A news story is not an essay that slowly builds a case with an introduction, conclusion and long paragraphs with topic sentences. News stories start with the most interesting or important point you found in your reporting. Paragraphs are one or two sentences.

Most paragraphs include attribution, either direct quotations or paraphrases that tell what happened and what people said, letting readers draw their own conclusions.

The inverted pyramid

This format summarizes the most important facts at the very start of the story. The inverted pyramid helps readers grasp facts quickly by condensing information efficiently.

Writing a lead

• 1. Collect all your facts. The more you know about a story, the easier it will be to write a lead.

  2. Sum it up, boil it down. If you had just 10 seconds to shout this story over a cellphone with a dying battery, what would you say?

  3. Prioritize the five W’s: Who, what, where, when, why. The lead should contain the most important or interesting facts you uncovered in your reporting - not the fact that the meeting or event took place.

  4. Rethink, revise, rewrite. Make sure it is clear, active, concise and compelling.

Leads contain only the most relevant details and are free of clutter. Do not repeat words.

• • • Weak lead: The Foothill-De Anza Board of Trustees met yesterday in regular session. The board discussed several issues related to financial aid for students and approved a plan that would create a need-based financial aid program for students who do not qualify for Pell grants and whose family income is below the state’s median level.

    • Better lead: The Foothill-De Anza Board of Trustees approved a plan that would create a need-based financial aid program for students who do not qualify for Pell grants and whose family income is below the state’s median level.

Keep your lead short, no longer than 30-35 words.

• • • Weak lead: De Anza College faculty members, who have been working without a contract for 52 days and who have held an informational picket every Monday since the quarter started, voted overwhelmingly to approve a two-year contract that would increase salaries, backing a deal today be a vote of 265 to 18.

    • Better lead: De Anza College faculty members, who have been working without a contract for 52 days, approved a two-year contract by a vote of 265-18.