LAST OF THE BEATS

LAST OF THE BEATS Never got to business, politics, courts,

etc.

LAST OF THE BEATS Never got to business, politics, courts,

etc. Going to spend today on features and

then starting next week we’re off to some new areas including: broadcast news, writing for television & radio, law & ethics, media bias, writing reviews & editorials, and public relations

FEATURES

FEATURES Less timely

FEATURES Less timely More personal

FEATURES Less timely More personal Offer advice, explore ideas, hit emotions

FEATURES Less timely More personal Offer advice, explore ideas, hit emotions Meet celebs and newsmakers in depth

FEATURES Less timely More personal Offer advice, explore ideas, hit emotions Meet celebs and newsmakers in depth Generally considered “soft” news

FEATURES Less timely More personal Offer advice, explore ideas, hit emotions Meet celebs and newsmakers in depth Generally considered “soft” news “The feature writer’s aim is the

dramatist’s aim: make ‘em laugh, make ‘em weep.”

TYPES OF FEATURES Personality profile

TYPES OF FEATURES Personality profile Human-interest

TYPES OF FEATURES Personality profile Human-interest Color story

TYPES OF FEATURES Personality profile Human-interest Color story Backgrounder

TYPES OF FEATURES Personality profile Human-interest Color story Backgrounder Trend story

TYPES OF FEATURES Personality profile Human-interest Color story Backgrounder Trend story Reaction piece

TYPES OF FEATURES Personality profile Human-interest Color story Backgrounder Trend story Reaction piece Flashback

TYPES OF FEATURES Personality profile Human-interest Color story Backgrounder Trend story Reaction piece Flashback How-to

TYPES OF FEATURES Personality profile Human-interest Color story Backgrounder Trend story Reaction piece Flashback How-to Consumer advice

TYPES OF FEATURES Personality profile Human-interest Color story Backgrounder Trend story Reaction piece Flashback How-to Consumer advice Personal narrative

SO HOW DO YOU WRITE FEATURES?

SO HOW DO YOU WRITE FEATURES? Be creative: say bye to our dear friend

inverted pyramid

SO HOW DO YOU WRITE FEATURES? Be creative: say bye to our dear friend

inverted pyramid But likely still will need a nut graf at

some point so readers are with you

SO HOW DO YOU WRITE FEATURES? Be creative: say bye to our dear friend

inverted pyramid But likely still will need a nut graf at

some point so readers are with you It’s time to be dramatic: which of these

will you emphasize in features? Immediacy, conflict, novelty, prominence, proximity, impact, emotion

SO HOW DO YOU WRITE FEATURES? Be creative: say bye to our dear friend

inverted pyramid But likely still will need a nut graf at

some point so readers are with you It’s time to be dramatic: which of these

will you emphasize in features? Immediacy, conflict, novelty, prominence, proximity, impact, emotion

Hard news is almost always past tense; features, can go with present tense to put your readers/listeners on scene

WRITING FEATURES Colorful scenes... you are there

WRITING FEATURES Colorful scenes... you are there Dialogue

WRITING FEATURES Colorful scenes... you are there Dialogue But still have to be accurate and

objective

WRITING FEATURES Colorful scenes... you are there Dialogue But still have to be accurate and

objective Vary sentence structure

WRITING FEATURES Colorful scenes... you are there Dialogue But still have to be accurate and

objective Vary sentence structure Find your own voice

WRITING FEATURES Colorful scenes... you are there Dialogue But still have to be accurate and

objective Vary sentence structure Find your own voice Use appropriate tone for the subject:

don’t be flip and breezy when doing a story on drug abuse or divorce... don’t be ponderous with story on puppy Olympics

PERSONALITY PROFILES

PERSONALITY PROFILES Good profiles reveal the inner self of

your subject: attitudes, lifestyle, opinions, habits, mannerisms, biographical

PERSONALITY PROFILES Good profiles reveal the inner self of

your subject: attitudes, lifestyle, opinions, habits, mannerisms, biographical

How well can you coax complete strangers into sharing the details of their private live?

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING Reporting on government, business or

personal (especially the rich and powerful) misconduct

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING Reporting on government, business or

personal (especially the rich and powerful) misconduct

The organization wants to keep the information secret

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING Reporting on government, business or

personal (especially the rich and powerful) misconduct

The organization wants to keep the information secret

The subject is of importance to readers

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING Reporting on government, business or

personal (especially the rich and powerful) misconduct

The organization wants to keep the information secret

The subject is of importance to readers Investigative reporting is, alas, so

tainted by politics that it is a lost art in the U.S.

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING Reporting on government, business or

personal (especially the rich and powerful) misconduct

The organization wants to keep the information secret

The subject is of importance to readers Investigative reporting is, alas, so

tainted by politics that it is a lost art in the U.S.

Liberal publications/media such as NY Times, Washington Post, NBC refuse to investigate liberals

PRESIDENT OBAMA’S SCANDALS “Green” energy

PRESIDENT OBAMA’S SCANDALS “Green” energy “Fast and furious”

PRESIDENT OBAMA’S SCANDALS “Green” energy “Fast and furious” Unconstitutional “recess” appointments

PRESIDENT OBAMA’S SCANDALS “Green” energy “Fast and furious” Unconstitutional “recess” appointments Selective enforcement of laws

“The president doesn’t have the authority to simply ignore Congress and say, ‘We’re not going to enforce the laws that you’ve passed.’” Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tx)

ASSIGNMENT 2/14 Do something special for your parents

(it’s Valentine’s Day!)

ASSIGNMENT 2/14 Do something special for your parents

(it’s Valentine’s Day!) Read pages 130-134 of Inside Reporting

ASSIGNMENT 2/14 Do something special for your parents

(it’s Valentine’s Day!) Read pages 130-134 of Inside Reporting You are an editorial writer for the Los

Angeles Times. You are assigned to write a 400-word editorial. Does the newspaper endorse President Obama for reelection or does it endorse the GOP challenger (assume Mitt Romney is the Republican candidate?

Use facts to back up your position... unemployment numbers, debt, foreign policy