The hardest part of writing broadcast copy is getting started. There are times when you will have difficulty moving your fingers. Your brain will seem dead. You may feel hypnotized by the white paper in your typewriter or the glow from your computer screen. Break the spell. Type the first thing that comes into your mind. Don’t worry whether it is good, just write. Get started. It will get easier.
You may find that the first sentence you write works as an opening for your story, or you may need to write a few sentences before you come up with one that you like. This chapter focuses on writing an effective opening sentence, or lead, for a news story.
Leads: The lead is the most important part of a news story because it sets the tone for all that follows. The lead must grab or “hook” the audience’s attention in as few words as possible. The hook can be an exciting or dramatic sentence, a clever phrase, an intriguing fact, or a provocative quote.
