words or less. Two or three sentences per paragraph are about right, but it is perfectly acceptable to have one-sentence paragraphs or even a one-word paragraph that expresses a complete thought. WRITTEN  ARTICLES The  components  of  a  written  article  are  as follows:  lead,  bridge,  body,  and  ending.  Articles  or stories written by Navy photojournalists are called "straight news" (sometimes referred to as hard news) and features. The difference between the two types of news is the degree of immediacy and the manner in which each one is constructed. A NEWS STORY is written so the most important facts of an event or story are placed first and the less important facts are placed in the order of diminishing importance. A FEATURE STORY, however, can have the important   facts   inserted   anywhere   in   the   text, depending on the desires of the writer. Story  Lead The opening passage of an article is the lead. In a news story, this passage contains the most important facts. The lead may be a word, sentence, paragraph, or two paragraphs. The manner in which the lead is written, regardless of whether the article is news or features, is often the determining factor as to whether an  individual  will  continue  reading.  Story  leads  are written in two general styles: the summary lead and the novelty lead. 1.  SUMMARY  LEADS.  Summary  leads  are used  mostly  for  news  articles.  This  type  of  lead summarizes the important facts of a story and answers the  questions  related  to  the  five  Ws  and  H.  The writer determines which of the facts is most important to start the lead. An example of a summary lead is as follows: "A Ship's Serviceman headed off a major fire aboard the USS Rickety yesterday by using a washing machine as a fire pump." The questions answered are as follows: WHO: A Ship's Serviceman WHAT: Headed off a major fire WHERE: WHEN: WHY: Aboard  the  USS  Rickety Yesterday To prevent the fire from spreading HOW: By using a washing machine as a fire pump 2.  NOVELTY  LEADS.  Novelty  leads  differ from summary leads in that they do not answer all of the questions related to the important facts. Novelty leads are used mostly for feature articles. They can be further classified as picture, background, contrast, question, shock, quotation, direct address, and freak. a.  Picture.  This  lead  draws  a  vivid  word picture  of  the  person  or  event  in  the  story.  For example, "The drain hose of a washer running on the spin-dry cycle became a fire hose in the hands of a quick-thinking  Ship's  Serviceman." b. Background. This type of lead is similar to  the  picture  lead,  except  it  draws  a  vivid  word picture   of   the   news   setting,   surroundings,   or circumstances. For example, "Deep inside a U.S. Navy ship, a solitary Ship's Serviceman battled a pile of burning clothes with the only means at hand—his washing machine." c. Contrast. The contrast lead compares two opposite extremes to dramatize a story. For example, "Two years ago, the crew of the USS Turnip went without clean clothes for 3 weeks as the result of a laundry fire. Yesterday, aboard the USS Rickety, a resourceful Ship's Serviceman saved two hundred shipmates from a similar fate." d.  Question.  The  question  lead  should arouse the curiosity of the readers and make them want  to  read  on.  For  example,  "When  the  fire extinguisher does not work, how do you put out a blaze in the laundry compartment?" e.    Shock.    This    consists    of    a    blunt, explosive statement designed to surprise the reader. For example, "The fuse to a potential holocaust was ablaze." f.  Quotation.  This  type  of  lead  is  a  short quote  or  remark.  A  quote  lead  should  only  be  used when  it  is  so  important  or  so  remarkable  that  it 1-18