BRIEF INTRODUCTION

The news story opens with a special beginning paragraph or paragraphs called
the lead. It is the most important part of the story for it is the author’s way of selling
his story.

A good lead is short and provocative, not long and tiring to the reader. As
much as possible, the first paragraph must have one sentence.
Leads may be classified into three general kinds: [1] Conventional, [2]
Grammatical and [3] Novelty lead.

1. Conventional or Summary lead

The kind of lead used in straight news answers right away all or any of the 5
W’s and/or the H.

CONVENTIONAL DESCRIPTION EXAMPLES

LEADS
Used when the person President Fidel V. Ramos
WHO LEAD involved is more addressed April 20, the PMA
prominent than what graduates in Baguio City
he does or what
happens to him
Used when the event or The NSAT will be given Nov.
WHAT LEAD what took place is 24 to all graduating students
more important than desiring to enroll in the four-
the person involved in year college course
the story
Used when the place is The Philippines will be the
WHERE LEAD unique and no next site of the Miss
prominent person Universe contest
involved
Rarely used as the Sept. 15 is the deadline for
WHEN LEAD reader presumes the filling the NSAT applications
story to be timely. forms.
However, this lead is
useful when speaking
deadlines, holidays and
important dates.
Used when the reason Because of poverty, around a
WHY LEAD is more prominent or hundred students dropped
unique than what from the school last year.
happens. This was learned from PNU
President Gloria
Salandanan.
Used when the By appealing to the school
HOW LEAD manner, mode, means board, the Manila Science
or methods of High School was able to
achieving the story is construct a three – storey
the unnatural way. concrete building.
 2. Grammatical Lead

There are times when the lead is introduced by a kind of grammatical

form which is usually a phrase or a clause to emphasize a feature. Here the
important W’s are found in the main clause, not in the introductory or
subordinate clause which is just a modifying feature.

GRAMMATICAL DESCRIPTION EXAMPLES

LEADS
PREPOSITIONAL The phrase is With brooms and other
PHRASE LEAD introduced by a equipment, boy scouts from
preposition Manila public high schools
cleaned the city markets in
consonance with Mayor
Alfredo Lim’s CLEAN and
beautification drive.
INFINITIVE PHRASE It begins with a sign of To encourage tourism,
LEAD infinitive to plus the balikbayans were given a
main verb. warm welcome by their fellow
Filipinos.
PARTICIPIAL PHRASE It is introduced by the Hoping to cop first place, the
LEAD present or past PNU wood-pushers honed up
participle form of the for the chess championship
verb. games. (present participle)

Dressed like priests, robbers

were able to enter the bank
(past participle)
GERUNDIAL PHRASE It is introduced by a Winning the development
LEAD gerund (a verbal noun communication trophy
ending in -ing) during the national press
conference was Araullo High
School’s best achievement of
the year.
CLAUSE LEAD The lead begins with a Because Sept. 9 was Osmena
clause which may Day, all lessons dealt with
either be independent the life of the late President
or subordinate clause; Sergio Osmena Sr.
or may either be a (subordinate, adverbial)
noun or an adjectival
or adverbial clause.

3. Novelty lead
Some kinds of leads are best use in writing news features. They are written
in such a way that they attract attention or carry out a definite purpose.

NOVELTY LEADS DESCRIPTIONS EXAMPLES

ASTONISHER LEAD Uses an interjection or Champion of District I
an exclamatory !
sentence. Better look your best
this week !
 CONTRAST LEAD Describes two extremes Four months before
or opposites for the Beautification and
emphasis. The sharper Cleanliness Drive,
the contrast, the more Zone 15 in Tondo,
effective the lead will be Manila was the dirtiest
district. Three months
after, it won first place
in the CLEAN contest
sponsored by the
Department of
Community and Local
Government
EPIGRAM LEAD Opens by quoting a Like father, like son.
common expression, Ramon Garcia Jr.
verse, or epigram, at graduated
least familiar to the valedictorian this year.
locality. Ten years ago, his
father, Mr. Ramon
Garcia Sr. also topped
his class and delivered
his valedictory address
on the same rostrum
where the young
Garcia delivered his.
PICTURE LEAD Describes a person, a The new principal,
place or an event, at although only in his
the same time creating early thirties, is
a mental picture of the already silver-haired.
subject matter in the He seldom talks, but
mind of the reader. when he does, he talks
with sense.
BACKGROUND LEAD Similar to the picture The PNU campus was
lead except that it turned into a
describes the setting miniature carnival
which may be more ground Sept. 1 during
prominent than the the 91st F-Day
characters and the celebration of the
events. university. Decorated
with buntings and
multicolored lights,
the quadrangle was a
grand setting for a
barrio fiesta.
DESCRIPTIVE LEAD Used when Dressed in white polo
comparatively few barong, and white
descriptive words diplomas in their
vividly hands , 594 graduates
marched down the
stage to the tune of
Osmena High March.
PARODY LEAD Consists of a parody of Water, water
a well-known song, everywhere, but no
poem, lines, etc. water to drink. This
was what the flood
 victims found to their
dismay.
A short, forceful word Victory Day !
PUNCH LEAD or expression. Magsaysay High
School celebrated
March 18 its fifth
victory in the city-wide
journalism contests.
“The youth in The New
Republic have become
partners of the
Consists of the government in its
speaker’s direct words struggle for progress
QUOTATION LEAD which are very striking and advancement,”
and which are usually thus spoke PNU Vice-
quoted from a speech , President Lilia Garcia,
a public address, or an to some 400 student
interview. delegates to the 1994
Hi-Y teens Leadership
Training Seminar held
Dec. 26-30 at the
College Auditorium.
Who will reign as Miss
QUESTION LEAD An answer to a Intramurals this year?
question which is the This will be known
basis of the news story Aug. 8 after the final
screening to be held at
the PNU Gym and
Performing Arts
Center.

ACTIVITIES

DETERMINING KINDS OF LEAD

A. Directions: Determine what kind of lead is used in each item. Use a separate
sheet of paper to write your answers.
1. More than a week since Taal Volcano showed unrest, state volcanologists said
there is a re- charge or resupply of magma underneath as intense activity in
the volcano continued and may lead to a dangerous explosive eruption.

2. Britain’s Prince Harry expressed “great sadness” on Sunday as he and his wife
Meghan being stripped of their royal titles as part of a historic separation
settlement with the Queen.
 Use summary lead

A party will be held at the Normal Hall. Atty. Lilia Garcia , Vice President
, will be the guest speaker. The PNU Faculty Association is sponsoring the
party. It will be held in honor of Dr. Fe Otanes, Dean of Graduate Schools,
who will be retiring in July.

IMPROVING WEAK LEADS

C. DIRECTIONS: Rewrite the following summary leads, featuring the most
pertinent information at the beginning of the lead. Use the space provided
below.

1. Lydia Buchanan, an aspiring author who hopes to be published in the

near future, will speak to members of the junior English classes all next
week about breaking into the writing profession. She will speak on finding
an agent, sending out submissions, how to handle rejection notices and
tips she has received from published authors. Students are asked to come
with questions.
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REMEMBER
❖ A good lead answers all the important questions of the reader, indicates
the attendant circumstances if they are important, and arouses the
reader’s interest to continue reading the story.
❖ There are three different kinds of lead
[1] Summary or Conventional lead
[2] Grammatical lead
[3] Novelty lead