Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Don't forget to set context

. . . college graduates earn over $1 million more than workers with a high school diploma.

Context is missing -- how do they earn more money? Each year? This lede is more clear:

College graduates can expect to make $1 million more IN THEIR LIFETIME than those . . .

Make sure everything people need to know to understand the story is included in what you write.

Now, in this next example, is a question lede the right way to set context?

Is it fair that arrested persons that are fingerprinted and have to have mug shots taken might have to pay toward the city's crisis?

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