basic campus journalism

Feature Writing 101

The Rectorian 2015

What is a feature story?O It is story mainly about

“human interest”

O It usually does not follow the inverted pyramid structure of the news story. It can begin anywhere. It can start from the least important part, ascend to the most important part until the concluding part, which should have a connection to the opening program.

Funnel of

focus

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LEADBODY

BODY

CONCLUSION

What are human interests…

O About real peopleO Written in language people use O Provide information & entertainment

Types of Feature …O Newsfeature

O Personality profileO Trend story O Informative featureO How toO News analysisO Personal experience

Newsfeature

Personality profile

Trend story

Informative feature

How-to

News analysis

Personal experience

Planning your feature story…

O Know your audienceO Decide on the angleO Know where to get informationO What do you want to achieve in your

article

Know your audience…

O Who are you writing for?O Consider their:1. Location2. Rank3. Interest4. Situation

Decide on your angle…

O The best angle is readingO what is reading? Reading is a translation of symbols,

or letters, into words and sentences that have meaning to the individual. The ultimate goal of reading is to be able to understand written material, to evaluate it, and to use it for one's needs.

Angle tree

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Why do you have to read?

To research To have a good set of words To be open to other point of views

and suggestions It is another form of brainstorming

Remarkable Quote about Reading…

O Books cannot always please, however good; Minds are not ever craving for their food.

-George Crabbe (1754 - 1832)(How good the article maybe, it won’t be for those who doesn’t look forward for it. A great challenge for those who will write, to interest their readers.)O When a new book is published, read an old one.-Attributed to Samuel Rogers (1763 - 1855)(information may lie in its history )O A good reader has imagination, memory, a dictionary, and some

artistic sense.-Attributed to Vladimir Nabokov (1899 - 1977)O He has only half learned the art of reading who has not added to it

the even more refined accomplishments of skipping and skimming.-Arthur Balfour (1848 - 1930)(a proof that most of the reader do only scan and not read the whole of it.)

Writing a feature story…

Headline could be:1. Catchy2. Creative 3. Complete Remember that you could always:1. Play on words, themes, quotes and

phonetics2. Creative use of verbs

LeadO The lead should lead the articleO Hooked the readersO Introduce the topic and establish

attitudeA successful lead may:1. Create scenario on readers’ minds2. Shock/oddity3. Quote4. Direct address

Showcase of the Body…

O Write people doing thingsO Use verbs with active voiceO Create suspenseO Keep anecdotes short and realO Add humor or perhaps look at the

bright side

How to end a Feature story?

O Answer all questionsO Close with a strong quoteO Close with an anecdotal lead

ODo not attempt to summarize the body

Tips…O Story should be quick to absorbO It should have tight focusO Provide local angleO Has a good input of profile if ever

Writing for a profile…

O Should put the true portrait or imageO Descriptions should be balancedO Put proof in everything you say Example: INSTEAD OF SHE IS SMART

PUT SHE IS SMART FOR SHE’S THE VALEDICTORIAN.

o In using deep words, you may define them briefly for easy understanding

Thank You!

To GOD be the Glory!!!