How to Write Effective Leads

The lead paragraph to a feature news article is very important because it "grabs" the readers' attention. Unlike the first few paragraphs of a front page news story that tells the who, what, where, when, and why, the lead paragraph of a feature news article goes beyond the facts to stir up the readers' interest. Look at the difference below between the first paragraph of a front page news story and then how it would be written as a lead for a feature news article.

Front Page News Article Lead
Feature News Article Lead
This morning police arrested Tony Adams, 36, 1913 West Pearson Street, on a charge of shoplifting at Red Circle Food Mart. Tony Adams knows what it means to go to bed hungry and alone. The loneliness in his dark brown eyes tells you that he also knows the emptiness of jail life.

A pet squirrel set off an explosion Saturday night that rocked an east side neighborhood and caused a six-hour power shortage.

Herman the squirrel finally lit up the sky in a big way, but don't look for a repeat performance right away, at least not from Herman.

Three doctors announced plans today to open a new family clinic on Mill Creek Road in a 1.4 million building scheduled for completion in May of next year.

Andy Trent, Beth Phillips, and Lou Smith used to fish in Mill Vreek as teenagers. Next spring they will return, but this time they will be doctors.

Police reported they found two 10-year-old boys who disappeared from the Clover Hill School picnic last Friday.

Terry Milner and Willie Brown both say they wouldn't mind running away again, but next time they would like to be able to spend each night in a bed and have breakfast every morning.

A tornado touched down five miles east of Cecil County last night, destroying a farmhouse, several barns, and a garage.

 When the black cloud came boiling over the hill, Earl Myers said to himself, "This is it, pal---you're a dead man."