Your guide to writing clear, interesting and informative pieces Personality Profiles Your guide to writing clear, interesting and informative pieces

Personality Profile Definition: “A profile is a short, vivid character sketch.” Details: “A good profile includes impressions, explanations and points of view.” --Journalism Matters, p. 232

Elements of a Profile Profiles are usually timely, but the newspeg is buried. Bury the newspeg: Ted Allen, Snowboarding

Questions to ask yourself What is my purpose in writing this? What makes this person unique? How can I let this person’s voice show through? What should I focus on? What does this person have to say? What is this story REALLY about?

Tell a story You don’t need to cover every aspect of a person’s life. Just tell us a story about this person.

Getting Started Do your research: Interview the subject’s family and friends (and coaches, teachers, ect.) Do an online search for information about the subjects’s interests and activities Read all previous stories written about the subject Set a purpose for your story

Getting Started cont. Write a list of questions: Start with background and basics (bb) Ask some easy questions to start Finish with difficult or in-depth questions

The Interview(s) Get the BB out of the way first Allow the interviewee to speak about his or her interests--adapt your questions as you go Remember that most profiles require follow-ups

Profile Checklist Verify BB Note the surroundings Note the subject’s mannerisms Note t Note the subject’s: Mannerisms Surroundings Manner of speaking Common

Tips Make the subject “live on the page” Provide “dramatic tension” Use “telling details” Weave in characteristic expressions, mannerisms and gestures Use an account of the person’s activities (anecdotes) “Begin with an unusual insight or noteworthy detail” Emphasize what is unique about the person Find a “hook,” something that draws the reader in - JM, p. 232; Scholastic Journalism, p. 100

Go there See the subject in his or her own environment: Observe an athlete or coach in practice Watch rehearsal for an actor or musician Sit in on a teacher’s class Interview the dean in his or her office Join an exchange student at his or her host home Listen in on a meeting with the principal

Go there, cont. Watch a poet compose a new piece Go on a home visit with a dog walker Cook with a chef Just keep in mind that you don’t ever participate! Other ideas?

What a profile is and isn’t A story that shows the reader interesting aspects of a person’s life A profile is not: A list of facts

Your turn Soon you’ll begin your own personality profiles, but before you start read a few excellent examples. Tomorrow we’ll talk about what made these great stories. Take note of technique, style, color and detail.