4. Last of the beats

5. Last of the beats
Never got to business, politics, courts, etc.

6. Last of the beats Never got to business, politics, courts, etc.
Going to spend today on features and then starting next week we’re off to some new areas including: broadcast news, writing for television & radio, law & ethics, media bias, writing reviews & editorials, and public relations

7. features

8. features
Less timely

9. features
Less timely
More personal

10. features Less timely More personal
Offer advice, explore ideas, hit emotions

11. features Less timely More personal
Offer advice, explore ideas, hit emotions
Meet celebs and newsmakers in depth

12. features Less timely More personal
Offer advice, explore ideas, hit emotions
Meet celebs and newsmakers in depth
Generally considered “soft” news

13. features Less timely More personal
Offer advice, explore ideas, hit emotions
Meet celebs and newsmakers in depth
Generally considered “soft” news
“The feature writer’s aim is the dramatist’s aim: make ‘em laugh, make ‘em weep.”

14. types of features
Personality profile

16. types of features
Personality profile
Human-interest

19. types of features
Personality profile
Human-interest
Color story

21. types of features Personality profile Human-interest Color story
Backgrounder

23. types of features Personality profile Human-interest Color story
Backgrounder
Trend story

24. types of features Personality profile Human-interest Color story
Backgrounder
Trend story
Reaction piece

25. types of features Personality profile Human-interest Color story
Backgrounder
Trend story
Reaction piece
Flashback

26. types of features Personality profile Human-interest Color story
Backgrounder
Trend story
Reaction piece
Flashback
How-to

27. types of features Personality profile Human-interest Color story
Backgrounder
Trend story
Reaction piece
Flashback
How-to
Consumer advice

28. types of features Personality profile Human-interest Color story
Backgrounder
Trend story
Reaction piece
Flashback
How-to
Consumer advice
Personal narrative

29. So how do you write features?

31. So how do you write features?
Be creative: say bye to our dear friend inverted pyramid

32. So how do you write features?
Be creative: say bye to our dear friend inverted pyramid
But likely still will need a nut graf at some point so readers are with you

33. So how do you write features?
Be creative: say bye to our dear friend inverted pyramid
But likely still will need a nut graf at some point so readers are with you
It’s time to be dramatic: which of these will you emphasize in features? Immediacy, conflict, novelty, prominence, proximity, impact, emotion

34. So how do you write features?
Be creative: say bye to our dear friend inverted pyramid
But likely still will need a nut graf at some point so readers are with you
It’s time to be dramatic: which of these will you emphasize in features? Immediacy, conflict, novelty, prominence, proximity, impact, emotion
Hard news is almost always past tense; features, can go with present tense to put your readers/listeners on scene

35. Writing features
Colorful scenes... you are there

36. Writing features
Colorful scenes... you are there
Dialogue

37. Writing features Colorful scenes... you are there Dialogue
But still have to be accurate and objective

38. Writing features Colorful scenes... you are there Dialogue
But still have to be accurate and objective
Vary sentence structure

39. Writing features Colorful scenes... you are there Dialogue
But still have to be accurate and objective
Vary sentence structure
Find your own voice

40. Writing features Colorful scenes... you are there Dialogue
But still have to be accurate and objective
Vary sentence structure
Find your own voice
Use appropriate tone for the subject: don’t be flip and breezy when doing a story on drug abuse or divorce... don’t be ponderous with story on puppy Olympics

41. personality profiles

42. personality profiles
Good profiles reveal the inner self of your subject: attitudes, lifestyle, opinions, habits, mannerisms, biographical

43. personality profiles
Good profiles reveal the inner self of your subject: attitudes, lifestyle, opinions, habits, mannerisms, biographical
How well can you coax complete strangers into sharing the details of their private live?

45. investigative reporting

46. investigative reporting
Reporting on government, business or personal (especially the rich and powerful) misconduct

47. investigative reporting
Reporting on government, business or personal (especially the rich and powerful) misconduct
The organization wants to keep the information secret

48. investigative reporting
Reporting on government, business or personal (especially the rich and powerful) misconduct
The organization wants to keep the information secret
The subject is of importance to readers

49. investigative reporting
Reporting on government, business or personal (especially the rich and powerful) misconduct
The organization wants to keep the information secret
The subject is of importance to readers
Investigative reporting is, alas, so tainted by politics that it is a lost art in the U.S.

50. investigative reporting
Reporting on government, business or personal (especially the rich and powerful) misconduct
The organization wants to keep the information secret
The subject is of importance to readers
Investigative reporting is, alas, so tainted by politics that it is a lost art in the U.S.
Liberal publications/media such as NY Times, Washington Post, NBC refuse to investigate liberals

51. President obama’s scandals
“Green” energy

54. President obama’s scandals
“Green” energy
“Fast and furious”

56. President obama’s scandals
“Green” energy
“Fast and furious”
Unconstitutional “recess” appointments

57. President obama’s scandals
“Green” energy
“Fast and furious”
Unconstitutional “recess” appointments
Selective enforcement of laws

58. “The president doesn’t have the authority to simply ignore Congress and say, ‘We’re not going to enforce the laws that you’ve passed.’” Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tx)

59. Assignment 2/14
Do something special for your parents (it’s Valentine’s Day!)

60. Assignment 2/14
Do something special for your parents (it’s Valentine’s Day!)
Read pages of Inside Reporting

61. Assignment 2/14
Do something special for your parents (it’s Valentine’s Day!)
Read pages of Inside Reporting
You are an editorial writer for the Los Angeles Times. You are assigned to write a 400-word editorial. Does the newspaper endorse President Obama for reelection or does it endorse the GOP challenger (assume Mitt Romney is the Republican candidate?
Use facts to back up your position... unemployment numbers, debt, foreign policy