Which statement best describes the lede differences between hard news and feature storytelling?

• A. A hard-news lede uses scene-setting and character; a feature lede states the main point succinctly.
• B. A hard-news lede states the main point succinctly and early; a feature lede uses scene-setting, character, or a problem to hook the reader.
• C. A hard-news lede relies on quotes; a feature lede is strictly factual.
• D. A hard-news lede is always longer than a feature lede.

Answer: (B)

The opening of a story is called the lede, and the style differs to fit the goals of the type of story. In hard news, the priority is delivering essential information quickly and clearly, so the lede states the main point early and succinctly—often answering the key questions: who, what, when, where, and why or how. In contrast, feature storytelling starts with immersion and curiosity: a lede might set a vivid scene, introduce a compelling character, or present a problem to hook the reader into the narrative before laying out the broader point. This difference in approach is why the statement that best describes lede differences is the one that contrasts concise, point‑driven openings in hard news with narrative, hook‑oriented openings in features.

Why the other descriptions don’t fit: hard news isn’t defined by scene-setting or character in the lede, since those elements are more typical of features. A feature lede isn’t “strictly factual” in the sense of avoiding narrative or human context; it uses narrative hooks to engage, then often follows with factual details. And hard news ledes aren’t inherently longer; they’re usually crafted to be concise and to the point.