Types of Leads that used by Journalists

What is Lead in Journalism?

Lead is an opening paragraph of the articles or stories. It is the most vital for the reader to understand about the incidents or information that the journalisms want to send to the audiences with the short sentences. The audiences can understand and know about the information generally and have the ideas to the articles or stories through the lead.

Types of Leads

a) Summary Lead

b) Descriptive Lead

c) Contrast Lead

d) Anecdotal Lead

e) Punch Lead

Summary Lead

A summary lead is given to the reader to understand the main idea of the story or convey its news values before they read the articles. These leads only state the facts and also including who, what, where, when, why. Sometimes, it also just gives the main idea of how the events or the incidents happening.

Example: Star Online News: RM25.87 mil drug bust in Penang, biggest this year.

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Reason: This lead can be the summary lead because it only contains one sentence which only states the fact and includes 5W1H concepts.

Who - Police, Penang police chief

What - Arrested two people and seized RM25.87 mil worth of drugs

Where - At the Nibong Tebal industrial park

When - Over three days

How - In an operation conducted

Descriptive Lead

A descriptive lead is used to describe a person, place or event. It normally gives the reader the opportunity to create a visual image of the person, location or event.

Example: A Thin Line of Defense Against Honor Killings

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Reason: This lead can be the descriptive lead because it is describing Faheema. The reader can imagine the actions of Faheema through the lead.

Contrast Lead

Contrast Lead means it compares two opposite at the beginning. It is used to grab the readers’ attention through the comparison with the strong statement.

Example: Cody Ko slams Youtube for showing nothing but Tiktok stars on top of trending page

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Reason: This lead is considered a contrast lead because it gives the messages to the reader that Cody Ko as Youtuber shows getting nothing on the Youtube Platform, however it becomes a top trend on the Tiktok Platform.

Anecdotal Lead

Anecdotal lead is used to attract the readers’ attention with the interesting anecdote.

Example: Looking Back at 2020: The year that wasn’t !

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Reason: This lead can be considered as an anecdotal lead because it uses 2020 as the opening of describing the year that had been happening.

Punch Lead

Punch Lead is a lead that uses the strong verbs and short sentences to give the impression in the readers’ mindset. It normally jolts or surprises the reader in the articles or stories.

Example: Malaysia announces movement control order after spike in Covid-19 cases (updated)

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Reason: This lead can become the punch lead because the sentences make the readers feel surprised when they notice that the Prime Minister did that action because of the Covid- 19 cases.