Advanced Photography Course

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

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DOFMaster for Windows On-line Depth of Field Calculator DOFMaster for Mobile Devices On-line Depth of Field Table Hyperfocal Distance Chart Articles FAQ Recommended Books Support Contact Links Home As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.	contents <- previous page next page -> 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 contents Advanced Photography Course <- previous page next page ->	As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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