Journalism 132: Prof. Craig: Types and Examples of Leads 

Journalism 132: Types and Examples of Leads

• Fremont, California is home to every manner of eatery. From Afghan to Japanese, they run the gamut. One humble restaurant nestled among the more extravagant cuisines is a cute little place called La Piñata.


• Not all librarians spend time reading books. 
  "People have this idea that all we do is sit down and read. No no…" says Peggy Cabrera, San Jose State's university subject librarian, who is responsible for Humanities and the interim for biological sciences. 
  She wears purple knit gloves and a black beanie. Her office contains papers and binders full of research documents and references, among them including her own published work. Information starts as far down as the floor and makes its way up to the top shelf. Cabrera likes to learn new things. On her desk sit two very different books -- one on gardening, and another on conflict in the Middle East. "I've been participating with the Middle East Library Association," she says.


• It's not as glamorous as reality shows have us believe it is and it's certainly not as simple as saying "yes to the dress."
  Most of the job involves force-zipping-up sweaty customers who refuse to believe the dress they have their hearts set on, simply will not fit.
  "I wish we poured champagne for every customer who buys a dress from us because that means I'll be buzzed throughout my job, but we're an economical store and champagne's really expensive," Marian Noei said, laughing. "I work in a Walmart of wedding stores."


• Tucked away off Wentworth St. in Mountain View, is Haseltine's Industrial Engraving. The tiny workshop is no bigger than a four-car garage, and for the last three-decades has only ever had one employee.
  His name. Harold Enos.
  "I have worked here for almost 30-plus years…it's just been me and the machines," said Enos.


• After answering a multitude of lengthy emails, checking up on notes left on her desk, entertaining the array of people that come to her door and organizing her entire room, Olivia Gervolino finally takes a seat. 
  Just as she begins to relax, a bell rings and her eyes snap towards the door. The sound of small voices can be heard gathering outside as Olivia gathers herself to walk over to the door. She swings it open to be met by thirty-one expectant faces. 
  They are the faces of her fifth grade students, and they are all hers for the next eight hours.


• You've had the awkward "talk" at least once in your life. This is usually a colorful conversation where parents try to draw the scene of the birds and the bees; somehow the story comes to the conclusion that a baby is made. Level of awkwardness was moderate but not too bad. 
  Now imagine having the "talk" with about 30 young adults that aren't even your own.


• It's easy to see that Ben isn't enjoying the first of his mandatory meetings with Joe West's Hall Government.
  Sitting as far away as he can from the meeting's ruling officer, Ben sits slouched in front of his computer with his head resting on his hand and a glazed look in his eyes. He's focused on homework, switching back and forth between an essay on James Joyce and tab with the definition of "imperturbable." He often inspects his new tattoo between sips of his Pepsi.
  The Hall Government is discussing proper allocation of new duct tape.
  "This, this is the life," Ben sighs.


• Working at your local fair or amusement park is almost a rite of passage when you're a teenager in high school or college. No one told Karen Ariceaga, a 19-year-old Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk employee, that she would be running five parking lots with over 2,500 parking spaces in the burning sun when she first applied. They also didn't tell her that she would be yelled at on a daily basis, hit by a car, or spat on by angry customers.


• Walking into a restaurant, we automatically hold expectations of our waiter or waitress. We expect them to be friendly, prompt, energetic, and knowledgeable in the food they are serving. If they don't uphold these certain expectations, some customers are rude and don't tip; other customers kill them with kindness.
  Gabriela Moran has been waitressing for over three years and is all too familiar with this routine. She is an expert in reading people based on their facial expressions and tone of voice.