Any news story that appears in a news paper consists on a superficial look of three parts: the headline, the first paragraph usually set in bold and the remainder of the story. The headline is the first to attract the reader. Giving an appropriate headline is an art itself. Choosing the length and size of the headline is to make the first choice as to its importance and relevance. The headline’s message is terse, abrupt and often startling. The whole idea is to make the reader stop and look. The headline seeks to hold attention and compel the reader to read the story.
But an effective headline is not sufficient itself. A great deal depends on the first paragraph. It is called lead because it leads the rest of the story. It is also called the intro because it introduces rest to the reader. If the lead or intro is not sufficiently arresting, interest will lag and the reader’s eye may wander on to another headline and another story. Hence the importance of writing the catchy first paragraph.
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