Chapter 9
Reporting/Writing Assignment #2 – Leads (20 points)
Submit work via email by the end of class today:
- At the top of your Word document, include the following:
o First and last name
o Date
o Journalism 101
o Reporting/Writing Assignment #2: Leads
- Subject line of email: Last name, First name – Assignment #2 Leads
- Email completed assignment as a Word attachment to zaresks@lahc.edu
- No late work accepted.
1. Identify the 5Ws and H in the following leads. Not all elements may be present. If an
element is not present, write “not answered” next to the appropriate question. Refer to
pages 171-172 in the textbook for examples. (2 points each = 6 total points)
The United Jewish Appeal is sponsoring its first-ever walkathon this morning in Springfield to
raise money for The Soup Kitchen, a place where the hungry can eat for free.
Who:
What:
When:
Where:
Why:
How:
Springfield police arrested a local woman in her home Thursday for allegedly filing a false police
report of rape.
Who:
What:
When:
Where:
Why:
How:
The United Way Board of Directors will announce how it plans to allocate $425,000 when it
meets at 2 p.m. tomorrow at the board’s offices
Who:
What:
When:
Where:
Why:
How:
2. Write a traditional inverted pyramid lead for the set of facts below. See pages 173-177
and “The Classic Inverted Pyramid Story” on page 177 in the textbook for examples.
(2 points)
Who: five people
What: died
Where: Mammoth Mountain ski resort
When: yesterday
Why: unknown
How: in a massive avalanche
3. Write a traditional inverted pyramid lead for the set of facts below. See pages 173-177
and “A Sample Inverted Pyramid Story” on page 176 in the textbook for examples. (2
points)
Who: a texting driver
What: crashed into a bus causing minor injuries to 12 children
Where: in front of Gardena Elementary School
When: Friday afternoon
Why? unknown
How? the driver was texting while on the road
Other information: this was the fifth accident this year caused by texting drivers
Source: Police Chief Fred Smith
4. Using the following information, write an immediate-identification lead. See page 180
in the textbook for an example. (2 points)
Who: Sheryl Crow, singer
What: appointed to Alumni Board
Where: University of Missouri
When: Yesterday
5. Using the following information, write a delayed-identification lead. See page 180-181
and 187 in the textbook for examples. (2 points)
Who: Jennifer Lancaster, 25, Torrance, a teacher
What: won Educator of the Year
When: Friday night
Where: at West High School
How: in a ceremony
6. Rewrite the following lead as a “you” lead. See page 179 in the textbook for examples.
(2 points)
New financial aid increases going into effect January 1 will make it more affordable for students
to go to college.
7. You covered a meeting of the Springfield Board of Education Monday night and
learned the following. Write a summary lead. See page 181-183 for examples. (2 points)
Superintendent Max Schmidt reported that enrollment was 17 more than expected but that there
were no problems associated with last week’s school opening. Schmidt said he would be
negotiating with the Maintenance Workers Union next week. He said they have already agreed
on binding arbitration if necessary. He then presented the board with a revision to the school
manual. This is the first time the manual has been revised in 20 years, he said. “It’s overdue.
There have been several changes in the law that we must recognize.” Board members Janet
Biss said she opposed several of the changes. She particularly did not like giving student’s
permission to wear their hair any length, to driver their cars to school and to carry cell phones.
“These rules were good enough for my generation; they’re good enough for the students now.”
Other changes were that teachers could not use physical punishment on students, teachers
must report all violations of school policy to the building principal, students convicted of using
any kind of drug will be suspended for no more than 20 days, and all students found with drugs
in the school will be turned over to juvenile authorities. The board voted 5-2 to approve the new
manual. Student Body President Ryan Rodriguez said he welcomed the school board to the 21st
century. The board then accepted a low bid from Farmer’s Dairy to provide at 3 cents a point.
8. Using the same information above, determine the most important elements, and write a
multiple-element lead. See page 184 and 188-190 in the textbook for examples. (2 points)