More Ledes: Alternate Ledes/Nut Grafs

In this exercise, you were asked to do just a lede, with no subsequent paragraph. But some of you did ledes that in essence acted as a combination alternate lede/subsequent nut graf, combined into a single graf.

What I did was split some of these ledes as follows, so you can see a concept at work: the nut graf.

A nut graf is the paragraph after the lede, and it usually answers critical questions created by the lede. With a standard lede, the nut graf usually fills in more specific details; for example, where a lede may refer to a victim as a 22-year-old local man, the nut graf will specify his name: Scott Forsythe. Very soon, we will get into greater detail on how to structure a nut graf with a conventional lede.

But when we do a nut graf with a unique and contextual alternate lede, it is usually followed by a nut graf that sounds more like a traditional lede that fills in the specific blanks left by your general contextual lede, and offers a strong transition to the body of the story.

Let's look at a few examples:

Freedom might not be free, but neither is detainment.

Police chief Barry Kopperrud is proposing cost cuts for the city, starting with a $25 service fee for incoming criminals.

The lede nicely sets context, then the nut graf explains the details behind the context.

Next:

It looks like someone's been thinking on the wild side!

A group of scientists are interested in a project that would transplant African wildlife to the Great Plains of North America.

The lede has fun with an odd concept, that of bringing Africa to America. So you reveled in the fun in the lede, then explained what was so unique in the nut graf.


Then, there's this:

Typically, 'til death do us part doesn't apply until after the wedding.

Scott Forsythe, 22, died in a high-speed accident around 8:45 this morning on Kirkmann Road after veering to avoid a dog. Forsythe was less than a mile away from the church where he was to be married today.

Certainly, the lede is creative, contextual and accurate. But let me ask you guys this: is it a bit too flippant and casual in noting the irony? Let's discuss.

Now, this is how you use a nut graf with an alternate lede. But it's a bit different with standard ledes. We'll get into that difference soon.