Each style of lead has it's benefits and downsides, as most depend on the type of story and message that is ultimately to be conveyed. A summary lead may be a shocking or important piece of information that the writer wants to grasp people's attentions. A delayed lead might be intended to slowly draw the reader into the story, as the reporter wants to leave a little mystery to the initial statement. Lastly, the anecdotal lead is designed to set the scene and demonstrate to the reader what the overall message is about without directly coming out and saying it. Each lead eventually will reveal the news or the point of the story; however, they all have very different ways of establishing this news.
The summary lead has the significant information immediately available but it could be an overload to the reader. I also find it to be the least interesting because although it garners your initial attention, it reveals the whole point of the article right away.
The delayed lead adds a little more foreshadowing and leaves a little room for questions after the beginning paragraph. Like the summary it opens with important and noteworthy details right away, but it leaves out a detail that further draws the reader. However, I still find this technique to not be the most interesting of the three because the missing information is usually in the next paragraph and everything is revealed.
Lastly, the anecdotal lead helps build the story and establish a basis of what the reader should expect as he learns more about the characters and the point of the article. Some may grow tired of reading the information and wonder what the point is; however, I believe it connects the reader to story and gives a personal touch to news in a way that summary and delayed leads cannot.
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