L EA D

JOEMAR L. FURIGAY
ADVANCED JOURNALISM
PRIMARY LEAD

USUALLY A SHORT PARAGRAPH WHICH

ANSWERS AT LEAST FOUR OF THE FIVE W’S
AND ONE H AT ITS MOST EFFECTIVE ANGLE
SECONDARY LEAD

COMPLEMENTS THE MAIN LEAD BY

ANSWERING THOSE OF THE FIVE W’S AND
ONE H, WHICH ARE LEFT UNANSWERED
CLASSIFICATION OF LEADS
SUMMARY LEAD
IT ANSWERS THE FIVE W’S AND ONE H. THE STORY IS PRESENTED USING THE
INVERTED PYRAMID FORM WHERE THE MOST IMPORTANT DATA ARE IN THE
FIRST AND SECOND PARAGRAPHS.
THIS IS USED IN STRAIGHT NEWS.
SUMMARY LEADS
WHAT LEAD
IF THE MOST IMPORTANT ANGLE OF THE NEWS IS THE EVENT.
WHO LEAD
IF THE MOST IMPORTANT ANGLE OF THE NEWS IS THE PERSON OR
ORGANIZATION INVOLVED
SUMMARY LEADS
WHERE LEAD
IF THE MOST IMPORTANT ANGLE OF THE NEWS IS THE LOCATION WHERE THE
EVENT TAKES PLACE
WHEN LEAD
IF THE MOST IMPORTANT ANGLE OF THE NEWS IS THE TIME ELEMENT
SUMMARY LEADS
WHY LEAD
IF THE MOST IMPORTANT ANGLE OF THE NEWS CAUSE OF THE EVENT
HOW LEAD
IF THE MOST IMPORTANT ANGLE OF THE NEWS IS THE PROCESS OR MANNER
HOW THE EVENT HAPPENED
GRAMMATICAL LEADS
NOUN CLAUSE
BEGINS WITH THAT, HOW, WHY, WHETHER, WHAT OR WHEN AND FEATURES THE SUBSTANCE
OF ANNOUNCEMENTS, DECISIONS OR BELIEFS
EXAMPLE:
THAT VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND ALL ELECTIVES EXCEPT FOREIGN LANGUAGE BE
ELIMINATED FROM THE SECONDARY CURRICULUM WAS THE PROPOSAL OF A GROUP LED BY
MORTIMER HUXLEY.
GRAMMATICAL LEADS
TEMPORAL CLAUSE
BEGINS WITH WHEN, WHILE, BEFORE, SINCE OR AS SOON AS AND FEATURES THE TIME
ELEMENT.
EXAMPLE:
WHEN STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL NEXT FALL, THEY WILL BE GREETED BY NEW
DISCIPLINE, PARKING AND ATTENDANCE CODES.
GRAMMATICAL LEADS
PARTICIPIAL PHRASE
OFTEN, IT ANSWERS THE NEWS QUESTIONS "WHY" OR "HOW."
AS A PAST PARTICIPLE:
STUNNED BY THE DESECRATION OF HIS BELOVED 1968 MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE, PRINCIPAL MELVIN ADAMS FORMED
VIGILANTE GROUPS TO TRACK DOWN AND KILL SENIORS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OUTRAGE.
AS A PRESENT PARTICIPLE:
CASHING IN ON HIS DREAMY POUT, DROOPY BLUE EYES AND CUTE TUSH, BILLY CACOPHONY PURSUED HIS DREAM OF
ROCK AND ROLL STARDOM, DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE COULDN'T SING OR PLAY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.
GRAMMATICAL LEADS
GERUND PHRASE
BEGINS WITH A GERUND AND FEATURES ACTION OR AN INTERESTING DETAIL.
EXAMPLE:
TYPING 30 WORDS A MINUTE WITH A MINIMUM OF THREE MISTAKES AND WITHOUT
BREAKING A FINGER NAIL IS THE REQUIREMENT FOR PASSING MRS. JOYCE BIGBY'S ALL-
GIRL BUSINESS CLASS.
GRAMMATICAL LEADS
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
BEGINS WITH A PREPOSITION AND FEATURES ONE ASPECT OF THE STORY WHICH THE
REPORTER FEELS DESERVES SPECIAL ATTENTION.
EXAMPLE:
WITH INK SPOTS ON HIS FACE AND THE ANSWERS SMEARED ON HIS HAND, COUPLED
WITH GLARES FROM THE TEACHER, DONNIE DISHONEST KNEW HE HAD BEEN FOUND OUT.
GRAMMATICAL LEADS
CONCESSIVE CLAUSE
BEGINS WITH THOUGH OR ALTHOUGH AND EXPRESSES DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME OR
UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
EXAMPLE:
ALTHOUGH HE HAD FAILED TO TURN IN A SINGLE ASSIGNMENT OR PASS A TEST, SUPER JOCK
BIFF STANLEY WAS GENUINELY SHOCKED THAT HE FAILED TO PASS WORLD HISTORY. "BUT I'M
THE QUARTERBACK," HE ARGUED TO NO AVAIL.
GRAMMATICAL LEADS
INFINITIVE PHRASE
BEGINS WITH TO PLUS A VERB AND FEATURES PURPOSE OR DRAMATIC ACTION OR TO CREATE A MINOR NOTE OF SUSPENSE.
AS AN ADVERB:
TO MAINTAIN HIS LAST THREAD OF SANITY, LATIN TEACHER JOHN VECTOR DISMISSED CLASS. "THE KIDS THINK THEY
SPEAK LATIN IN LATIN AMERICA, AND THAT 'PRO-BONO' IS A U2 GROUPIE," HE MUTTERED IN DISGUST.
AS A NOUN:
TO CASH IN ON HER BROTHER'S FAME, LOOKS AND DANCE STEPS IS JANET JACKSON'S RECIPE FOR SUCCESS IN THE ROUGH
AND TUMBLE WORLD OF ENTERTAINING A CROWD OF DITZY PRE-TEEN GIRLS.
GRAMMATICAL LEADS
CONDITIONAL CLAUSE
BEGINS WITH IF, UNLESS OR PROVIDED AND EXPRESSES SPECULATIVE INTEREST OR CONDITION.
IF THE PROM WERE HELD TONIGHT, STUDENTS WOULD HAVE NOTHING TO EAT, AND WOULD
DANCE TO WHATEVER MUSIC COULD BE GENERATED FROM A BOOM BOX. WITH JUST OVER TWO
WEEKS UNTIL THE PROM, STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICERS ADMITTED THAT THEY HAD NEITHER
SELECTED A MENU NOR CONTRACTED A BAND TO PLAY AT THE ANNUAL END-OF-SCHOOL EVENT.
NOVELTY LEADS
PUNCH LEAD
IT USES STRONG VERBS AND SHORT SENTENCES THAT ARE MEANT TO CREATE
AN IMPACT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS TYPE OF LEAD IS EXACTLY THAT – GIVING A
JOLT SO THAT READERS WILL SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE.
EXAMPLE:
THE PRESIDENT IS DEAD.
NOVELTY LEADS
CONTRAST LEAD
THIS LEAD USES TWO DIFFERENT THOUGHTS OR TWO SENTENCES THAT ARE EXACTLY OPPOSITE TO EACH
OTHER IN THE OPENING PARAGRAPH TO MAKE A STRONG STATEMENT.
EXAMPLE:
OBSERVE THE STRETCH COMING DOWN ON SARJAPURA OUTER RING ROAD FROM AGARA GOING TOWARDS
IBBLUR SARJAPURA/ ORR JUNCTION. AS THE ROAD VEERS TOWARDS THE LEFT, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN A
BEAUTIFUL SERENE LAKE A FEW YEARS BACK. NOW, ALL THAT IS LEFT TO SEE IS A BED OF WATER HYACINTH,
WITH SEWAGE INCESSANTLY FLOWING INTO THE LAKE AND HEAPS OF GARBAGE DUMPED INTO THE LAKE.
NOVELTY LEADS
ANECDOTAL LEAD
THIS ONE BEGINS OBVIOUSLY WITH AN ANECDOTE.
EXAMPLE:
ROSANNE MURPHY WAS GROWING MORE AGITATED AS SHE SANK DEEPER INTO ALZHEIMER’S
DISEASE. UNABLE TO BATHE, DRESS, OR FEED HERSELF, SHE WOULD CALL HER DAUGHTER IN A
PANIC MANY NIGHTS AT BEDTIME, NOT REMEMBERING WHERE SHE WAS.
NOVELTY LEADS
DESCRIPTIVE LEAD
IT GOES INTO GREAT DETAIL TO DESCRIBE THE SCENE OR PERSON THAT MAKES UP THE SUBJECT OF THE
STORY. THE IDEA IS TO CREATE VISUAL IMPACT.
EXAMPLE:
THE NIGHT-VISION IMAGE IN THE RESCUE HELICOPTER SHOWED A DOWNED PILOT IN A LIFE RAFT BOBBING
35 MILES FROM THE ATLANTIC SHORELINE, BUT WHEN BRIAN FOGLE GOT READY TO PLUNGE DOWN TO HIM,
THE MIDNIGHT SKY AND SEA MELDED INTO INKY BLACKNESS.
NOVELTY LEADS
CARTRIDGE LEAD
CHARACTERIZED AS SHORT, DEFINITE, AND ABRUPT MANNER THAT TELLS THE GIST OF THE NEWS
STORIES.
EXAMPLE:
ACTOR PAUL WALKER'S DEATH CERTIFICATE, WHICH READS THAT HE DIED FROM "COMBINED EFFECTS OF
TRAUMATIC AND THERMAL INJURIES", HAS BEEN RELEASED. AS PER THE DEATH CERTIFICATE, WALKER,
40, DID NOT DIE FROM THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH ALONE. HE WAS ALSO CHARRED TO DEATH IN THE
RESULTING FIRE, REPORTS TMZ.COM.
NOVELTY LEADS
QUESTION LEAD
RAISES A QUESTION IN HOPE OF STIMULATING THE PUBLIC TO READ MORE OF THE TOPIC.
EXAMPLE:
ASIDE FROM ITS BEING POPULAR AMONG FILIPINOS, AS REFLECTED IN SURVEYS, WHY
HAS PRESIDENT AQUINO INSISTED ON REFUSING TO APOLOGIZE TO HONG KONG FOR THE
DEATH OF EIGHT HK TOURISTS IN MANILA?
NOVELTY LEADS
FREAK LEAD
TRIES TO BE DIFFERENT BY ITS ODDNESS.
EXAMPLE:
AMOU HAJI, AN 80-YEAR-OLD IRANIAN, IS BEING CALLED THE WORLD'S DIRTIEST MAN. IN AN ARTICLE
PUBLISHED JAN. 6, HE TOLD THE TEHRAN TIMES THAT HE HASN'T BATHED IN 60 YEARS. HAJI REPORTEDLY LIVES
IN ISOLATION IN DEJGAH VILLAGE, IN THE SOUTHERN IRANIAN PROVINCE OF FARS, SUBSISTS ON ROTTEN
PORCUPINE MEAT, AND SAYS THE THOUGHT OF A BATH AFTER ALL THIS TIME MAKES HIM VERY ANGRY. HE SAID
HE ADOPTED HIS EXTREME, ISOLATED LIFESTYLE AFTER SUFFERING EMOTIONAL SETBACKS IN HIS YOUTH.
NOVELTY LEADS
QUOTATION LEAD
THE PARAGRAPH STARTS WITH A POPULAR QUOTATION BY WELL KNOWN PERSONS.
EXAMPLE:
SHAKESPEARE SPOKE OF “THE INAUDIBLE AND NOISELESS FOOT OF TIME” – BUT THE
REVELRY WILL LIKELY BE QUITE AUDIBLE INDEED WHEN THE PLAYWRIGHT’S 450TH
BIRTHDAY ARRIVES IN APRIL.
NOVELTY LEADS
TEASER
DECEIVES THE READER IN A JESTING MANNER TO AROUSE HIS CURIOSITY AND
GENTLY LEADS HIM INTO THE STORY
EXAMPLE:
WHAT COMES FIRST, THE HEN OR THE EGG? WELL, EGG COULD NOT BE MADE
POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE HEN. BUT WHERE DOES THE HEN COME FROM?
NOVELTY LEADS
ASTONISHER LEAD
STRIKING ONE-SENTENCE LEAD
EXAMPLE:
HUNGRY FARMERS ARE SELLING NOT ONLY THEIR PLOWS AND CARABAOS
BUT ALSO THEIR CHILDREN.
NOVELTY LEADS
ASTONISHER LEAD
IT IS EXCLAMATORY.
EXAMPLE:
WORLD CHAMPION!
BOLD RED LETTERS PRINTED ON A THREE-METER LONG STREAMER WERE HUNG ON
THE GATE OF … WHEN…
NOVELTY LEADS
ONE-WORD LEAD
USES A VERY SIGNIFICANT WORD TO CAPTURE OR AROUSE THE INTEREST OF THE READER.
EXAMPLE:
BANG!
SPRINTERS FROM THE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION ZOOMED
LIKE BULLETS TO THE FINISHING DURING THE…
NOVELTY LEADS
STACCATO LEAD
CONSISTS OF A SERIES WORDS OR PHRASES PUNCTUATED BY PERIODS,
COMMAS OR DASHES
EXAMPLE:
NEGLECTED. DENUDED. ABUSED. ABANDONED. THIS IS THE REAL PICTURE OF
OUR FOREST TODAY.
NOVELTY LEADS
PARODY LEAD
UTILIZES LINES FROM HIT SONGS, TITLES OF BEST-SELLING BOOKS, PROVERBS AND THE LIKES
RELEVANT TO THE NEWS STORY
EXAMPLE:
LIKE A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER.
SUCH WAS THE CASE OF NEW ENGLAND HIGH SCHOOL AS TYPHOON DOMENG FLOODED THE
WHOLE RESULTING TO A ONE-WEEK CLASS SUSPENSION.
NOVELTY LEADS
EPIGRAM LEAD
USES FAMILIAR EXPRESSIONS TO OPEN THE NEWS STORY TO THE READERS
EXAMPLE:
“WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.”
AFTER ALMOST FIVE YEARS OF STUDYING LAW, LPSCI ALUMNUS EMJAY CRUZ PARTICIPATED
IN THE INDUCTION OF NEW LAWYERS AS HE TOPPED THE BAR EXAMINATION THIS YEAR.