Here's a very nicely-structured alternate lede sequence:
Michigan State student Allyson Flak spent thousands of
dollars to visit South Africa and see the wildlife. Now, the animals might be shipped to her home
continent.
A group of
ecologists and biologists at Michigan State University and other schools are proposing
to transplant wildlife from Africa to the Great Plains of North America.
Problem is, we weren't given any information regarding an Allyson Flak. If this were a real story situation, we would certainly be encouraged to go and try to find a person like Allyson who could offer an anecdote which we could use for a lede.
But in the practice story setting, we need to use the information we had. We cannot simply make something up to plug a hole in our story.
I know it might seem inconsistent that I'm critical of using made-up information in a story for which you are provided made-up information. But the point I want to try and highlight is, we don't make things up in journalism. Even if I want that point reinforced in a made-up story.
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