Inverted Pyramid Writing Checklist

LEAD
Who does what? When? Where? Why/How? You should attempt to answer the pertinent information. The why/how take longer to explain, but your lead should at least begin to answer this question.

Keep in mind that your audience doesn’t know the story. For example, don’t tell us the Ellashoo City Council introduced the KitKat Program without briefly explaining the program to us in the lead.

The lead needs to be able to stand alone, apart from the rest of the story. Also, the lead is the only part of the story many people read, so we need to provide them with important information. Finally, the headline is written from information provided in the lead. If the lead is inaccurate, the headline will be, too.

LEAD NON-NEGOTIABLES

• One paragraph, one sentence (no semicolons)
• 30-35 words
• Active voice (unless you have a better reason for using passive)
• No intro phrases/clauses
• Don’t start with the when/where
• Avoid long interrupters in your lead
• Delay ID? Or Immediate ID?
• Use past tense for past events
• Use the day of the week unless the event occurs outside of the week (past or future) and we need the date for clarification.
• Use full names or proper nouns on the first reference: Houma City Council, Baton Rouge School Board, LSU Board of Supervisors…

SECOND GRAF

• Use this graf as a “spill-over” place for important information you couldn’t include in the lead.
• Continue to explain important information, particularly the how/why.
• Fully ID the subjects you delay ID’d in the lead.
• Four typed lines, max (for second and subsequent grafs)

THIRD GRAF

• This is a good place for a direct quote/indirect quote because we have already met our main subject. Earlier than this, and the quotes don’t always have the context they need.