Consider the following sample leads for impact, word choice, and structure.
MEDFORD, OH – Scissors defeated rock Monday, marking the cutting instrument’s first-ever victory over its longtime nemesis. [14 words] (“Scissors”)
A student was arrested on July 29 for “stimulating himself” while leering at another student who was in the shower. [20 words] (Robb)
ATLANTA—After a two-year hiatus from basketball, Jesus Christ returned to the NBA Sunday night, rejoining His former team, the Atlanta Hawks. [21 words] (“Christ Returns”)
WASHINGTON – President Bush urged Americans on Monday to cut back on unnecessary travel to make up for fuel shortages caused by Hurricane Rita. [22 words] (Pickler)
A Hanover Park man is facing felony aggravated battery charges following the death of an 11-month-old infant left in his care, authorities said Wednesday. [24 words] (“Man charged”)
The feds for the first time interviewed Mayor Daley on Friday about a burgeoning Hired Truck investigation that has reached into the mayor’s patronage system. [25 words] (Korecki and Patterson)
A profanity-laced shouting match turned into a bloody confrontation last year when one man drove over the other repeatedly with a cab, five witnesses said Tuesday. [26 words] (Herman)
LOS ANGELES – The woman whose son accused Michael Jackson of child molestation was charged with welfare fraud Tuesday for allegedly collecting nearly $19,000 in payments while making false claims. [27 words] (AP “Mother”)
BALTIMORE – A man was sentenced Tuesday to three years in jail for shooting a civilian police employee in a dispute over a stolen can of Spam more than 30 years ago. [30 words] (AP)
RICHMOND, Va. – In a victory for the Bush administration, a federal appeals court ruled Friday the government can continue to hold indefinitely an American accused of plotting to detonate a radioactive “dirty bomb.” [31 words] (Gelineau)
A federal grand jury indicted ousted Chicago Sun-Times Publisher F. David Radler on fraud charges, saying he illegally helped funnel about $32 million in corporate funds to a private company he co-owns. [32 words] (Miller and O’Connor)
FORT HOOD, Texas – Army Pfc. Lynndie England, whose smiling poses in photos of detainee abuse at Baghdad’s Abu Ghraib prison made her the face of the scandal, was convicted Monday by a military jury on six of seven counts. [36 words] (Badger)
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Insurgents dragged five Shiite Muslim schoolteachers and their driver into a classroom, lined them against a wall and gunned them down Monday – slayings in Iraq’s notorious Triangle of Death that reflect the enflamed sectarian divisions ahead of a crucial constitutional referendum. [41 words] (Keath)
Homeless, mentally shaken and emotionally disturbed are the last words Uptown native Cody Camacho ever thought he would use to describe himself. But it’s exactly the image that the 23-year-old has faced in the mirror everyday since he finished a tour of duty in Iraq and returned home last year. [50 words] (Caputo)
WORKS CITED
AP. “58-year-old gets 3 years for killing man over can of Spam.” Chicago Sun-Times 38 Sept. 2005: 52.
-----. “Mother of Jacko’s accuser charged with welfare fraud.” Chicago Sun-Times 24 Aug. 2005: 32.
Badger, T.A. “England guilty in prisoner abuse.” Chicago Sun-Times 27 Sept. 2005: 26.
Caputo, Angela. “‘I’ve been living on a thread.’” Pioneer Press News-Star 14 Sept. 2005: 1+.
“Christ Returns to NBA.” 3 Apr. 1996. The Onion’s Finest News Reporting Vol. 1. NY: Three Rivers Press, 2000: 68.
Gelineau, Kristen. “‘Dirty bomb’ suspect staying put.” Chicago Sun-Times 10 Sept. 2005: 7.
Herman, Eric. “Witnesses say fight led to death.” Chicago Sun-Times 17 Aug. 2006: 20.
Keath, Lee. “Iraqi rebels line 5 teachers against wall and kill them.” Chicago Sun-Times 27 Sept. 2005: 38.
Korecki, Natasha, and Steve Patterson. “Feds grill Daley about hired Truck.” Chicago Sun-Times 27 Aug. 2005: 3.
“Man charged in baby’s death.” Chicago Sun-Times 15 Sept. 2005: 24.
Miller, James P., and Matt O’Connor. “Former Sun-Times publisher indicted.” Chicago Tribune 19 Aug. 2005: 1+.
Pickler, Nedra. “Curb excess travel, Bush urges.” Chicago Sun-Times 27 Sept. 2005: 6.
Robb, Tom “Student arrested for sexual misconduct.” NEIU Independent 29 Aug. 2005: 1+.
“Scissors defeats rock.” The Onion’s Finest News Reporting. NY: Three Rivers Press, 2000: 4.
Posted by Benjamin at October 3, 2006 11:18 AM