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Understanding Feature Stories in Journalism

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16 views3 pages

Understanding Feature Stories in Journalism

Uploaded by

Cri Zel
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

TOP ACHIEVERS PRIVATE SCHOOL, INC.

Alicia; Cauayan; Santiago; Roxas; Solano; Ilagan


“The School of the Future”
Module in Campus Journalism

Month of January
Feature Story: Its Concepts and Nature
If defining news were a hard task for many writers due to its many perspectives,
feature stories would be less difficult. Many writers agree on the concepts and nature of
feature stories.
A feature story is an interesting article that focuses on certain people, places,
events or subject matters like career, relationships, money; health, lifestyle, among
others. Because it is so elaborative, a writer is "free as a bird" in crafting his ideas, in
weaving his ideas and in presenting his ideas. Again, redundant as it may, feature writing
breaks the box of rules where news writing is incarcerated.
With such a concept in mind, you may think that feature articles are longer, more
in-depth and more elaborate than hard news stories. They make use of the upright
triangle style rather than the inverted triangle approach most of the time. However, as a
writer, you must still keep in mind that feature stories are lodged under the umbrella of
journalism, whose foundations are facts, facts and facts. Hence, feature stories are not
opinion essays or editorials and should not be confused with creative writing or works of
fiction.
A feature story primarily banks on special human interest that may or may not be
closely tied to a recent news event. It goes into great detail regarding concepts and
ideas of specific market of interest.
Take this comparison. A feature story is like a spotlight in a concert hall. Everyone
in the concert hall may become the subject. Once the spotlight strikes a member of the
audience, he or she becomes distinct and eventually grabs the attention of everyone.
According to Okoye (2012), a feature story is an in-depth and factual write-up on a
topical issue which seeks to give comprehensive information in a more captivating and
relaxed style than straight news.
Meanwhile, Reuters Handbook of Journalism says that a feature story is "...an
insight into a trend or an issue or personality. It enlightens the reader about that trend,
issue or personality in a broad context. It uses specific examples to illustrate that trend
or issue and puts them in a broad framework that allows the social, economic, corporate
and/or political implications to shine through, whether sectoral, national or global."
A feature article, therefore, relates to so many forms and subjects. Its forms
include narrative stories, poems, essays, tales, anecdotes and others. Its subjects, on the
other hand, may include love, hatred, jealousy, emotions, war, friendship, and other
human forms of experiences. With its diverse forms, many campus papers believe that
feature page is the same with literary page. That is why there are campus papers which
have a section titled as "literary/feature" page. It must be clear to both beginning and
developing campus papers that literary and features are NOT similar.
Finally, writing a feature is a war of creativity on the use of language. It is so
stylistic that it entails a writer's constant reading and interminable practice.

Characteristics of Feature Stories


1. Variety of subject matter
As discussed previously, a feature story can take any topic under the sun.
The kindling of the reader's interest on such a topic primarily depends on the writer's
creativity on using the language.
2. Variety of tones
Since feature stories are meant to entertain other than to inform, the feature writer may
use variety of dramatic tone, say a creepy story, exciting narration, suspensive drama,
angry letter, morbid experience and the like.
3. Variety of form and style
Feature stories may use any form and any style depending on the writer's judicious
judgement to capture easily the reader's attention. One may use acrostic or literary
techniques in crafting stories, so long as the content is factual.
4. Well-organized
A feature story is actually an essay. Therefore, it follows a general format of having an
introduction, body and ending. Its contents, like all other pieces of writing, should be
logically arranged such that a smooth flow of ideas is attained.
Hence, it still follows the rules of thumb in effective writing.
5. Strikes keynotes in a first sentence
The secret of arousing reader's attention is to intrigue him at the beginning.
That is why feature stories need to be very striking at the first part. It does not
necessarily mean, though, that the first sentence summarizes the important details in
the first sentence like in straight news. If one does this, suspense is forfeited, excitement
is lost.
6. May or may not be timely
Unlike news articles, feature stories may skip immediacy because it is up for the writer's
dexterous use of the language to make the antiquated subject rise from the tomb and
capture the attention of the current readers.
Feature flourishes in: Qualities of a Well-Written Feature
Story:
1. Color
2. Fancy Well-researched
3. Wit and humor Catchy
4. Anecdotes Descriptive
5. Quotations Exciting
Reflective Emotional
Engaging
Neutral
Thorough

Types Of Features
• Personality profiles: A personality profile is written to bring an audience closer to a
person in or out of the news. Interviews and observations, as well as creative writing, are
used to paint a vivid picture of the person.
• Human interest stories: A human interest story is written to show a subject's oddity or
its practical, emotional, or entertainment value.
• Trend stories: A trend story examines people, things or organizations that are having
an impact on society. Trend stories are popular because people are excited to read or
hear about the latest fads.

• Backgrounders: A backgrounder--also called an analysis piece-adds meaning to current


issues in the news by explaining them further. These articles bring an audience up-to-
date, explaining how this country, this organization, this person happens to be where it is
now.
• In-depth stories: Through extensive research and interviews, in-depth stories provide a
detailed account well beyond a basic news story or feature
• Historical features: These features commemorate important dates in history or turning
points in our social, political and cultural life. They offer a useful juxtaposition of then
and now. Historical features take the reader back to revisit an event and the issues
surrounding it. You should aim at reporting the facts and nothing else.

Common questions

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A well-organized feature story is crucial because it facilitates a smooth flow of ideas, making the narrative easy to follow and understand. Clear structure—with an introduction, body, and conclusion—ensures that the story unfolds logically and cohesively, maintaining the reader’s interest and enhancing comprehension. Proper organization also allows the story’s key points to shine through clearly, ensuring that the audience retains crucial information .

A feature story can maintain relevance despite not being timely through the writer's skillful use of language and storytelling techniques to engage contemporary audiences. Writers often employ strategies such as drawing connections to universal themes, using striking and relatable language, or focusing on evergreen topics like love, friendship, or human experience. By resonating with current sentiments or highlighting perennial issues, feature stories can captivate readers even if the subject matter itself is not fresh .

The relationship between creativity and factual content in feature writing is a delicate balance where the journalistic integrity of factual reporting is maintained alongside imaginative storytelling techniques. This balance is crucial because it enables writers to present factual information in a manner that is both engaging and accurate, ensuring that readers are informed while being entertained. Creativity allows for emotional engagement and captures the reader’s imagination, but it must not overshadow the story's factual integrity, ensuring that journalism remains trustworthy and credible .

Feature stories are characterized by their elaborative nature, allowing for more creativity in writing, and they primarily focus on interesting topics that delve into greater detail compared to news articles. While news articles are structured using the inverted triangle approach prioritizing immediacy and presenting facts concisely, feature stories use the upright triangle style, starting with less critical information and progressing to the most important aspects. Feature stories also have a variety of tones, forms, and styles intended to entertain in addition to informing, whereas news articles are typically more formal and fact-driven .

Personality profiles play a significant role in feature writing by providing in-depth insights into an individual's life, character, and motivations, often through interviews and observations. They contribute to audience engagement by humanizing subjects and presenting relatable stories that resonate on a personal level. This type of feature allows readers to connect more deeply with the featured individual, going beyond superficial details to explore the person’s influence, struggles, and achievements .

A feature story maintains factual integrity by ensuring that all content is grounded in truth and verifiable facts, even as it allows for creative writing techniques such as narrative styles or colorful language to engage the reader emotionally and intellectually. This balance is crucial as feature stories still fall under journalistic standards where the foundation remains truth and accuracy. This duality allows feature stories to captivate an audience with engaging storytelling while providing reliable information, thus enhancing both their informative and entertainment value .

Historical features are valuable because they commemorate important dates or turning points in societal contexts, offering a comprehensive look into past events with an emphasis on their long-term impacts. They serve as a bridge connecting past occurrences with current events, helping readers understand the present by reflecting on how history has shaped contemporary society. By revisiting these past events, historical features provide context and depth, facilitating a more nuanced understanding of current issues .

Trend stories are distinguished by their focus on current societal impacts of people, things, or organizations. These narratives build on the excitement and curiosity surrounding the latest developments, be they cultural, technological, or social. Their popularity arises from the human inclination to stay updated with new fads and innovations that influence lifestyles and cultural norms; thus, trend stories capture widespread interest by highlighting relevant and timely topics .

'In-depth stories' enhance news coverage by offering a comprehensive exploration of topics through extensive research and interviews. Unlike basic news reporting, which often provides a concise overview, in-depth stories delve into the nuances and broader contexts of issues, uncovering underlying factors and providing a detailed narrative that enriches the reader’s understanding. They provide the depth necessary for informed public discourse, allowing readers to grasp the complexities and importance of news issues .

The tone of a feature story can vary widely, including dramatic, creepy, exciting, suspenseful, angry, morbid, or humorous tones. This flexibility benefits storytelling by allowing the writer to match the tone with the subject matter to engage the reader effectively. Different tones can evoke various emotions, making the narrative more compelling and memorable, thus better serving the story's purpose, whether it be to entertain, inform, or provoke thought .

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