How to write a lede

[sigma7]

Example of a bad, makes-you-wanna-crawl-under-the-covers kinda lede: "The scene at Snyder Family Stadium on Thursday made it clear — a few people know who President George W. Bush is."

Better lede: "A parasite that causes rats to sacrifice themselves to cats may also change human behavior, making women more outgoing and warmhearted, and men more jealous and suspicious." (Whole story here.)

Also, if there's anything I hate as much as Variety-speak, it's spelling it "l-e-d-e" -- though apparently I can't blame that on newspapering. Hrm. Maybe not for its invention, but certainly for its perpetuation.

Comments

[jkgriffin.livejournal.com]

Okay, the parasite story is extremely creepy. Especially since I probably have it, having had cats for a long time.

That lede thing is extremely annoying. But I'm a spelling nazi.

[sigma7.livejournal.com]

There's also referring to headlines as "heds," which just drives me batty.

[kateshort.livejournal.com]

So are you and beeform going to bless us with your reviews of W's visit/speech?

[sigma7.livejournal.com]

Bee's goin', as are a few more of my f-list. I, though, am not; I plan on heading straight to my office at 7:30, sitting down, moving away from any/all windows, and being perfecly inconspicuous all day.

Dad got to tell me the story of how he was responsible for hooking up a PA system at Offut AFB when Kennedy visited, and as he was ordered to climb atop a hangar and install a speaker, he saw someone else atop an adjacent hangar pointing a high-powered rifle at him. Being the sensible man he is, he refused to put up any more speakers until snipers stopped aiming weapons at him....

[kateshort.livejournal.com]

eeeeeeeeeep. Scariness.