basic campus journalism
TRANSCRIPT
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!!!