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: Aboard the USS Rickety

WHEN: Yesterday

WHY: 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 overshadows the other facts in a story. An example, "Thank goodness the washer was full of water," said the Ship's Serviceman who used the drain hose to put out a laundry fire.

g. Direct Address. This lead is aimed directly at the reader and makes the reader a collaborator with facts in the story. The lead usually contains the pronouns you or your. For example, "Because a Ship's Serviceman used the wash water to put out a fire, you will have your whites back in time for liberty on Friday."

h. Freak. The freak lead is the most unconventional of the novel leads. It contains a play on words, alliteration, poetry, or an unusual typographical arrangement. For example, "Smoke-eating Ship's Serviceman douses blaze in duds."

Story Bridge

In some stories, the transition from the lead to the body can be awkward. To help smooth this transition, you should use a sentence or paragraph to "tie" the lead to the body. This sentence or paragraph can contain detailed information that is not important enough for the lead but is too important to be placed lower in the text. An example of a bridge is as follows:

Lead: "Smoke-eating Ship's Serviceman dampens disaster with washer drain."

Bridge: "Yesterday, a smoke-eating Ship's Serviceman who was running the laundry used the washing machine drain to put out a fire."

Story Body

The body is the detailed portion of an article that explains the facts of a story.

Story Ending

A good ending or conclusion terminates an article in a positive manner. It should leave the reader satisfied that the story was worth reading. Story endings are used more in feature articles than news articles. An example of a story ending is as follows: "Thus, by quick action, the Ship's Serviceman saved the clothing of the crew and stopped a fire that threatened the ship."