Features Writing

1
Features Writing

• Features are to hard news what dancing is to
  walking--the pleasure of reading is more
  important than getting to the end.

2
Timeless Feature Stories

• The unusual visitor
• The commemorative story
• Man bites dog
• The first-person story
• The hobbyist story
• The how-to story
• The odd-occupation story
• The profile story

3
The Unusual Visitor

• Pope visits Utah
• Andruw Jones practices _at_ SPSU baseball field
• Bin Laden speaks at Vatican
• Eric Rudolph featured speaker at NC State
  Troopers Meeting
• Man deposits 100,000 in widows account, then
  leaves town

Dont shoot--Im the lead guitarist.
4
The Commemorative Piece

• Tibetan flower brought to SPSU grounds to honor
  15th Year of TCOM programs

May you find the light of wisdom in this place,
says the Dali Lama.
The flower floats just above the ground near J
Building
5
Man Bites Dog Stories

• Taco Bell Icon arrested for wetting on patrol car
• Deer kicks rifle, hunter shot
• Fisherman eaten by shark
• Car thief guillotined by electric window

6
First Person Stories

• I played Santa for children at Juvenile Detention
• I traveled by train with my two sons and survived
• I fell in love but was able to get it off my
  shoes
• I channeled Elvis through my TV satellite dish

7
The Hobbyist Story

• Animal stories
• Money or legal issues
• Arts and crafts that make good photos
• Emotional side of a business or machine
• Any story that focuses on human ingenuity and
  creativity
• Can be almost any subject

I hate to blind-side him like this, but he's got
no peripheral vision
8
Topic One

• Details about this topic
• Supporting information and examples
• How it relates to your audience

9
The Odd Occupation Story
10
Topic Two

• Details about this topic
• Supporting information and examples
• How it relates to your audience

11
Topic Three

• Details about this topic
• Supporting information and examples
• How it relates to your audience

12
Real Life

• Give an example or real life anecdote
• Sympathize with the audiences situation if
  appropriate

13
What This Means

• Add a strong statement that summarizes how you
  feel or think about this topic
• Summarize key points you want your audience to
  remember

14
Next Steps

• Summarize any actions required of your audience
• Summarize any follow up action items required of
  you