Transcript Feature and Magazine Writing

Feature and Magazine
Writing
Chapter 1
Overview
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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?
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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
Can be about “non-newsworthy” events
Why descriptive?
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News stories are supposed to be objective,
which precludes description. News writer
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
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Journalistic. Uniform approach to punctuation,
capitalization, abbreviation, titles, and in some
cases, spelling
Feature types
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News feature
Timeless story
News feature
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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
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Does not have to be used immediately
Can sometimes be written leisurely
Feature categories
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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
Business story
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Focus on employee/ owner. If business has
competition, look for timely/ unusual angle –
reason for writing the story about that
particular business at that particular time – and
then try to concentrate on an individual. Also
mention the competition to avoid appearance
of free advertising space. If no competition,
explain why owner started business/ obstacles
faced
Commemorative story
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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
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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 does the experts in your
story
First-person story
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Something dramatic happens to the writer that
is so personal that nothing less than the first
person singular (“I”) is appropriate.
Historical story
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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
Hobbyist story
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Your job is to make certain that you are writing
about the right collector – the one with the
biggest, best, or most unusual collection in
your area. Check this out by talking to other
collectors who can identify dealers, who in
turn can lead you to national publications that
provide a clearinghouse for collectors
nationwide
How-To Story
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Interview with experts who advise the reader is
tricky because they make a living charging
customers for such information. They are often
reluctant to give much free advice in an
interview. You may have to call several
professionals before you are able to piece
together a coherent account
Invention Story
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Although inventors are good feature material,
they will usually not give interviews until they
have formally applied for a patent to protect
their ideas, and conservative inventors will not
discuss their ideas until a patent has actually
been granted, a process that often takes years.
Timing is the key
Medical Story
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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
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Uses interviews with experts and a familiar
number, such as “10,” to put a problem – and
sometimes a solution – in perspective
Odd-Occupation Story
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Dangerous, unappealing, or simply strange
Don’t confuse with traditional role jobs
Ask person why he chose it, enjoys, it, how he
performs it
Overview Story
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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
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Nothing intrinsically wrong writh 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
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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
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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
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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 …
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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
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Five-part dramatic unity
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Introduction (Situation, Setting, Characters)
Rising action (Complication)
Climax (Turning point)
Falling action (Opposing forces)
Catastrophe (Resolution or explanation)
Why feature writers are needed
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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