The 5 W’s (and 1 H)
(Don't forget the So-what!?)
Who? The owner, a smoker, Henry smith, 29. The age is important. Along with other personal information, such as address and occupation, it differentiates him from other Henry Smiths in the readership area.
What? Fire cause damage estimated by the fire chief at $2,500.
Where? 1705 W. Haven St.
When? The call was received at 10:55 P.M., Tuesday. Firefighters from station 19 arrived at the scene at 11:04. The fire was extinguished at 11:30.
Why? The fire was started by carelessness on the part of Smith, according to Fire Chief Bill Malone.
How? Smith told fire officials that he fell asleep in bed while smoking a cigarette.
If you had asked other questions, you might have learned more from the fire department. This was the eighth fire this year caused by smoking in bed. All last year there were four such fires. Smith said he was insured. The fire chief said no charges will e filed against smith. It was the first fire at this house. Smith was not injured.
Have you figured out the SO-WHAT!?
Assume your editor has suggested you hold your story to only four paragraphs. Your first step is to rank the information in descending order of importance. There are a lot of fires in this town, but eight this year have been caused by smoking in bed. Perhaps that’s the most important thing about this story.
A possible lead to this story might look like:
A Tuesday night fire started by a careless smoker caused an estimated $2,500 in damage to a home at 1705 W. Haven St.
Something is wrong…
Question:
Who said the smoker was careless?
You must remember to keep your opinions to yourself. If the fire chief said this, then fine – say so. Otherwise you must fix the lead.
Fire that caused an estimated $2,500 in damage to a home at 1705 W. Haven St. Tuesday was cause by smoking in bed, Fire Chief Bill Malone said.
What: Fire
Where: 1705 W. Haven St.
When: Tuesday
How: Smoking in bed
We have not answered the Who and the Why yet…let’s keep writing.
The owner of the home, Henry Smith, 29, said he fell asleep in bed while smoking a cigarette. When he awoke 30minutes later, smoke filled the room.
Firefighters arrived nine minutes after receiving the call. It took them about 26 minutes to extinguish the fire, which was confined to the bedroom of the one-story house.
According to Chief Malone, careless smokers have caused eight fires this year.
Smith, who was uninjured, said the house was insured.
Ok, but this seems a little too long…what about the so-what aspect? What is so interesting about this story?
Perhaps an even better lead (and shorter) might sound like this:
A smoker fell asleep in bed ignited a fire that caused minor damage to his home on W. Haven St. Tuesday, Fire Chief Bill Malone said. It was the cities eighth fire caused by smokers, twice as many as occurred all last year.
What makes this lead better?
Well, it is broken down into 2 sentences, which makes it more readable. Also, the so-what has become more important to the story.
Lets continue:
The owner of the home, Henry Smith, 29, of 1705 W. Haven St., said he fell asleep in bed while smoking a cigarette. When he awoke 30 minutes later, smoke filled the room.
Mr. Miller helps Eddie and Brandon on their leads
