It is the attention-getter, the cream of the news and the showcase of the author’s style.
The lead should be:
Succinct: 25-35 words, one sentence one paragraph
Example 2 seems too stiff and dull with its dry, routine information.
Example 3 successfully presents the essence of the story with clear, specific details.
Different types of lead
Summary lead/roundup lead (概括性导语):
most often used for “hard” news; best suited for the “inverted pyramid” style; the first paragraph telling the gist of the news – the five “W”s and one “H”.
The New York Daily News
Different types of lead (Cont.)
Suspense lead(悬念式导语): providing some shocking or dramatic details;
arousing the readers’ interest. Los Angeles– It sounds like the plot of a
Two children were killed and 12 others injured today when an automobile hit them outside Prospect Park.