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Resources for lede writing

The lede should get right to the point of the story, rather than setting up the point with background or context. It should have appropriate keywords for search engine optimization and be engaging, enticing the reader to want to continue.

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How to write a good lede

Style Guide: Optimize your lede

41 tips for writing great ledes

Video: What the pope taught me about writing ledes

Video: Doors are closing! What’s your lede?

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Note: “Lead,” meaning the beginning of a story, is sometimes spelled “lede.” We used to spell it that way around here in what we thought was deference to journalism tradition. Then we read this post, which argues convincingly that “lede” is a modern affectation, not a traditional spelling, and we stopped using it. And then we changed our mind again because we decided that, phony nostalgia or not, “lede” is a useful spelling to differentiate a unique journalism term.