One of the first questions journalism students have when learning to write a lede is what to put in, and what to leave out. Experienced reporters instinctively know what should be included in a lede. But while crafting a lede can be confusing for the beginner, rest assured that with practice, it will eventually come easily.
Generally, the lede should use a broad-brushstrokes approach. It should convey the main point of the story - whatever is most newsworthy, interesting and important - without getting bogged down in a lot of small details.
Beginning journalists have a tendency to want to throw everything including the kitchen sink into a lede, but remember, you've got the rest of the story for all that.
So here are two easy-to-use lists for what to put into a lede, and what to leave out. Remember, these are general rules, and for every rule there is an exception.
What To Put In a Lede
- The main point of the story - the most newsworthy, important and interesting thing about the story.
- A basic account of WHAT happened, WHO was involved, WHERE the event occurred, WHEN it occurred and possibly WHY or HOW it occurred.
- If possible, some brief context to give the lede some perspective.
- An especially interesting detail that will make readers want to read the story.
What To Leave Out of a Lede
- Exact names of the people involved, unless it's someone especially prominent or famous.
- The exact time something occurred, unless that's somehow crucial to the story's main point.
- Exact street addresses.
- Ages of people in the story
- Specific dates
- Specific dollar amounts, unless it is somehow a key aspect of the story. Generally, dollar amounts in ledes should be rounded.
- Quotes. Quotes are difficult to use in ledes because they need to be placed in context, and it's very hard to do that in a 35-40 word lede.
Click here to Read Five Steps to Writing a Great Lede
