Breaking-news leads
PoynterOnline’s Chip Scanlan on the history of the classic structure for hard-news stories.
Tip Sheets
Expert Commentary
Basic principles of writing a story lead
A lead (also known as a lede) is the first paragraph or several paragraphs of a story, be it a blog entry or a long article. Its mission is to catch readers’ attention and draw them in.
Expert Commentary
Code of ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists
A good place to learn about journalists’ rights and responsibilities is the code of ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists, which is widely used in newsrooms and classrooms as a guide for ethical behavior.
Expert Commentary