Leads Analysis

In the news report on Rodney King's unexpected death, NPR's Stephanie Federico, wrote the lead directly and to the point. Her lead included who (Rodney King), what (his death), where (in his pool in Rialto, California), and when (Sunday). The only details she included were that he died in his pool, that the news was reported by police, and that Rodney King was 47 years old when he died. Federico left his name, death, and the time very general but explicit.

The lead was immediately followed by a one sentence history of who Rodney King was with a hyperlinked video of King being brutally beaten by police in 1991. Federico continued the story by providing more details on King's death.

The lead worked successfully because it informed the reader instantly what had happened with enough detail to keep the reader's interest. The inclusion of the pool and King's age were two points that made the lead stand out and engaging. Also, by including the brief history directly after the lead, readers were able to recall the importance of the news and thus feel inclined to continue reading.