Feature Writing

FEATURE WRITING
Presented by
Crizel Aquino
WHAT IS FEATURE
WRITING?
It involves writing featured articles on
trending topics, great personalities and
relevant issues
longer than a specific news story and
more informative in nature
it covers a story in great depth and is
intended to captivate the audience’s
attention to a specific cause by looking at
the story from a different angle
difference between news and feature story
FEATURE STORY
NEWS STORY
covers recent or issue specific that

breaking news might not be recent.
summarises the focuses on anecdotal
story references.
single source or contains a number of
angle. angles and sources
PARTS OF A FEATURE
STORY
HEADLINE / TITLE
should grab the readers’ attention quickly so they’ll keep reading. It
needs to highlight the general topic of the story. If you’re featuring
a person, don’t just use their name as the headline. Include a
unique detail that will be uncovered as they read on.
For example:
David Young: The Man Who Restored Faith to the Darkest Village
in Nepal
HEADLINE / TITLE
should grab the readers’ attention quickly so they’ll keep reading. It
needs to highlight the general topic of the story. If you’re featuring
a person, don’t just use their name as the headline. Include a
unique detail that will be uncovered as they read on.
For example:
David Young: The Man Who Restored Faith to the Darkest Village
in Nepal
DECK/SUBHEAD/ STANDFIRST
your second chance to entire readers. While the title of the

article will pop with a unique angle, the deck consists of one
or two short sentences that’ll leave no question in the readers’
minds; they must read this article. It should capture the gist of
the story.
For example:
For years, the people of Nepal lived under a dark cloud of oppression.
That is, until David Young instigated a faith movement that would
completely reshape their lives.
INTRODUCTION
should tell the reader why this story is important or worth their
time, but in a sort of oblique way. This is your last chance to
“hook” a reader before they flip the page or click away.
Be sure to keep your sentences short. Use this as an opportunity
to say something attention-grabbing or something that’ll spark
the reader’s interest. Always remember - the WHY is important.
You establish the tone of your article in the introduction.
BODY
should be broken into sections with several headings for easy
organization.
This section contains most of the details of the story. It includes
names, places, times, and quotes related to the person, event, or
organization. The opinions of the writer, those at the location of the
story, and experts are presented in the body of the article. This is also
the place to include any pictures that illustrate the story, as well as
diagrams, charts, and other visual elements.
CONCLUSION
should leave a lasting impression on the reader and

provoke some sort of reaction. It should prompt action on
the part of the reader, encourage a change of opinion, or
encourage the reader to make a decision.
TYPES OF A FEATURE
STORY
NEWS FEATURE
has its basis upon timely news happening with a human-
interest angle is called a news feature Often a news
happening can be made much more interesting or
newsworthy by writing it in a semi-feature sort of thing.
A news feature is generally timelier than a straight
human interest or a long feature story.
INFORMATIVE FEATURE
does not use many of the fiction writer’s devices, since its purpose
is to inform more than to entertain. It may be very closely related
to the so called “New Journalism”. Facts for this type are usually
obtained from interviews, library research and personal
observation. To create interest feature writer, includes human-
interest elements in his feature. Its success depends upon the
accuracy facts and the style and form with which it is presented.
PERSONALITY SKETCHES
It is very popular among the readers as everybody wants to

know about other people.
not easy to write as it is an uphill task to portray a personality
with artistic preciseness. Facts about the person are obtained
from his friends, teachers, relatives and associates. While
writing a personality sketch a feature writer must avoid,
stereotyped pattern that finds it way into these features very
often.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE STORY
in the form of an interview. It must deal with an unusual

experience or a wonderful accomplishment. The writer must be
careful not to en1ogize the subject but rather allow the facts to tell
the story by themselves.
HUMAN INTEREST FEATURE STORY
written under the influence of humorous and pathetic incidents that are
reported in the daily routine. It usually develops from an ordinary
incident or situation but due to fantastic style of composition appeals to
the emotions. But it must be kept in mind that it is based upon facts of
a timely nature. It’s news value is almost nil and it would not have been
published if it were not presented in an interesting and entertaining
style. Therefore it entertains more than it informs. It may be written
about almost anything i.e. person’s places, animals etc.
HISTORICAL FEATURE
Though It is deal with events or personalities of the past, have interest

for present day readers because the facts these features give:
are timely.
are unique.
throw new light on an old story.
debunk wrong popular beliefs.
promote speculation and imagery among the readers.
INTERPRETATIVE FEATURE
inform, instruct and throw light on the background of

certain problems. The following topics are usually
discussed under the heading or interpretative feature.
Social problems
Economic problems
Political problems
Problems of everyday life
POPULARIZED SCIENTIFIC FEATURE
bridging the gap, which separated the scientist and

journalist for a long-time present scientifically accurate
facts in a non-technical easily understood language
TIPS IN WRITING A
FEATURE STORY
DON'T BE AFRAID OF
BE CONVERSATIONAL OPTIONS
A feature article should always

be very professional and Instead of presenting hard-
buttoned-up. However, since hitting facts as you might in a
this is a human interest story typical news story, you’re able
and you want to draw readers to take on a bit of a persuasive
into an experience, you don’t bent and pose a few rhetorical
have to be overly formal or questions in features. Avail
stiff. Consider things like yourself of the added freedom
colloquialisms, first-person to write a feature that you
narratives, and an would want to read if you
authoritative yet were on the other side of the
conversational tone. print.
REMEMBER YOU'RE STILL PAINT A PICTURE
A REPORTER To enhance the relationship with your
audience, make use of creative
descriptions that will draw on the
Don’t forget to include all the facts reader's imagination. Really paint the
and comment on the location of the scene and work to contextualize what
story. Facts and statistics will add you’re trying to say.
authority and context to your story. If you’re interviewing a person,
Extensive research is critical! You can describe the setting. If you’re
also sprinkle in relevant jargon to describing a major event, relay small
add authenticity to the facts as well details like the wispy pink sky and the
as the opinions of those interviewed. smell of cotton candy in the air. The
The use of quotes from people imagery that you create will captivate
involved makes your story more the reader and hold them with you
personal and real, eliciting an until the end.
emotional response in the reader.

Feature Writing

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FEATURE WRITING

covers recent or issue specific that

your second chance to entire readers. While the title of the

should leave a lasting impression on the reader and

It is very popular among the readers as everybody wants to

in the form of an interview. It must deal with an unusual

Though It is deal with events or personalities of the past, have interest

inform, instruct and throw light on the background of

bridging the gap, which separated the scientist and

A feature article should always

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