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Chapter 6: Writing & Delivering the News

Chapter 6: Writing & Delivering the News. What is the purpose of a lead?. To grab the reader’s attention so that the reader wants to read the story. What’s the inverted pyramid?. Story summary goes at the top. 5Ws & H Who, what, when, where, why, how

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Chapter 6: Writing & Delivering the News

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  1. Chapter 6: Writing & Delivering the News

  2. What is the purpose of a lead? • To grab the reader’s attention so that the reader wants to read the story.

  3. What’s the inverted pyramid? • Story summary goes at the top. • 5Ws & H • Who, what, when, where, why, how • As you go down to the point, the facts become less important to the story. • Headlines are based on info in the first paragraph. • When planning to write a story, facts should be numbered and written in order of importance.

  4. How to write a good lead • Leads are anywhere from a sentence to a paragraph long. • Now that we know a lead contains the summary of the story, how do we write a good one? • Be Creative • Dig deeper to find and use interesting info in the lead • BEFORE: Arthur Abbey, 42, has been named the new football coach for North High School. • AFTER: Former player for the NY Jets, Arthur Abbey, is the new football coach for North High School. • BEFORE: YOUR NAME has won first place in Viera High’s annual talent show. • AFTER:

  5. How to write a good lead • Be Objective • Leave out your opinions and feelings when writing • BEFORE: Finally, we have someone of quality running against Obama in the 2012 election. Mr. Hickey, Viera High Principal, is sure to win if he runs against Obama. • AFTER: Can you be both creative AND objective?

  6. Quiz • What is a lead? • What is the purpose of a lead? • How long is a lead? • What are the two important things to remember when writing a good lead? • Ms. Ferry was arrested. Write an exemplary lead for this story. • How does the inverted pyramid work?

  7. What are Tease Leads? • Tease Leads share some odd information, enticing the reader to want to know what’s happening. • People go to him when they want to get something on their chests. • Behind a chain-link fence topped with barbed wire, past a warning that “trespassers will be shot,” beyond two security system signs and two Rottweilers, a man and a woman were found dead Tuesday morning. • Create a tease lead about anything • (describe a haunted house as a tease to introduce the fair is opening).

  8. What should we avoid when writing leads?

  9. Avoid: Chronological Order • Never start the lead with what happened in chronological order. • The lead is a captivating summarization. THEN comes the story in chronological order if you so desire. • During the fair, people lined up to participate at the strongest man booth. The line wrapped around the nearby carousel. John Jacob swung the mallet onto the plate and the screen read WIMPY in big red letters. Anna Smith hammered the mallet to the plate. Ears wrung with the sound of metal hitting metal and Anna was declared the strongest of them all. • Rewrite this lead using creativity and style.

  10. Avoid: Long Sentence Leads • Stay away from long sentences in your leads. • Instead, break up the lead into shorter sentences. • Student government has decided seniors will take their final exams on the last Friday of May, the school colors would be changed from red and blue to crimson and blue, retiring teachers would be given plaques of appreciation from the student body, and the editor of the school newspaper would be elected for this prestigious position. • Rewrite this lead improving the sentence lengths.

  11. Avoid: Leaving out Content • Your lead should include as many details (the 5Ws and H) as possible. • College is fun for many teens. • Rewrite this lead including more specific story information but keeping the overall idea.

  12. Avoid: Leading with a quote • This is good for papers that you write in school but not for news writing. • “I promise the people of this nation that I will create more jobs by the end of the year,” President Flapper declared confidently. • Turn this quote lead into a REAL lead. Invent details where they are missing. Remember to be objective in political reporting.

  13. Avoid: Leading with a Question • Another bright idea for scholarly school writers, but there’s no place for it in news writing. • Will Cocoa’s wealthiest couple, the Collins, get married on a cruise ship or at the vineyard? • Rewrite this lead stating the facts of the matrimony plans. Remember to embellish and get creative. Can you create a tease for extra credit?

  14. Practice with the 5Ws & H • Poor Children in the United States are often unprepared for school and do not learn basic reading skills in the first three grades, according to a report published last week by the Department of Education. • Who: • What: • When: • Where: • Why: • How: • While this lead includes pertinent information. It’s not very creative. Rewrite it using creativity.

  15. Practice with the 5Ws & H • The Academic Decathlon team went on December 12 to compete with five high schools and to reclaim the trophy they lost in a disappointing match last year. • Who: • What: • When: • Where: • Why: • How: • This lead is a boring summary. Rewrite it using creativity and objectivity.

  16. Plug and Pass • Create the 5Ws & H for your partner. Pass and write a creative lead. • Who: • What: • When: • Where: • Why: • How:

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