The lead is the most vital element to a news story; it is the head on the body.
A typical lead will provide the reader with the five key elements to a story; the who, what, where, when, and how.
However, a lead is not simply a list, but a beefy information packed sentence that tells you exactly what you are going to be reading in the following article.
Leads will also dictate the aim of the story, and why it is something you should read.
Take for instance a report about a budget at a university. One article may attempt to tell of how the budget is generated and from what facets, while another may aim to report on how that same money is used; same subject, different aims.
The other important purpose of the lead is to set the tone and delivery of the story. A successful lede will often reflect the type of news that the article is about.
For example, a crime related or breaking story will have a harder, news-like delivery to it, while a profile or feature might sound more like the opening to a story.
Regardless of the type of story, a lead must intrigue the reader, pulling them into the story.
Without a proper head, the body cannot function.
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