Bad lead dissected on Poynter

Write-brained · Jul 12, 2007

SF_Express said:

Link to the Poynter page, not trying to steal uncredited from Jim:

http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=45

Here's his item:

Here's a lede that Reporting 101 profs might want to clip
http://tinyurl.com/2f4smj

Brunswick-Bath Times Record | Times-Standard

Have your students discuss what's wrong with this:

Except for a tragic accident, the 35th annual Bath Heritage Days parade went off without a hitch.
Click to expand...

Except for the trite, moronic lead, this is a damn fine story.

crusoes · Jul 13, 2007

"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?"

Write-brained · Jul 13, 2007

crusoes said:

"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?"
Click to expand...

OK. That made me laugh.

Write-brained · Jul 13, 2007

Other than that, Little E, how would you describe your first second-place finish at Daytona?

Chi City 81 · Jul 13, 2007

Write-brained said:

Other than that, Little E, how would you describe your first second-place finish at Daytona?
Click to expand...

Boooooooo!!!!!

Some Guy · Jul 13, 2007

Bubbler said:

The only time in my career I made an editorial decision on another section was when I saw a Page 1 proof that had a story about a kid who was hit by a car and died.

The lede read, "[Kid's Name] learned the hard way not to play in the street."

I was probably barely a year in the business at the time, but the assistant news editor and news editor (who wrote the story) were even greener. I called the assistant news editor over and said that under no circumstances should that story run as is and that he should change it or the paper would be in a world of shit.

Thankfully, he changed it.

I doubt the guy who wrote it even knows how much I saved his ass that day.
Click to expand...

I'm fucking flabbergasted.

MertWindu · Jul 13, 2007

Bubbler said:

The only time in my career I made an editorial decision on another section was when I saw a Page 1 proof that had a story about a kid who was hit by a car and died.

The lede read, "[Kid's Name] learned the hard way not to play in the street."

I was probably barely a year in the business at the time, but the assistant news editor and news editor (who wrote the story) were even greener. I called the assistant news editor over and said that under no circumstances should that story run as is and that he should change it or the paper would be in a world of shit.

Thankfully, he changed it.

I doubt the guy who wrote it even knows how much I saved his ass that day.
Click to expand...

That's the kind of thing where you hold on to a copy of the proof and show it to the EE or EIC ir ME the next day. /that's just dangerously stupid.

Some Guy · Jul 13, 2007

MertWindu said:

Bubbler said:

The only time in my career I made an editorial decision on another section was when I saw a Page 1 proof that had a story about a kid who was hit by a car and died.

The lede read, "[Kid's Name] learned the hard way not to play in the street."

I was probably barely a year in the business at the time, but the assistant news editor and news editor (who wrote the story) were even greener. I called the assistant news editor over and said that under no circumstances should that story run as is and that he should change it or the paper would be in a world of shit.

Thankfully, he changed it.

I doubt the guy who wrote it even knows how much I saved his ass that day.
Click to expand...

That's the kind of thing where you hold on to a copy of the proof and show it to the EE or EIC ir ME the next day. /that's just dangerously stupid.
Click to expand...

Yeah, no kidding. Plus, it's completely false. The kid didn't learn anything. He's fucking dead.

chazp · Jul 13, 2007

Bubbler said:

The only time in my career I made an editorial decision on another section was when I saw a Page 1 proof that had a story about a kid who was hit by a car and died.

The lede read, "[Kid's Name] learned the hard way not to play in the street."

I was probably barely a year in the business at the time, but the assistant news editor and news editor (who wrote the story) were even greener. I called the assistant news editor over and said that under no circumstances should that story run as is and that he should change it or the paper would be in a world of shit.

Thankfully, he changed it.

I doubt the guy who wrote it even knows how much I saved his ass that day.
Click to expand...

Green? You left out the part about the guy who wrote it being an IDIOT!

Bubbler · Jul 13, 2007

MertWindu said:

Bubbler said:

The only time in my career I made an editorial decision on another section was when I saw a Page 1 proof that had a story about a kid who was hit by a car and died.

The lede read, "[Kid's Name] learned the hard way not to play in the street."

I was probably barely a year in the business at the time, but the assistant news editor and news editor (who wrote the story) were even greener. I called the assistant news editor over and said that under no circumstances should that story run as is and that he should change it or the paper would be in a world of shit.

Thankfully, he changed it.

I doubt the guy who wrote it even knows how much I saved his ass that day.
Click to expand...

That's the kind of thing where you hold on to a copy of the proof and show it to the EE or EIC ir ME the next day. /that's just dangerously stupid.
Click to expand...

I can't remember whether I did or not. I didn't like the guy, so I might have, but if I did, there were no repercussions that I'm aware of.

Log in or Sign up

Bad lead dissected on Poynter

Write-brained Guest

crusoes Active Member

Write-brained Guest

Write-brained Guest

Chi City 81 Guest

Some Guy Active Member

MertWindu Active Member

Some Guy Active Member

chazp Active Member

Bubbler Well-Known Member

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

Bad lead dissected on Poynter

Write-brained Guest

crusoes Active Member

Write-brained Guest

Write-brained Guest

Chi City 81 Guest

Some Guy Active Member

MertWindu Active Member

Some Guy Active Member

chazp Active Member

Bubbler Well-Known Member

Share This Page

Useful Searches