Wednesday, February 2, 2011

City Ledes -- Don't Forget The Obvious . . .

. .. like in this lede:

For the last 32 years, a nationwide study showed that 16-year-old boys are the most dangerous on the road. This year proved to be the same.

Here's my question: most dangerous what? Drivers? Passengers? Motorcyclists? Bicyclists? Pedestrians? Turtles? What?

This lede had the same problem:

A study revealed today proves that simple parental warnings are ineffective.

Again, warnings about what? It's gun play, in this case. It would have been helpful to make that mention.

Make sure that your ledes have the bare minimum of information readers need to get the gist of a story without the need to read anything else.

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