What do you think of this lead?

here is the link to the Chicago Tribune's website that has this article-- http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-ap-il-punkrockerarrest,1,5177888.story?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

But so you know, this is the beginning of the story with the headline and then the lead.

District attorney says no charges filed against ex-singer of Chicago punk group

LOS ANGELES -- Prosecutors declined to file charges against the former lead singer of disbanded punk group Mest in the fatal stabbing of a man during an argument.

This is a plain hard news summary lead. It sums up the whole story in one sentence. I think it is very effective and because I have interest in the disbanded group MEST, I will read further. Even if I had no idea the lead singer was arrested, I can get all the information I need from this lead. The only thing that I would like to know is when did the stabbing occur and maybe where, but it might not be possible to put that all in the lead. Of course the subsequent sentences do include that information. I think this lead is simple and gets the news to me very efficiently, and just like how I want it: FAST!

Absence Of Malice

The film Absence of Malice starring Sally Field is a basic guideline of what not to do when it comes to reporting. She drinks on the job, is severely unprofessional with her sources, and does not know how to use a telephone to call and back up her stories. It was very frustrating to watch her make these stupid mistakes because she trusted the wrong people. She is almost too trusting, and reporters should know that stories need to be backed up by more than one person. It seems common sense that a reporter writing a story would call the person that is involved in the story. All these actions lead her to get put on the “chopping block” and even her editor does not support her. Professor Wahkisi said that good editors always back up their reporters (paraphrasing). I liked the film and it was unfortunate to watch Sally Field get caught up in the middle of a few scandals, just because she trusted what people said.

Me

Originally uploaded by taylor61414.