The Lead Paragraph
Habakkuk 2:2
“Write down this vision; clearly inscribe it...”
Clear writing helps people understand the message you are trying to share. As journalists, we do not want readers to have to guess what happened.
Before moving on from your lead, ask yourself:
“If someone only read my first sentence, would they understand what this story is about?”
If the answer is yes, you are on the right track!
What Is a Lead Paragraph?
The lead paragraph is the opening of a news article. It is one of the most important parts of the story because it tells the reader what the article is about.
A strong lead gives the reader the most important information first. It should be clear, focused, and interesting enough to make someone want to continue reading.
Think of your lead as answering the reader’s first question:
“What happened?”
The 5 W’s + H
When writing your lead, look for these six important pieces of information:
WHO?
Who is the story about?
WHAT?
What happened?
WHEN?
When did it happen?
WHERE?
Where did it happen?
WHY?
Why did it happen or why is it important?
HOW?
How did it happen?
You may not need to include all six in your first sentence. Choose the details that are most important for your reader to know right away.
Example
Imagine our co-op held a fall festival on Friday.
Here are the facts:
Who: Co-op students and families
What: Fall Festival
When: Friday evening
Where: The co-op campus
Why: To bring families together
How: Games, food, contests, and activities
Weak Lead
We had a fall festival.
This is true, but it does not give the reader enough information.
Stronger Lead
Co-op students and families gathered on campus Friday evening for a fall festival filled with games, food, contests, and activities.
Notice how much we already know from just one sentence!
We know:
✓ Who: students and families
✓ What: fall festival
✓ When: Friday evening
✓ Where: the co-op campus
✓ How: games, food, contests, and activities
The rest of the article can give us more details and explain why the event was important.
In-Class Activity:
Part 1: Find the 5 W’s + H
We will practice identifying:
WHO • WHAT • WHEN • WHERE • WHY • HOW
We will look at example stories and decide which information belongs in the lead.
Part 2: Lead Detective
We will review several article openings. For each one, we will ask:
- Can I identify the who?
- Do I know what happened?
- Do I know when it happened?
- Do I know where it happened?
- Do I understand why it matters?
- Do I know how it happened?
- Is the lead clear?
- Does it make me want to continue reading?
Remember, a lead does not always need every W and H. The goal is to include the most important information.
October Issue 1 Check-In
It is almost time to put together our October issue!
We will review our articles and check what still needs to be completed.
Issue 1 Checklist
☐ Article topic is finalized
☐ Angle is clear
☐ Headline is written
☐ Lead is written
☐ Important facts have been collected
☐ Interviews or quotes are completed, if needed
☐ Photos are planned or taken
☐ Article draft is started
☐ Information has been checked for accuracy
☐ Final edits still needed are identified
We will go through the checklist together so everyone knows exactly what they need to work on next.
Homework: Write Your Lead
Write a one-sentence lead for the bible article idea from week 3 assignment.
Before submitting it, check:
☐ Did I tell the reader what happened or what the article is about?
☐ Did I include the most important W’s and H?
☐ Is my sentence clear?
☐ Did I avoid unnecessary information?
☐ Would this sentence make someone want to continue reading?
Your goal: Give your reader the most important information first and make them want to read the rest of your story!