JOUR 312 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: A Reminder, Log Line, Tangled
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A column fights for attention against neighboring headlines, stories, photos, and even clever ads. With a strong opening paragraph, the columnist aims to halt readers in mid-scan. (cid:862)wait a (cid:373)i(cid:374)ute, (cid:449)hat is this a(cid:271)out? (cid:863) The lead should (cid:449)ea(cid:396) a (cid:373)i(cid:374)k (cid:272)oat a(cid:374)d a mao (cid:272)ap. Before crafting the lead, consider the overall message of your column. Your first four to six lines will be crucial. The opening lines should introduce your subject and the direction you are taking in a way that will make the reader care about what happens next. T(cid:455)pe the poi(cid:374)t of (cid:455)ou(cid:396) (cid:272)olu(cid:373)(cid:374) i(cid:374) o(cid:374)e se(cid:374)te(cid:374)(cid:272)e (cid:449)ithout a (cid:272)o(cid:373)(cid:373)a. If (cid:455)ou (cid:272)a(cid:374)"t (cid:449)(cid:396)ite it in one se(cid:374)te(cid:374)(cid:272)e, (cid:455)ou"(cid:396)e (cid:374)ot (cid:396)ead(cid:455) to (cid:449)(cid:396)ite. As a condensed form of writing, the average 500-700 (cid:449)o(cid:396)k (cid:272)olu(cid:373)(cid:374) should spill it"s guts (cid:395)ui(cid:272)kl(cid:455). The lead paragraph must serve to shoot the story out of a cannon. Get to the point before the reader gets bored!