writing feature articles
TRANSCRIPT
What is a feature article?
A special human interest story article that is not closely tied to a recent news event. It focuses on particular people, places, and
events and goes into great detail regarding concepts and
ideas.
News articles Vs Feature articles
News Article Feature Article
News Article
Feature Article
Written in a more creative
and entertaining
format.
Informs, entertains and
persuades
written in a direct
manner
Informs people
News Article
Feature Article
covers one subject from
multiple angles
longer and more in depth.
answers the questions: who, what, where, how, and when?
covers the basics of current events.
Remember Both news and features
demandthe same level of
research and reporting.
Features• Require a different way of thinking,
writing and structuring• Are harder to write
Characteristics of a Feature• Original and descriptive• Fictional in form but newsworthy in
content• Strong narrative line• Voice of the writer• Not written in the inverted pyramid
structure
Features
News features
Timeless
feature
A Few Types of Features
Profiles Interviews Analysis
Opinion Poll Vox Pop Tributes
Narrative Reviews
Process of Writing a Feature
1Idea
Brief
2
3 Research
Plan
4
5Write
Review
6
Idea• Must be simple (Consider time and
manageability).• Should suit the publication.
Brief• Provides structure.• Includes specifics such as length,
angle, approach, tone, scope, limits, questions to answer, sources, deadline, etc.
Research• Browse the internet.• Collect details from news sources.• Interview concerned people.• Verify facts and names.
Plan & Write• Consider the structure of the
feature.
Structure of a Feature
Intro.
Content
End.
Introduction of a
Feature
Strong statement
Anecdote
DescriptionQuestion
Quotation
Content of a FeatureInformatio
n
Anecdotes
Quotes
Comments
Statistics
Wordplay
Structure of
Content Chronologic
al
Cause and effect
Classification
Compare and
contrast
List
Question and answer
End of a Feature
Statements
QuotesQuestions
Review
• Was it smoothly written?
Did I read it to the end?
• Was I convinced by what I read?
• Was it accurate and authentic?
If I read to
the end,
Review
• Was it relevant?• Did I feel involved?
If I was convince
d,
• Am I going to do anything?• Cut and keep the feature?• Show it to friends?• Follow the suggestions• Learn from examples?• Write to the editor?
If I feel involved,
Thank You