Basic video on how to use the inverted pyramid style to determine the best information to use in a news story lead.

1. Writing the Internet News Lead

2. Why is the lead so important?

3. “There is nothing like a good
beginning for a story.”
John Hohenberg,
“The Professional Journalist,” 1960

4. Grab the reader's
attention right away.

5. News Style vs. Essay Style

6. News Story – Council Bluffs
City Council Meeting
• Dog tax raised from $10 to $15
• Mayor resigns
• Internal audit reveals questions
• Board goes into executive session
• City attorney reveals possible
criminal activity

9. Dog tax
raised
Council meets in secret
Internal audit reveals discrepancies
City attorney reveals there might be criminal action
Mayor resigns

12. Mayor resigns
City attorney reveals criminal action
Council meets in secret
Internal audit
Dog tax
raised

15. The facts:
• Two kids were killed today at 2 p.m.
• A car jumped the curb
• It happened near Prospect Park
• The corner of Jackson and 16th
• Police Chief J. W, Carmichael
announced the accident.

16. News in a hurry:
the straight lead
Police Chief J.W. Carmichael announced
today that two children were killed outside
Prospect Park, at Jackson Ave. and 16th St.,
N.W., when a “recklessly driven” automobile
jumped the curb near where they were
playing at 2 p.m., and ran them down.

17. News with reflection:
the news feature lead
A speeding yellow sports car jumped
the curb outside Prospect Park today,
plowed into a group of children at play, and
killed two of them. Twelve others were
injured.
Police Chief J.W. Carmichael attributed
the tragedy to reckless driving. The driver,

18. Playing with words:
humor and imagination
The Supreme Court yesterday knocked
out the International Boxing Club by
upholding a decision ordering the IBC to
break up its monopoly on prize-fighting.
On a 5-3 count, the court said the IBC
has eliminated competition among fight
promoters who want to stage events in other

19. A video by Bill Edwards, Copyright 2011.