main point of the article, while also enticing the reader to continue reading.

A lead typically includes the following elements:

  1. Hook: A hook is a sentence or phrase that grabs the reader's attention and makes them want to read more. It can be a surprising statistic, a thought-provoking question, or a vivid description.
  2. Background information: A brief summary of the context or background information that sets the stage for the story.
  3. Main point: A clear and concise statement of the main point or news of the article.
  4. Inverted pyramid: The lead is often structured in an inverted pyramid shape, with the most important information at the top and the supporting details below.

There are several types of leads, including:

  1. Direct lead: A straightforward summary of the main point. Example: "A massive fire broke out at a warehouse in downtown Los Angeles last night, causing widespread damage and injuring several people."
  2. Indirect lead: A lead that sets the scene or provides background information before getting to the main point. Example: "The city of Los Angeles has been plagued by a series of devastating fires in recent months, and last night's blaze at a downtown warehouse was the latest in a string of disasters."
  3. Question lead: A lead that asks a question that the article will answer. Example: "What caused the massive fire that destroyed a downtown Los Angeles warehouse last night, and how will the city respond to the disaster?"
  4. Statistical lead: A lead that uses a surprising statistic to grab the reader's attention. Example: "A staggering 75% of Los Angeles residents are affected by the recent string of fires, and the city is scrambling to respond to the crisis."

Overall, a good lead should be concise, clear, and engaging, and should provide a compelling reason for the reader to continue reading the article.