writing e newsletters features
TRANSCRIPT
A feature, sometimes called feature story, is a type of news articles intended for newsletter, newspapers, magazines, or other online media. Unlike a hard news story, a feature story has much more space to go in‐depth, providing analyses, investigations and different points of view from different sources. An effective feature story should better run between 500‐2,500 words. (sometimes reach 5,000 for magazine)
Features
There are many kinds of feature stories. Here are some popular types: ∗ Human Interest: The best‐known kind of feature story is the human‐interest story that discusses issues through the experiences of another.
∗ Profiles: A very common type of feature is the profile that reveals an individual's character and lifestyle. The profile exposes different facets of the subject so readers will feel they know the person.
Types of Features (1)
∗ How‐To: These articles help people learn by telling them how to do something. The writer learns about the topic through education, experience, research or interviews with experts.
∗ Historical Features: These features commemorate important dates in history or turning points in our social, political and cultural development. They offer a useful juxtaposition of then and now. Historical features take the reader back to revisit an event and issues surrounding it. A variation is the this date in history short feature, which reminds people of significant events on a particular date.
Types of Features (2)
∗ Seasonal Themes: Stories about holidays and the change of seasons address matters at specific times of a year. For instance, they cover life milestones, social, political and cultural cycles, and business cycles.
∗ Behind the Scenes: Inside views of unusual occupations, issues, and events give readers a feeling of penetrating the inner circle or being a mouse in a corner. Readers like feeling privy to unusual details and well kept secrets about procedures or activities they might not ordinarily be exposed to or allowed to participate in.
Types of Features (3)
Unlike the lead of a hard news story, a feature lead does not necessarily summarize the overall content of the story in a sentence. Feature lead: ∗ Can be delayed (delayed lead) ∗ Does not necessarily state the main point strait away ∗ Sometimes acts like a thesis statement of an essay ∗ Can be several paragraphs long ∗ Can be different types: descriptive, anecdotal, narrative, mystery, teaser, and question
Lead
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Prac
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Write a lead for a feature story. ∗ Topic 1: Your company’s survey shows clients’ satisfaction reach 95%.
∗ Topic 2: Your computer shop makes computer sales 60% (1,000 units) higher than last year.
∗ Topic 3: Your company’s success in a joint venture with Korean company.
∗ Topic 4: An advantage of your organized tour to Sihanouk on a national holiday.
Practice Writing: Lead
Write 2‐3 paragraphs containing one idea/point, followed by a supporting detail, using the hints below. ∗ Hint 1: Your company’s survey shows clients’ satisfaction
reach 95%. ∗ Hint 2: Your computer shop makes computer sales 60%
(1,000 units) higher than last year. ∗ Hint 3: Your company’s success in a joint venture with
Korean company ∗ Hint 4: An advantage of your organized tour to Sihanouk
on a national holiday.
Practice Writing: Paragraph