*Campus Journalism

*Feature Article

*a special or prominent article in a newspaper or  magazine; "they ran a feature on retirement planning"

Types of Feature Stories

*Newsfeature stories – usually based on a recent news story.* Informative feature – the primary objective of this kind of features is to

inform the reader – more likely to deliver details about relevant issues. Secondary emphasis is to entertain.

* A “how-to” feature article – a type of feature article that focuses on the process of how things came about. This might be a product, services or activity.

* Personality sketch – feature story that describes prominent personalities. This kind gives details behind the lives or events in the lives of interesting people.

* Personal experience – usually written in the first person and talks about an unusual event in the life of the writer.

* Human interest story – a type of feature story that appeals more to the emotion of the readers than to the relevance of the story to any news.

* Humorous feature – this type of feature story aims to entertain the readers and to deliver a funny, yet witty approach of story.

QUALITIES OF GOOD WRITERS

*Be considerate for your readers* Investigation:A good writer is highly investigative in his approach. He seeks to find out at minimum the answers to thefollowing questions: Who, What, Where, When, Why, How

*Dream and reality:A good writer knows the communication reality. He strongly believes that a message sent is not a messagereceived. A message's success depends upon the fulfillment of the following points* Social Contact* The persons who are communicating have to be

in touch with each* other*Common Medium*Both parties must share a common language or means of* communication.* Transmission* The message has to be imparted clearly.*Understanding* The message has to

be received, properly understood and interpreted

*Know internal biases and shape perceptions:

They try to find the resistance of their readers. For this they collect all information about their readers andthen prepare a game plan.

*Persuasive:Good writers are strong communicators. They have the art of strong oral and written communicationskills. They use the rhetorical devices to exhibit standard behavior to influence their readers. They knowthat all readers want strong ethics and morality on the part of the writer, cooperation, goodwill, efficiency,trust etc. and, they exhibit the same virtues

Editorial Writing

Writing an Editorial. An editorial is an article that presents the newspaper's opinion on an issue. It reflects the majority vote of the editorial board, the governing body of the newspaper made up ofeditors and business managers. 

Types of Editorial

*Editorial of Information – it seeks to give information on facts of news stories or add other facts with minimum explanation. It may define terms, identify persons or factors or provide a background.*Editorial of Interpretation – It explains the

significance or meaning of a news event, current idea, condition, or situation, theory, or hypothesis. The writer doesn’t argue nor criticize, but merely present both sides of an issue and leaves the judgment to the reader. It merely interprets, say for example, the content of a new memorandum issued by the principal.*Editorial of Criticism – It points out the good or the

bad features of a problem or situation mentioned in the news. Its purpose is to influence the reader. It suggests a solution at the end.

*Editorial of Commendation, Appreciation, or Tribute – It praises, commends, or pays tribute to a person or organization that has performed some worthwhile projects or deeds, or accomplishments.*Editorial of Argumentation – This is

oftentimes called editorial of persuasion. The editor argues in order to convince or persuade the reader to accept his stand on the issue.*Editorial of entertainment – It evokes a smile,

a chuckle, laughter, while suggesting truth. Its main aim is to entertain. It is usually short.*Mood editorial – It presents a philosophy rather

than an argument or an explanation. Oftentimes, the subject matter is nature or emotion.*Special occasion – it explains the significance

of a special day or occasion.

Writing Columns

COLUMN

*Columns, like features, come in many forms. They are defined by ownership; the column "belongs" to its author who has that ultimate journalistic luxury, a slot, guaranteed space over which he or she presides and has, in some cases, near total control over content.

*Writing a column requires clarity of thought, the ability to communicate a message clearly and simply, and an engaging style.*The column must be planned so that the writer

knows before he or she starts just what they are going to say. There must not be too many ideas (two or three will usually suffice), but plenty of opinions; the bland, obvious or fence-sitting must be ruthlessly expunged. Columns are there to get a reaction - agreement, disagreement, amusement, enlightenment.

PURPOSE AND FUNCTION

*Friendly atmosphereIt is the objective of the column-writing to make a friendly and amicable atmosphere, without any intermediary between the direct contacts with the columnist. The readers feel a newness, freshness and friendliness in the writing and reading of columns of diverse nature.*Essence of ExperienceThe columnists undertake to mingle their life-long experience and knowledge in their columns, in friendly tones and amicable atmosphere. The columnists mold and mobilize the readers to sustain a fair amount of desirability to go through the columns.*True genuine public opinionTo enrich their knowledge, information and to form a strong habit for reference, cross-reference and repeated consultation are carried out. A personal column based on wisdom and worldly and religious knowledge assists the columnists for true and genuine public opinion.

*IndividualityThe tinge of personal and individual inclination is predominant present in the column-writing. We usually notice few names of columnists in all the newspapers and periodicals, whose columns enjoy popular approval. Their writings and sayings are given proper importance and weight due to individuality and personal address.*Propagation of supreme valuesMainly current affairs and the issues of the times are the subjects of these columns. The art and the demands of the column-writing are to present the issues by detailed explanation and explanation. 

* QUALITIES OF A COLUMN WRITER

* PersonalA columnist must possess some qualities at the personal level, as these are essential for him to be knownas a better individual as well.* ProfessionalSomeone with just personal qualities is never a successful professional, until he possesses certainqualities, which are a must for any professional.* Highly EducatedIt is a fact that not all columnists are well-read or educated. In Urdu journalism, we find that there aremany columnists who are not highly well-qualified, but with the passage of time, they have mastered thetraits of columnists and they are now heavily paid by the newspapers. No doubt, they have definitelywell-read now. Those who are not into reading, expose themselves, sooner or later.On the other hand, degrees do matter now, as these have become a pre-requisite to the introductionbecause time has changed. Now people definitely see who is talking and what, especially when the media is progressing day and night; hence making it pertinent for a columnist, to be well-read and educated.It is deemed so because he will understand the changing times, and will be able make readers comprehend too.Secondly, it important for him to having knowledge of the related fields for which he is writing.

* Widely Read

Reading is a must for every one, but for a columnist, reading of almost all subjects is a necessity because

knowing everything around him and mastering one can do. One subject, he must know it thoroughly

because a columnist acts as a preacher-cum-opinion maker; hence he must know things to put them in a proper perspective.

* Well-versed in Language

Good command of the language is also a must for a columnist, whereas a reporter or an editor can do with

simple language, but a columnist has to play with words to create humour, situation, criticism, argument

and conclusion. So it is very important for a writer to present ideas in better language. For columnists, it

is a must that they write in the best language.

* Sense of humor

Humour makes a columnist popular, but it is a must for him that he never uses gross language or dirty

jokes. Some columnists, mostly of the Urdu newspapers and English rarely, use jokes but to good avail.

Actually, in the process, they are making comparisons, which is again popular with Urdu columnists.

Good sense of humour making the column looks softer in its outlook.

* Quality reporter

A columnist has qualities of a good reporter, as City diary or personal columns cannot be based on news

items. The columnists move around and look at the society besides seeing through the news to get insight.

Moreover, they are also looking for a scoop and think and probe like a reporter, while analysing things

like a columnist.

* Complete knowledge about laws and ethics of journalism

Huge responsibilities are on a columnist' shoulders, when he is writing. He knows the laws, and keeps

journalistic ethics in mind besides never relegating the editorial policy to redundancy.

A responsible columnist never creates a problem for the editors by being oblivious to the above.

He also knows the readers well, and always give due respect to their religious feelings and nationalistic sentiments.

*TYPES OF COLUMNS

* Reporting-in-Depth ColumnsBackground, perspective, and interpretation are given to various happenings, usually already presented inhard news. In these columns, current news events are related to the past and also to the future.* "I Think" or Opinionated ColumnsEither because of extensive training, long time observations, or sheer lack of modesty, Columnists setthemselves up as experts and then expound their opinions for the general public. They try to compensatein heat for what they cannot provide in light.*  Gossip ColumnsEverybody likes to learn a juicy bit of gossip. One whole field of column writing is built on thischaracteristic. Such a column contains little except its unquestionably titillating value; this needs not bethe writer's exclusive domain. The uncovering of a government scandal may have profound (andbeneficial) ramifications. No daily newspaper carries a gossip column and its natural habit is the filmmagazine, which flourishes on gossip, some malicious, some harmless but unquestionably titillating.*  Humorous ColumnsColumnist tries to find the humorous aspects in life to amuse readers. Sometimes, these spotlight an eventmore clearly than thousands of words of expounding and explaining. Many papers still shy of havingregular daily humorous column. Columns are much liked, which contain some satirical comments.Many papers still shy of having regular daily humorous column. However these columns are much liked,which contain some satirical comments.

* Essay ColumnsJust as nature and colour editorials have appeal for many a metropolitan daily editor, so the columnist,who arouses a similar nostalgia and mood in his writing, attracts attention. These require perceptivenessor possibly just and overpowering interest in people. All authors do not possess this.This type of column is rare today. Students of English literature will recognize the essay columns ofJoseph Chesterton and A.A. Mime. As an essay, it has style. Its range is unlimited but it must stick to onerigid rule-it must never be deductive or dull.* Personality Diary ColumnsThe Diary columns come from public figures, who are talking about their interesting incidents withothers.*  How- to-do or Advice ColumnsThese educate the readers, as there is a gentle instruction written in such a way as not to appear to be alesson. These columns usually appear on magazine and daily pages.* Sports ColumnThere was a time when some leading newspapers had their daily sports columns, but this is getting to berarer these days. However, event-based article-cum-columns are there. Some newspapers try to make-upfor the dearth this way. Perhaps it is still a field less trodden* Question and Answer ColumnThis column comes in various colors. It could be a medical column in which a qualified doctor answersqueries on health.* Standard ColumnThis type of column handles editorial subjects of lesser importance and deals with each in a paragraph ortwo. They are unsigned and are frequently the work of two or more members of the editorial staff.Outstanding columns in this category are `Topics of the Times" in the New York Times.

* Political columns

These are an extension of the Standard Column, but it is considered of very serious nature. This is

especially done in pursuance of the Editorial policy of the newspaper, and these are considered to be one

of the most-read columns

* The Middle Column

The `middle' is so-called because it occupies a position on the editorial page between the main article and

the standard column. Its sole purpose is to lighten what could otherwise be serious reading, which an

editorial page normally is and is expected to be. It is generally humorous and in any event it should be

entertaining and is usually written in a lighter vein. In length it is about 500 words and the more off- beat

it is the better.

* The Hodge-Podge Column

Here the columnist presents to his reader a Hodge Podge of stuff a little or no consequence on the

principle that variety is not only the spice of life but a sure formula to catch reader's interest.

* Editorial ColumnIt is properly called the signed editorial column. In it we find what resembles an editorial in form, but aneditorial so palpably personal that it is a cross between an editorial and a column. When an editor writes apiece under his own name he is trying to lay his prestige on the line.These do not necessarily depend on humorous elements only. They are and can be handled efficiently bythe experienced and stylish writer of columns. Its demands are different than the other forms of columns.In it are included one's personal views and opinions on any subject or topic in the world like an editorialin any style.* Specialized ColumnsThese types of columns are generally limited and confined to a single subject or topic, with the underlyingpurpose to render better and detailed service to the subject or topic under study and examination. It maybe confined to a single department of life or learning. Specialized Columns are arranged in accordancewith the circumstances. Under specialized columns are included the columns like, "Legal Column"."Religious or Deeni Column", `Astrology' or Palmistry Column", `Sports Columns", "Fashion Column",Medical Column", "Women's Column", `Students, Laborers" or Children Column". In the specializedColumns, there is simplicity of language and style and no literary tastes are added unnecessarily, nor dothey reflect any personal or individual trends. Specialized Columns can be called "ProfessionalColumns".* Miscellaneous ColumnsThese mainly comprise of commentary and criticism on books, Criticism columns on films and theatre,columns on performance in sports, columns on the study of the impending and actual changes in thedifferent walks of life

*SPORTS WRITING

Sports journalism is a form of writing that reports on sporting topics and games. While the sports department within some newspapers has been mockingly called the toy department, because sports journalists do not concern themselves with the 'serious' topics covered by the news desk, sports coverage has grown in importance as sport has grown in wealth, power and influence.

*The Lede 

*The lede of your story should include the final score and some details about what made the game interesting. Generally this means focusing on the efforts of an individual player. 

Let’s say a team’s star athlete is injured and a previously unheralded player comes into the game as a substitute. Not much is expected of this rookie but he defies expectations and plays a great game, leading the team to victory. 

*The Body of the Story 

The body of your story should basically elaborate on the lede. If your lede was about the benchwarmer becoming the game’s star, then the body should go into more detail about that. Often a simple chronological account works best. *The Wrap Up 

The wrap up or ending of your story usually centers on quotes from the coach and players gleaned from post-game interviews or press conferences. Getting great quotes for sports stories can sometimes be tough – coaches and athletes often speak in clichés – but a snappy quote can really be the icing on the cake of your game story. 

*ELEMENTS OF SPORTS WRITING

*Writing- The way a piece is written is the most important aspect. No matter how interesting the story is, it will be impossible for the reader to follow or enjoy the piece if it is not presented in a clear and coherent manner. This is how I feel about the ‘work’ of a lot of amateur bloggers out there, who clearly have no formal training in journalism, and sometimes in basic grammar!*Interesting story-This is a very subjective category.

What is interesting to one person is not necessarily interesting to another.

*Good quotes/interviews- Good quotes and interviews are extremely important aspects of sports articles. Serious sports fans already know much of the narrative material of the article, and it is the access that journalists have to get quotes and interviews that readers crave. *Having a story be about either a big event or a recognizable,

high profile athlete is not at all important. I realize that for the average fan, or a layman this may actually be the most important factor in whether or not a story will be able to hold their attention. But for me, star power has never been important. I will an example to illustrate my point. I am a big tennis fan, but my interest in tennis extends far beyond the bright lights of Arthur Ashe stadium in New York or Center Court at Wimbledon.