BEYOND BREAKING NEWS

Chapter 6

The World of Features

Personalizing the news with stories that educate and entertain. Feature stories often focus on issues that are less timely and more personal: trends, relationships, entertainment.

They include topics, treatments, styles and structures you won't find in standard news stories.

Hard news vs. soft news: What do these terms mean?

Common Categories

Lifestyles Health Science and technology Entertainment Food Homes and gardens

Popular Types of Feature Stories

Personality profile Human-interest story Color story Backgrounder Trend story Reaction piece Flashback How-to Consumer guide Personal narrative

Generating Story Ideas

There are great stories everywhere, just waiting to be discovered. The four best angles: How to save time.... How to save money.... How to be loved.... How to make money.

Where to Find Those Great (But Elusive) Story Ideas

Start compiling a list: Look for ideas everywhere; then jot them down.

Organize your ideas by topic (people, places, trends) or by treatment (profiles, photo stories, how-to guides).

The best places to look for ideas: your publication's archives your competitors TV, magazines, newspapers, Web sites news releases reader suggestions brainstorming

How to Tell if Your Idea is a Good One

Eight ways to assess a story idea before you try selling it to an editor.

See page 118

Got a Good Idea? Here’s How to Turn it Into a Story

See if it's been done. Focus your angle. Talk to your editor. Do your research. Plan the package. Write the story.

Feature Style

Some stories require a livelier, looser, more literary voice.

"The New Journalism" pioneered by Tom Wolfe, Hunter S. Thompson and Gay Talese in the 1960s. Reporters began borrowing literary techniques from novelists.

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote – Nonfiction novel

Today, feature writers still rely on literary techniques you won't find in standard news stories.

Advice and Suggestions

Helpful tips for successful feature writing Using syntax and phrasing Using voice and tense Using detail and description Using other dramatic techniques

Standard Story Structures

Using traditional text to convey information. The inverted pyramid is rarely used in

feature stories. While it's an efficient way to organize facts in a news story, it is NOT an engaging way to organize ideas in a feature.

Short-Form Story Structure

Using colorful, creative layouts that are easy to produce and appeal to readers' short attention spans.

Suggestions for using a more visual approach.

Writing Profiles

Profiles are more than a who-what-when-where-why rehash of facts.

A good profile: reveals feelings exposes attitudes captures habits and mannerisms entertains informs.

Researching and Writing Profiles

Solicit your subject's support. Interview and observe. Find your focus. Follow up with further interviews and

research. Structure your story.

Advice and Suggestions

Tips on working with photographers. Ways to paint a better portrait: capturing

details, re-creating scenes, and adding quotes and dialogue.

Checklist of questions to ask yourself when reporting and writing profiles.

Enterprise Projects

Special stories that allow reporters to reach beyond the routine.

Most provide in-depth examination of people and issues.

They are creative, ambitious and unique. They often become special sections or multi-

part series.

Advice and Suggestions

How do I find time for enterprise? Expert advice on reporting and writing

enterprise stories.

Investigative Reporting

In a free society, some journalists do more than just explain—they expose.

Three Basic Elements of Investigative Reporting

that the investigation be the work of the reporter, not a report of an investigation made by someone else

that the subject involves something of reasonable importance

that others are attempting to hide these matters from the public

Advice and Suggestions

Digging up dirt: Advice for investigative reporters.

Package Planning

Using teamwork and working with the editor, photographer and designer to turn stories into appealing packages.

Short-Form Alternatives

Alternatives to narrative text Condensing data for readers with short attention

spans Short-form formats:

fast-fact box bio box checklist list quiz step-by-step guide factual index diagram timeline quote collection

Writing Editorials and Columns

In editorials, columns and reviews, the writer's opinions aren't just allowed, they're encouraged. They're essential.

The Knight Scroll should include an editorial in each issue tied to a front page news story.

Advice and Suggestions

Editorials: where publications take a stand Columns: where the options are endless Writing commentary: Advice for columnists

Writing Reviews

Readers need your expert guidance to find the best performances and products.

Distinction between "critic" and "reviewer."

Advice and Suggestions

Using graphic extras that make reviews more reader-friendly.

How to write criticism that gets good reviews.