5 DIFFERENT TYPES OF LEADS & EXAMPLES

Summary Lead

Link: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/01/15/king-queen-congratulate-denmark039s-king-frederik-x

A summary lead is a commonly used writing technique by journalists and editors, providing a quick and straightforward overview of the most information in the first paragraph of a hard news article. In addition, a summary lead can be identified referring to the WH questions including who, what, when, where, why, and how, grabbing the reader's attention via the key detail in the news article. This news article can be seen as an example of a summary lead. The location is specified as Kuala Lumpur, continued mentioning the person involved clearly which is Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah. The focus is on expressing congratulations and felicitations to King Frederik X on His Majesty's ascension as the King of Denmark. This concise and direct presentation of crucial details is characteristic of a summary lead in journalistic writing. 

Contrast Lead

Link: https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2024/01/15/hong-kong-actress-elvina-kong-loses-hk160000-in-cash-and-valuables-after-home-burgled-for-fifth-time

A contrast lead uses comparison element, to shed light on a contradiction between two elements, events, situations, or ideas. This technique tends to grab the reader's attention via surprising contradiction. Referring to this example shown, this news involves a contrast lead, using the coordinating conjunctions, despite, showing the contrast between the home of a Hong Kong actress has been broken into for a fifth time, despite installing a security system after the previous case.

Quotation Lead

Link: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/netanyahu-israel-hamas-100-days-b2478410.html

Quotation lead is a direct quotation written in the first paragraph, inserting directly what the speakers said. It can directly display the person’s expression in the news, giving the reader an immediate reference. The quotation lead of the news article above conveys his vows, “No one will stop us- not the Hague, not the axis of evil, and no one else.” as the Israel-Hamas war reached its 100th day. The use of quotation lead gives the readers a greater impact via the speaker's strong emotion.

Anecdotal Lead

Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-67955753

Anecdotal Lead is a lead with short, personal reflection and narrative or account that shows a specific topic, giving a sense to start a story. Involving a real-life experience, anecdotal lead is more relatable by using story elements, making the reader actively and effectively engage themselves in the news. Looking at the example news, it revealed the news starting from the personal narrative. Beginning with the idle moments this week, the lead introduces the curiosity of the author, Amol Rajan, on Nathan Filer’s actions on Twitter X regarding the University Challenge.

Question Lead

Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-67999424 

Question lead is a lead commonly used in the news article, and expressed with a conversational tone. Making the readers more relatable, readers will also expect the news to answer the questions instantly and directly under the quotation lead. Referring to the example news shown above, it is asking a question to get readers to think whether they would camp outside a supermarket for a water tumbler that has gone viral on TikTok. Using question lead, reader’s attention is easily captured, making them continue reading to discover the content of the news article.