Feature and Magazine Writing

Overview A feature story is a journalistic article that is typically both original and descriptive Some features showcase entertainment with little information. Other features inform, but do not entertain. The best features combines both aspects

Why original? Not as rigid as the inverted pyramid style (a style that evolved during the Civil War when disruptive telegraph lines were used) More fluid: have distinct beginnings, middles and ends Must be read completely, edited carefully throughout the text

Why descriptive? News stories are supposed to be objective, which precludes description. News writers would rarely describe subject by height, weight, hair color, and kind and type of clothing, unless that description were vital to the story. This kind of descriptive, evoking imagery is encouraged in a feature story

Feature writing style Journalistic. Uniform approach to punctuation, capitalization, abbreviation, titles, and in some cases, spelling

Feature types News feature Timeless story

News feature Usually tied to a breaking news event, is placed in the same general location as breaking story, often written under pressure. This type of news feature is called a “sidebar,” in that it is a “side” article. Accompanies main news story. Variation is a follow-up story that is often called a “second-day” feature

Timeless story Does not have to be used immediately Can sometimes be written leisurely

Feature categories Business story, Commemorative story, Explanatory story, First-person story, Historical story, Hobbyist story, How-to story, Invention story, Medical story, Number story, Odd-Occupation story, Overview story, Participatory story, Profile story, Unfamiliar Visitor story

Commemorative story News features pegged to the anniversary of an earlier news event. Depending on the event, interview people who originally were involved in the story, or, if the individuals are deceased or unavailable, write an article capturing the mood of the anniversary

Explanatory story If you are going to tell readers how electricity reaches consumers’ homes, first saturate your research. You have to know almost as much about the process as do the experts in your story

First-person story Something dramatic happens to the writer that is so personal that nothing less than the first person singular (“I”) is appropriate.

Historical story Loosely pegged to a breaking news event, which gives the feature writer an excuse to do some research in the library and to show readers how their community or world has changed

Medical Story Strong stories, but difficult to research/ write because of emotional toll. Can either focus on inadequate medical insurance or struggle to find treatment, or battle to overcome illness Medical breakthrough story often focuses on a doctor who has successfully …

Number Story Uses interviews with experts and a familiar number, such as “10,” to put a problem – and sometimes a solution – in perspective

Overview Story Supported with voluminous statistics from various official sources. These statistics can be used to provide the reader with an informational overview of the problem, in addition to emotional, humanistic qualities

Participatory Story Nothing intrinsically wrong with living a role in order to write about it, unless you misrepresent yourself to write about the intimate details of other people. Some investigative reporters have no other means to investigate serious social problems

Profile Story Usually written about people, with their cooperation. Pick someone of interest, ask the subject for an interview, research/ interview subject, then talk to other people who know subject If uncooperative subject, talk to people who know him, write story based on views

Unfamiliar Visitor Story A visitor often offers a unique perspective on a local problem, culture, or event. If the visitor is available for an interview, his or her perspective can often help readers understand their world better

Traits of successful writers Get along with various kinds of people, even if you do not like them. Do not generalize about people in a pluralistic society, don’t predict people’s attitudes Be curious: editors prefer receiving ideas to delegating stories

Traits Observe surroundings keenly, describe in detail Describe carefully, what is clearly observable, what is obvious Have solid knowledge of language, fine appreciation of power of printed word, varied meanings of words that seem similar but have subtle differences

Classic feature article style Five-part dramatic unity Introduction (Situation, Setting, Characters) Rising action (Complication) Climax (Turning point) Falling action (Opposing forces) Catastrophe (Resolution or explanation)

Why feature writers are needed Economic struggle for newspapers (immediacy of TV and Internet news) Advantage: Newspapers have power of depth and permanent written word, can provide details, have space to rip open underbelly of complex issues Exhaustively researched, brilliantly written, well-illustrated features are a weapon

Source http://jschool.troy.edu/~jrn3302/3302%20Chap%201.ppt Troy University, Troy, Alabama 36082