In a news article should the lead contain an attention-grabbing opening and answers to 5W-How questions?

In journalism, the lead or introductory paragraph of a news article should aim to capture the reader's attention and provide essential information about the story. While it's important to make the lead engaging and attention-grabbing, it's not necessary or recommended to include answers to all 5W-How questions in the first paragraph.

The 5W-How questions are:

1. Who: Who is involved in the story?

2. What: What happened or is happening?

3. When: When did or will the event occur?

4. Where: Where did or will the event take place?

5. Why: Why did the event occur or what is the reason behind it?

6. How: How did the event happen?

While it's crucial to address these questions in the article, they don't all have to be answered in the lead paragraph. The primary goal of the lead is to provide a concise summary of the most important aspects of the story and entice readers to continue reading.

Journalists often use a variety of techniques to create attention-grabbing leads, such as:

1. Starting with a strong statement or a surprising fact

2. Using vivid language and imagery

3. Posing a thought-provoking question

4. Presenting a human interest angle or personal story

5. Highlighting the significance or impact of the event

By focusing on providing a compelling overview and intriguing the reader, the lead paragraph can effectively serve its purpose without necessarily including detailed answers to all 5W-How questions. As the article progresses, journalists can then provide more in-depth information and further elaborate on the who, what, when, where, why, and how as appropriate.