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Bad Lead include:
adapted from https://training.npr.org/digital/leads-are-hard-heres-how-to-write-a-good-one/
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How to Write Leads:
Sample Leads:
See the News:
One of the hardest skills for a young reporter to master is interviewing. It takes preparation and persistence to conduct a good interview. Follow these steps and learn how to interview like a pro.
Then research some more. The only way to come up with good questions is to know everything there is to know about your subject.
Ask when a good time would be to do the interview. Be polite. Say "please" and "thank you." Try to set up the interview in person. If this isn't possible, then set up a phone interview.
The more specific your questions are, the better. And never ask questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no. Make your interviewee talk.
Be sure to write all your questions down in a notebook, then practice asking them with a partner. Become very familiar with your questions before you go into the interview.
You will want to bring:
Arrive at your interview with plenty of time to spare. If you’ve never been to the place where your interview is taking place, go early and scout it out. There is nothing more unprofessional than a reporter who is late.
You can also use the time you are waiting to make notes about the surroundings. You won’t remember details later, so write them down.
During the interview:
Don't try to write every word said. It will slow down the interview. Just take down the highlights.
After the interview, while the details are still fresh in your mind, write everything down you can remember about the person you interviewed. Don’t forget to make note of the sounds in the background. Take note of what was happening around you. Write it all down as soon as possible.
At home, expand your notes by following up on things you learned in your interview with more research.
Circle or highlight quotations that you think will be good for your article. Now you're ready to begin writing.