Seems Merram-Webster dates the ”lede” coming to dictionaries around 2008, so I would still contest lead being at least as acceptable - and makes more sense imho. English is full of strange spellings which make no sense, so reader is expected to know that we are not talking about Pb, but slinging old newshack lingo. It makes more sense if you know this saying, attributed to William Hearst: ”if it bleeds it leads”, which means yes, sensationalism and gore sells, but as more universal writerly advice that you sould not waste time and start with the most important thing you have to say (ever read those Atlantic/New Yorker -type articles that ramble on for ten paragraphs before you even know what it is about).

Rabbit giving justice to hunters being the lead(ing thought, ie. most important idea in the piece that should go first) is of course me being sarco.

How is that an example of burying the lead? (I presume lede is the correct spelling, but burying lead for others to find in their drinking water amuses me.)

EDIT: saw the picture and yes. That certainly was catchy, but I the hn title is missing the subtitle: "until the black death made them commonplace".

*lede, since we are already in academic language-and-culture details territory.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/bury-the-lede-versu...