Writing News Feature

1
Writing News Feature

•  
• Features put people in the story they make the
  reader think and care.

2
Facts about Features

• A feature is a prominent news story written like
  a short story piece of fiction. The story is
  usually not related to a current event.
• As a writer, you must combine the rigors of
  factual reporting in news with the creative
  freedom of short story writing. The feature
  storys form must be more fluid that that of a
  news story. The inverted pyramid style must be
  sacrificed so that the story can have a distinct
  beginning, middle and end.
• Features place a greater emphasis on facts that
  have human interest.

3
 Two Types of Feature Stories

• News Features

• Timeless Features

• A news feature is usually written as a follow-up
  or a sidebar story that is linked to a breaking
  news story. (A sidebar is an article that
  accompanies and appears beside the main news
  story.)

• A timeless story does not have to be used
  immediately.

4
For both, a reporter would

• the elements of story telling.

• Collect as many details as possible
• Describe people, setting, feelings

5
Finding Feature Ideas

• Dont write about man, write about a man. E.B.
  White
• Localize and personalize your stories
• The strongest features are almost always about
  people.
• In feature writing there are no restrictions on
  subject matter. Often, a feature is nothing more
  than a simple story about a common person in an
  uncommon circumstance. The feature writers job
  is to find a fresh angle.

6
Profiles

• Profiles are one of the most popular types of
  features is the profile. A profile is a short,
  vivid character sketch. A good profile includes
  impressions, explanations and points of view. A
  writer should make sure that the subject of the
  profile lives on the page by providing dramatic
  tensions and telling details. Begin with an
  unusual insight or noteworthy detail.

7
Getting the Story

• The first sentence must make the reader want to
  continue to the second sentence. That does not
  mean that the beginning - the lead has to be
  extraordinarily clever. Instead, it should be
  honest and compelling.

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Five Different Types of Leads

• The Summary Using a summary paragraph as a lead
  is similar to the use of a lead in a news story.
• The Striking Statement A striking statement
  used as a lead shocks or surprises the reader.
  The reader, astounded by some fact or idea, is
  promised the details later in the story.
• The Descriptive Lead The descriptive lead is
  constructed with concrete, vivid details. The
  writer paints a clear picture of the scene, the
  individuals and their emotional states.
• The Narrative The narrative lead is probably
  the most popular. Narrative leads recount stories
  in which things happen. They often incorporate
  incidents or anecdotes. Dialogue can be used to
  draw the reader into the narrative. Action is
  the key.
• Quotations and questions Leads that use
  quotations and questions generally are
  ineffective choices for inexperienced writer.

9
How About Those Endings?

1. Circle
2. Summary
3. Anecdotal (split anecdotal technique)

10
Organizing the Material

• Ask three vital questions as a way to improve the
  organization of your feature story
• Whats your subject
• What are you trying to say?
• How will you say it?

11
Refining the Story

• Finding the right voice
• Using vivid description
• Rounding out a profile (show not tell)
• Humour the reader

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A structure is an organizational pattern the
writer used to synthesize relevant pieces of
information. These include the
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• Hourglass structure begins as an inverted
  pyramid. Below the waist of the hourglass, the
  information is introduced in chronologic order.
• Spatial story uses physical space rather than
  logical sequence to determine order.
• Writing the story in scenes can show the subject
  of your story reacting differently in different
  situations.
• Parallel narrative follows the separate course
  of two people, groups or events at the same time.
• Think of each idea in your story as an island.
  Your task is to bridge the islands to keep your
  readers from drowning.