Newspaper Writing

Read the following text and then answer the questions that follow.

The basis for newspaper writing is the AP lead. This type of lead also know as the summary lead is typically the first sentence of a newspaper story. Good reporters organize their AP leads around six basic questions. Who, what, where, when, why and how.

These questions are the basic building blocks of any newsworthy story. The angle from which you choose to organize your story within the framework of the inverted pyramid style is announce in your lead. So, what is an AP lead?

A summary, or AP, lead is a short concise sentences of between 25 and never more than 40 words. Good reporters try to incorporated between 3 and 4 of the 5W's and H into their leads. Never try to use all six in a lead. Example: Over 800 people enjoyed the picnic, community talent show and Shakespeare In the Parks, Monday, July 4 at the Roundup City Park. This lead answers who (800 people) what (picnic and shows), when (July 4) and where (Roundup City Park).

Here are some basic rules for writing a summary lead.

Quote Lead

A who lead is a lead that uses the who element first.

President Bush arrived in Billings today aboard Air Force One to push his Social Security reforms.

Notice that who (President Bush) is the first of the 5 w’s or h to appear in the sentence.

A what lead is a lead that uses the what element first.

Social Security reform dominated the agenda Saturday as President Bush spoke to a crowd of vocal supporters Friday.

Notice that the what (Social Security reform) is the first of the 5 w’s or h to appear in the sentence.

A when lead is a lead that uses the when element first.

Today, President Bush arrived in Billings aboard Air Force One to push his Social Security reforms.

Notice that when (today) is the first of the 5 w’s or h to appear in the sentence. When leads are overused by beginning reporters and should be avoided. When is generally not as important or interesting to audiences as who, what, and why.

A where lead is a lead that uses the where element first.

Metra Park served as President Bush’s venue today to present his Social Security reforms to supporters today.

Notice that where (today) is the first of the 5 w’s or h to appear in the sentence. Where leads tend to shift focus away from the more important who, what, and why elements of the news and therefore good reporters seldom use where leads.

A why lead is a lead that uses the why element first.

Pushing his Social Security reforms, President Bush spoke to an enthusiastic crowd of supporters at Metra Park today.

Notice that why (to push his Social Security reforms) is the first of the 5 w’s or h to appear in the sentence. Why is a element to use to introduce a story lead.

A how lead is a lead that uses the how element first.

In an hour long question and answer session, President Bush presented his Social Security reforms to supporters today.

Notice that how (hour long question and answer session) is the first of the 5 w’s or h to appear in the sentence.

A quote lead uses a quote to begin the story. A good quote lead creates interest in how and why something is going to be accomplished. Consider this good quote lead: Student Council President-elect Carol Stahl promised today that she will solve the ongoing student parking problem this year.

The lead makes the reader wonder how the problem will be solved and when.

Unscrupulous reporters often use quote leads to distort what someone has said by using it out of context to create controversy. Therefore, good reporters rarely use a quote lead.

A question lead simply asks a question, and should be used rarely. Here is and example: Where will RHS be after Student Body President Carol Stahl finishes her term next spring?

Question leads should be avoided because they contain little or no information. Good reporters don't bury information.

Suspended interest leads provide readers with tantalizing hints to the story. They generally are used with a story that has a surprise ending. Here is an example: Musseshell County Sheriff's deputies did not cite the 36 inch tall driver of a 1998 Buick sedan here Friday even though the driver had struck a parked car.

In the next sentence, the reporter revealed that the driver of the car was a two year old boy who had slipped the car into gear after his mother had run into the post office to pick up a package. The key element of who the driver was was suspended until later in the story. Most stories do not lend themselves to this type of lead or organization.