However, the spelling "lede" first appears in journalism manuals only in the 1980s, well after lead typesetting's heyday. The earliest appearance of "lede" cited by the OED is 1951.
The usage of "lede" in journalism manuals began in the 1980s, following a period when lead typesetting was prevalent. The first documented use of "lede" by the OED is from 1951.