Types of Feature Stories

Human Interest Have a heartwarming twist, a unique turn and a subject most readers care about. Involves people, not things. Examples: a person who has had survived open heart surgery a program that trains dogs to help disabled war veterans.

Informational Features Purpose is to inform; Gives practical knowledge Example: a story that tells students how to save money for college

PROFILES Develops a total picture of a person Uses a lot of anecdotes or short stories Tries to make the reader know the person really well

Profiles, continued Includes the following facts about the subject: Name Personality Background Physical appearance Environment Hobbies Influence on others Anecdotes/observation

news Features An “insider’s”up-close slant on a story in the news Breaks the news down and focuses on a specific aspect of a current event Example: a story over a family who survived Hurricane Sandy; the story would focus on the family, not the storm

Occasional Pieces Based on holidays or special events but gives an unusual twist. Example: a story over the top 10 gifts to give your boyfriend or girlfriend for Christmas.

Shared experience Reporter gives a first-hand account of how something was. Example: if a sports writer went to football practice for a day and then wrote about his experience

Q&A (usually w/prominent person) Can be informational (authority figures on certain subjects) or based on personality. You’ve probably seen Q and A’s before, but it is any story where the reporter’s questions are published in the story.

Other types of features Trends: What’s trendy right now Historical Feature: Look at a historical event

Homework Begin Profile Feature: Interview someone you know but aren’t related to Can use the questions from FDOS (speed interviewing) or your own Take a picture of the person you interview! Typed profile due Thursday at end of class See example & rubric in Canvas