Comments on: The Art Of The Lede http://thefuturebuzz.com/2009/01/22/the-art-of-the-lede/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-art-of-the-lede Adam Singer on digital marketing and online PR Tue, 22 May 2012 06:26:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Greg Dawe http://thefuturebuzz.com/2009/01/22/the-art-of-the-lede/#comment-24191 Greg Dawe Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:43:37 +0000 http://thefuturebuzz.com/?p=1594#comment-24191 As a TEFL teacher - Teaching English as a Foreign Language - lead-ins are one of the first things you learn about. If 8 a.m. in a freezing vocational college on the outskirts of Beijing is not on your itinarary, I will say that lead-ins need to pique the interest of (insert demographic) - Chinese teenagers in my case - and raise a question in their head that they can relate to, identify with, want to know the answer to. If you can do this in a way which leaves your students feeling like they are discovering something for themselves - using their very own intellects to work out your target language - then you've got them for the rest of the lesson. Show them a picture of their favorite singer and ask them about what kind of music s/he sings about - something they may have to consult other students/dictionary(therefore learn) to explain in English. It's like active learning, the student is as much a part of the lesson (hopefully more) than the teacher. If the student is involved at this depth, is interacting - becoming part of the lesson - then he is invested in the lesson and harder to bore. As a TEFL teacher – Teaching English as a Foreign Language – lead-ins are one of the first things you learn about. If 8 a.m. in a freezing vocational college on the outskirts of Beijing is not on your itinarary, I will say that lead-ins need to pique the interest of (insert demographic) – Chinese teenagers in my case – and raise a question in their head that they can relate to, identify with, want to know the answer to.

If you can do this in a way which leaves your students feeling like they are discovering something for themselves – using their very own intellects to work out your target language – then you’ve got them for the rest of the lesson. Show them a picture of their favorite singer and ask them about what kind of music s/he sings about – something they may have to consult other students/dictionary(therefore learn) to explain in English. It’s like active learning, the student is as much a part of the lesson (hopefully more) than the teacher. If the student is involved at this depth, is interacting – becoming part of the lesson – then he is invested in the lesson and harder to bore.

]]> By: Tim Buckley http://thefuturebuzz.com/2009/01/22/the-art-of-the-lede/#comment-22826 Tim Buckley Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:42:32 +0000 http://thefuturebuzz.com/?p=1594#comment-22826 "Lede" is familiar to journalists and PR folks, for sure. You describe it well and have great pointers. When I talk about this to newbies I use the concept of "good storytelling." Whether essays, letters to the editor, blog posts, magazine articles or books, that opening three paragraphs are key. Keep up the good work! “Lede” is familiar to journalists and PR folks, for sure. You describe it well and have great pointers. When I talk about this to newbies I use the concept of “good storytelling.” Whether essays, letters to the editor, blog posts, magazine articles or books, that opening three paragraphs are key. Keep up the good work!

]]> By: Craig Kanalley http://thefuturebuzz.com/2009/01/22/the-art-of-the-lede/#comment-22720 Craig Kanalley Sat, 24 Jan 2009 04:46:26 +0000 http://thefuturebuzz.com/?p=1594#comment-22720 Right on, Adam. I had one of your articles from a while back bookmarked (it was on community news), and came across your site again through that. Checked if you had any new/recent posts and found this. I agree with you it's all about the lede and it also amazes me how many journalists/PR professionals don't have their own blogs. A perfect opportunity to experiment. I'm a young aspiring journalist, currently in grad school in Chicago, with a huge interest in social media/new media. Just got back from twittering at the Inauguration in D.C. (@dannythedemon) and I really think stuff like that is the future of journalism. Right on, Adam. I had one of your articles from a while back bookmarked (it was on community news), and came across your site again through that. Checked if you had any new/recent posts and found this. I agree with you it’s all about the lede and it also amazes me how many journalists/PR professionals don’t have their own blogs. A perfect opportunity to experiment.

I’m a young aspiring journalist, currently in grad school in Chicago, with a huge interest in social media/new media. Just got back from twittering at the Inauguration in D.C. (@dannythedemon) and I really think stuff like that is the future of journalism.

]]> By: Tim Jahn http://thefuturebuzz.com/2009/01/22/the-art-of-the-lede/#comment-22697 Tim Jahn Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:24:29 +0000 http://thefuturebuzz.com/?p=1594#comment-22697 Great points here, Adam. Most important I think is keeping blocks of text short. People don't prefer long paragraphs like they used to as you discuss. I'm at CNN from time to time and I never realized how bad that bullet list really is! They truly are encouraging you to read 3 bullet points and move on. Unbelievable! Great points here, Adam. Most important I think is keeping blocks of text short. People don’t prefer long paragraphs like they used to as you discuss.

I’m at CNN from time to time and I never realized how bad that bullet list really is! They truly are encouraging you to read 3 bullet points and move on. Unbelievable!

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