What characterizes an effective hard-news lede?

• A. Uses scene-setting and a problem to hook the reader.
• B. Begins with a dramatic anecdote to hook the reader.
• C. Starts with a quotation from a source.
• D. States the main point succinctly and early.

Answer: (D)

In hard-news writing, the opening should present the essential information right away. That means the lede states the main point succinctly and early, often answering the core facts readers need to know—what happened, who was involved, when and where it occurred, and why it matters. This direct, no-fluff approach helps readers grasp the story quickly and decide what to read next.

Other approaches delay the key facts: starting with scene-setting and a problem to hook is more typical of feature writing, which builds curiosity before the specifics. A dramatic anecdote or a quotation can be engaging, but they don’t reliably communicate the central event or significance as efficiently as a concise summary at the outset.