Summary Lead

A summary lead is at the beginning of a news article that is designed to summarize the whole article in a few short sentences, just like a short report.
Characterisitics of summary leads:

1. Making it as specific and to the point as possible to catch readers attention and highlight the most important part of the story.
2. Always place the subject of the article first in a summary lead to avoid backing in.
3. Be concise as possible; make sure the beginning sentences carry the most relevant information to the story and is under thirty letters and less.
4. Use active voice to make the subject come alive which will grab the readers attention.

The examples of summary leads I found:

• "A Baltimore man filed a $210 million civil lawsuit yesterday against the city Police Department, a former commissioner and several officers in connection with a 2006 incident during which he says a band of rogue cops held him at gunpoint in the street, stripped him and searched his rectum in front of about 30 onlookers."- The Baltimore Sun, Tricia Bishop, Feb. 4, 2009 http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-md.lawsuit04feb04,0,2195237.story

I picked this story about the man suing over the police search because it caught my attention right off the bat. It is a good example of a summary lead because it is concise, right to the point, and it gives you all the relevant information right away. Also it uses active voice by saying, "A Baltimore man filed a $210.." it makes you want to keep reading because of it.

• "Standing in a locker room at Baltimore County's Kenwood High School, the teenage girl kept her cool when one of her peers passed by and hit her with a book bag."Under normal circumstances, that would have been a major fight in our building," said teacher Nancy Hanlin, recounting the incident.Instead, Hanlin said, the girl told her classmate that she would have hit back "if I wasn't working on my virtues." Arin Gencer, Feb. 4, 2009 http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/k12/bal-te.md.co.virtues04feb04,0,6021472.story

I chose this article about the "Virtues Projetct" because right away it starts off in an active, present tense voice that makes you, the reader, want to read more. I thought it was a good example because it highlights the most important part of the story, that the girl did not fight back because she is working on her "virtues", which is what the whole article is about.

• "BEIRUT - Iran announced its first-ever successful satellite launch yesterday, a step into the space age as well as a showy demonstration of firepower amid continued concerns about Tehran's nuclear program and regional ambitions." Borzou Daragahi LA Times, Feb. 4, 2009 http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/world/bal-te.iran04feb04,0,7579118.story

I chose this article because the title caught my attention right away to be honest; the US has been in space for years so it is exciting that Iran gets the opportunity to do so. I think it is a good example because at the very beginning it highlights the most important point, that Iran is sending its first satellite to outer space. Also, it uses an active voice to draw in the reader and make them want to read more along with carrying the most relevant information in the first sentence.