What is a lead?
The first paragraph of a news article is known as the lead, and its purpose is to provide the reader with the most essential details of the subject in a manner that is succinct and understandable, all while keeping the reader interested. Even if a reader does not continue on to read the rest of your article, they ought to possess a general understanding of what the piece is about and the information that is most significant from it after reading just the first paragraph. The process of writing a good lead can be approached in a variety of ways, and there is a wide range of viewpoints regarding how best to do it; however, the consensus view is that it is challenging and time-consuming.
Types of leads
Summary lead
Motorcyclist falls 30m to his death on KL highway
(https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/06/14/motorcyclist-falls-30m-to-his-death-on-kl-highway)
When writing a news item or a piece of journalism, the first line or paragraph should be clear, short, and informative. This type of opening sentence or paragraph is called a summary lead, or summary sentence. Its goal is to give readers a concise summary of the story's most important ideas or events in a way that is easy to understand. The purpose of the summary lead is to summarize the main points of the article and encourage the reader to continue reading by highlighting the information that is most significant and newsworthy at the beginning. In most cases, it provides answers to the fundamental questions of who, what, when, where, why, and how, and also acts as a summary of the information presented in the article. The lead summary is typically followed by succeeding paragraphs that provide a more in-depth explanation and more details to back up the claims made in the lead.
This lead has provided the answers to the key inquiries that have been asked and has presented the facts of the story. For instance, we are aware that the primary figure in this piece of news is a motorcyclist who was injured in an accident. As a result, we are able to determine from the lead that the accident took place in Kuala Lumpur, which provides the solution to the question of 'where'. In addition, in terms of 'what', which refers to what occurred to the victim, the victim ended up passing away. The final question mark is why. The fact that he was attempting to avoid the approaching motorbike was ultimately what led to his death. Last but not least, this lead provides an explanation for the incident. Readers will be able to figure out from the lead that the victim passed away as he attempted to avoid being hit by a motorcyclist who was going in the opposite direction of the flow of traffic.
Punch lead / cartridge lead
Zaid urges PM to free Najib because RM42m is 'small change'
A punch lead is a form of beginning sentence or paragraph in a news piece that is intended to capture the reader's attention and make a significant effect. In order to encourage the reader to keep reading, the punch lead's primary objective is to generate an initial feeling of excitement, surprise, or interest in the reader. A punch lead, as opposed to a regular summary lead, which provides a basic overview of the article's main ideas, typically involves a phrase that is smart or attention-grabbing, a play on words, a provocative declaration, or an element that is dramatic. Its purpose is to arouse some sort of feeling in the reader, grab their interest, or to get them to pause and take notice.
We can tell that the reporter considered RM42 million to be "small change" from the picture that appears above this one. Words like this have the potential to draw in a large number of readers to click on the link and read it. This is due to the fact that it is common knowledge that RM42 million is not a trivial amount for any one of us. This type of lead can therefore make the readers feel intrigued, which in turn leads to them reading the news. When they see the lead, readers will become alert and pay attention, which is another step towards accomplishing the goal of this lead.
Contrast lead
Radium tumbles 30% to 35 sen on Bursa debut
A contrast lead is a sort of lead or beginning paragraph used in journalism. This type of lead or opening paragraph shows a significant difference or contrast between two or more aspects or circumstances. The purpose of this technique is to grab the attention of the reader by making an unexpected opposite or one that provokes reflection. A contrast lead will often compare and contrast two ideas, events, opinions, or consequences that are in direct opposition to one another. It is possible to use it to draw attention to a modification, a shift, a disagreement, or an enormous gap. The journalist's goal in including this comparison in the lead is to stimulate the reader's interest and motivate them to continue reading in order to gain an understanding of the factors that contributed to the differences or to investigate the consequences of the contrast.
We could figure from the lead that the price of each share in the initial public offering (IPO) should be 50 sen. However, property developer Radium Development Bhd has started trading at a price that is 30% lower than its initial public offering price, which is merely 35 sen per share. Based on this contrast lead, it is simple for us to draw the conclusion that the standard price for shares is 50 sen per share, while the property developer opened at 35 sen per share.
Anecdotal lead
North Korea fires two short-range missiles after warning of response to allied drills
(https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2023/06/15/north-korea-fires-ballistic-missile---south-korea)
An anecdotal lead is a form of opening paragraph or lead that can be seen in an article. It stands out from other types of leads by the fact that it opens with a concise personal narrative or anecdote. It is a method of storytelling that is utilized in the field of journalism to captivate readers and draw them into an article by presenting a narrative that is either relatable or captivating. Typically, anecdotal lead will present a particular occurrence, experience, or individual's tale that is connected in some way to the overarching subject matter of the piece. It seeks to humanize the subject matter, arouse emotions, or present an actual instance that illustrates the theme or issue that is being explored in this paragraph.
We can get a general idea from the headline about what the news is trying to convey to its audience. For instance, the main paragraph up there discusses how North Korea fired two missiles with a shorter range off of its east coast, and it also includes some information from the story itself. As a result, readers are able to quickly comprehend both the primary topic that the news is discussing as well as some of the specifics of that particular news.
Descriptive lead
Mother, boyfriend charged with abusing toddler in Setapak
Another kind of starting paragraph or sentence in a news article or other piece of journalistic writing is known as a descriptive lead. This type of lead delivers information that is vivid and specific regarding the topic or event that is being reported. The objective of a descriptive lead is to construct a distinct image in the mind of the reader, so engaging the reader's senses and completely submerging them in the story from the very beginning. In order to paint a realistic picture of a location or ambiance, a descriptive lead would often make use of descriptive language, sensory details, and specific images. Its purpose is to put the reader in the place or experience that is being described, so that they can form a mental image of what is happening and feel more connected to the narrative on a sensory level.
The image that is displayed above makes it very clear that the lead of the news story is providing information on the girl in question. This lead concentrates on establishing the context for the rest of the article and makes use of language that appeals to all five senses in order to evoke an image in the mind of the reader. As a result of this, once the readers have finished reading the lead, they have a picture or some notions in their heads about what is happening in the narrative.
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