Feature Writing

1
Feature Writing

• A different style of news

2
Aspects of Feature Writing

• Not meant to deliver news firsthand
• Main function is to humanize, add colour, to
  educate, to entertain, to illuminate
• Recap major news that was previously reported

3
Features often

• Profile people who make the news
• Explain events that move or shape the news
• Analyze what is happening in the world, nation or
  community
• Teach an audience how to do something
• Suggest better ways to live
• Examine trends
• Entertain

4
Features As News

• Often written on soft news events
• No firm line between a news story and a feature

5

• For example, the results of an Olympic
  competition may be hard news
• Canadian diver Anne Montmigny claimed her second
  medal in synchronized diving today.
• Emphasizes the facts of the event

6

• A featurized story might begin
• As a girl jumping off a log into the stream
  running behind her house, Anne Montmigny never
  dreamed she would leap into the spotlight of
  Olympic diving competition.
• Displaces the facts to accommodate the human
  interest of the story.

7
When to Use Features

• More appropriate when a major news event is not
  being reported for the first time
• Can stand along, or it can be a sidebar to the
  main story (the mainbar)

8
Types of Features

• Personality profiles written to bring an
  audience closer to a person interviews
  observations, as well as creative writing, are
  used
• Human interest stories written to show a
  subjects oddity or its practical, emotional, or
  entertainment value

9

• Trend stories examines people, things or
  organizations that are having an impact on
  society popular because people are excited to
  read or hear about latest fads
• In-depth stories provide a detailed account well
  beyond a basic news story or feature
• Backgrounders (analysis piece) adds meaning to
  current issues by explaining them further bring
  an audience up-to-date

10
Writing Organizing

• Seldom use inverted-pyramid form
• May write a chronology that builds to a climax at
  the end, a narrative, a first-person article
  about one of their own experiences or a
  combination of these

11
Step 1 Choose the theme

• Provides unity and coherence
• Not too broad or too narrow
• Has the story been done before?
• Is the story of interest to the audience?
• Does the story have holding power (emotional
  appeal)?
• What makes the story worthy of being reported?
• Answers the questions, So what?

12
Write the Lead

• Lead block of 1 or 2 paragraphs
• Use the first 2 or 3 paragraphs to set a mood, to
  arouse readers, to invite them inside
• News peg (significance of the story) is provided
  in the third or fourth paragraph

13
Body of the Feature

• Provides vital info. while it educates,
  entertains, emotionally ties an audience to the
  subject
• Ending wraps up story and comes back to the lead,
  often w/a quotation or a surprising climax
• Important components background info., thread of
  the story, transition, dialogue, voice

14
Background is Vital

• A paragraph or two
• Placed high in the story
• Bring audience up to date

15
Sentence Structure

• Clear and concise
• Sprinkle direct quotes, observations,
  additional background throughout the story
• Paragraphs can be written chronologically or in
  order of importance

16
Use a Thread

• Connect the beginning, body and conclusion
• Weave a thread throughout the story
• Can be a single person, an event or a thing, it
  usually highlights the theme

17
Use Transition

• Transitional words, paraphrases, direct quotes
• Particularly important in long feature examining
  several people or events
• Keeps readers from being jarred by the writing

18
Use Dialogue

• Keep a story moving
• Listen for it during the reporting process
• Gives readers strong mental images and keeps them
  attached to the writing storys key players

19
Establish a Voice

• The signature or personal style of the writer
• Use subtly
• Gonzo journalism blatant intrusion of a
  distinctive voice into news writing
  (irresponsible, but entertaining)

20
Conclusion

• Can trail off like a news story or can be
  concluded w/a climax
• Ends where the lead started, w/a single person or
  event
• Conclude w/a quotation or another part of the
  thread