Writing Features Print Journalism John Williamson 25th January 2007

Key discussions What is a feature / definitions Key characteristics of features writing Different types of features - newspapers, magazines, online How to structure and organise features Examples & Initial Planning

What is a feature / definitions

Key characteristics of features writing

Different types of features - newspapers, magazines, online

How to structure and organise features

Examples & Initial Planning

What is a feature: some definitions Similarities and differences to news reporting. Underpinned by factual detail and news sense - but Longer, more expansive and more personal than news reporting More freedom to use own voice, personal experience. More sources, background and context

Similarities and differences to news reporting.

Underpinned by factual detail and news sense - but

Longer, more expansive and more personal than news reporting

More freedom to use own voice, personal experience.

More sources, background and context

What is a feature: some definitions Balance of fact against (self) indulgence Mencher identifies some of the key characteristics of feature writing : Activity : showing people doing things Talk : let the subjects speak at length Underwriting : let action and dialogue drive feature Motion : keep piece moving forward

Balance of fact against (self) indulgence

Mencher identifies some of the key characteristics of feature writing :

Activity : showing people doing things

Talk : let the subjects speak at length

Underwriting : let action and dialogue drive feature

Motion : keep piece moving forward

What is a feature: some definitions “ features have more comment, analysis, colour, background and a greater diversity of sources than news stories and explore a number of issues at greater depth.” (Keeble, 2001: 141)

“ features have more comment, analysis, colour, background and a greater diversity of sources than news stories and explore a number of issues at greater depth.” (Keeble, 2001: 141)

Key characteristics Features writing is often marked out by: Colour : small details adding life to writing Observation : description of people/ events Opinion / slant: writer or publication’s worldview Quotes: most features draw on original material/ sources Narrative: story telling Dialogue / Debate: discussion / argument Context: scene setting

Features writing is often marked out by:

Colour : small details adding life to writing

Observation : description of people/ events

Opinion / slant: writer or publication’s worldview

Quotes: most features draw on original material/ sources

Narrative: story telling

Dialogue / Debate: discussion / argument

Context: scene setting

Other considerations Not news story, though may be built around it. Idea of ‘going behind / underneath the news’ “ fluff” - often dismissed as such. Importance of knowing the style, content of the newspaper/ magazine you are aiming at/ writing for. Visual dimension: feature writers have ‘the biggest eyes in journalism’ Time : there is usually a much longer deadline for longer features due to production schedules, etc.

Not news story, though may be built around it.

Idea of ‘going behind / underneath the news’

“ fluff” - often dismissed as such.

Importance of knowing the style, content of the newspaper/ magazine you are aiming at/ writing for.

Visual dimension: feature writers have ‘the biggest eyes in journalism’

Time : there is usually a much longer deadline for longer features due to production schedules, etc.

Some types of feature writing Issue based : canvassing views on one particular aspect of a subject. Human interest : based on people, their (life) stories. Not necessarily famous/ personalities. Eye witness reporting: embedded journalism - being part of an event - detailing it. Personality/ Celebrity Journalism: choice of subject down to their status, public awareness. Profiles : detailed article on well-known/ interesting characters in the field. Trends: food/ restaurants, jobs, music, fashion etc

Issue based : canvassing views on one particular aspect of a subject.

Human interest : based on people, their (life) stories. Not necessarily famous/ personalities.

Eye witness reporting: embedded journalism - being part of an event - detailing it.

Personality/ Celebrity Journalism: choice of subject down to their status, public awareness.

Profiles : detailed article on well-known/ interesting characters in the field.

Trends: food/ restaurants, jobs, music, fashion etc

Some types of feature writing All of these types of feature work across different areas of newspaper coverage: News / Politics / Leaders / Columns Arts Sport Business Technology Travel Features writers tend to specialise - though good writers can move between different fields (e.g. Richard Williams, Charles Shaar Murray, etc) Recent moves by (broadsheet) newspapers to compartmentalise much of their features writing in supplements, magazines, etc

All of these types of feature work across different areas of newspaper coverage:

News / Politics / Leaders / Columns

Arts

Sport

Business

Technology

Travel

Features writers tend to specialise - though good writers can move between different fields (e.g. Richard Williams, Charles Shaar Murray, etc)

Recent moves by (broadsheet) newspapers to compartmentalise much of their features writing in supplements, magazines, etc

Example: Eyewitness Features Journalist takes on role of an outsider looking into another world. Difference between attending an event as a member of the public and a journalist. (e.g. festivals) Feature will not necessarily be written in a chronological order, but will pay close attention to details, quotes, and be based around observations of events and behaviour.

Journalist takes on role of an outsider looking into another world.

Difference between attending an event as a member of the public and a journalist. (e.g. festivals)

Feature will not necessarily be written in a chronological order, but will pay close attention to details, quotes, and be based around observations of events and behaviour.

Example: Eyewitness Features Often aimed at non-specialist readers, may have to include extra detail to accommodate. Usually subjective - though danger of becoming self-indulgent. Need to be true to the feelings of the writer. Problem of how to write creatively about dull /tedious events. Problems associated with being an ‘outsider’ vs ‘insider.’

Often aimed at non-specialist readers, may have to include extra detail to accommodate.

Usually subjective - though danger of becoming self-indulgent.

Need to be true to the feelings of the writer. Problem of how to write creatively about dull /tedious events.

Problems associated with being an ‘outsider’ vs ‘insider.’

Example: Profile Writing Popular form of feature in newspapers and magazines. Not always of individuals. Readers are curious about other people and their lifestyles, opinions, etc. Journalists find them fun to write and can be useful way of building contacts Editors and publishers find them regular, cost-effective space-fillers. Subjects often flattered by attention.

Popular form of feature in newspapers and magazines. Not always of individuals.

Readers are curious about other people and their lifestyles, opinions, etc.

Journalists find them fun to write and can be useful way of building contacts

Editors and publishers find them regular, cost-effective space-fillers.

Subjects often flattered by attention.

Example: Profile Writing Profiles also fall into a number of categories: Short, news-story related. A person’s views on a current issue(s) Longer overview of a person’s life Question and answer profiles Angled, special focus profiles. Profiles of couples, families, friends, etc. Danger of profiles being too sycophantic/ controlled by PR industry (e.g. celebrity magazines)

Profiles also fall into a number of categories:

Short, news-story related.

A person’s views on a current issue(s)

Longer overview of a person’s life

Question and answer profiles

Angled, special focus profiles.

Profiles of couples, families, friends, etc.

Danger of profiles being too sycophantic/ controlled by PR industry (e.g. celebrity magazines)

How to write a feature: Planning Planning and Research: Organising interviews - access to subjects often controlled by PR companies Accessing background material - press cuttings, other interviews, listening to music, watching films/ programmes, etc. Deciding on the tone/ angle of piece - often dictated by publication its is for.

Planning and Research:

Organising interviews - access to subjects often controlled by PR companies

Accessing background material - press cuttings, other interviews, listening to music, watching films/ programmes, etc.

Deciding on the tone/ angle of piece - often dictated by publication its is for.

Introduction and Conclusion Most important parts of feature are introduction and conclusion. Feature must have a clear beginning, middle and end. Needs to be focused and thematic. Introduction can adopt a number of styles: News-report style. A quote A question A personal observation or anecdote It needs to make reader want to continue and explain what it is about.

Most important parts of feature are introduction and conclusion.

Feature must have a clear beginning, middle and end.

Needs to be focused and thematic.

Introduction can adopt a number of styles:

News-report style.

A quote

A question

A personal observation or anecdote

It needs to make reader want to continue and explain what it is about.

Introduction Some other devices: comment, description of a look, phone call, memory/ recollection, journey, arrival, etc. Adams suggests 5 questions which might help get a feature started: What is the most interesting fact? What is the best anecdote? What is the most sensational quote? What is/ was the most surprising event? What is the ‘did you know that . . ‘ factor?

Some other devices: comment, description of a look, phone call, memory/ recollection, journey, arrival, etc.

Adams suggests 5 questions which might help get a feature started:

What is the most interesting fact?

What is the best anecdote?

What is the most sensational quote?

What is/ was the most surprising event?

What is the ‘did you know that . . ‘ factor?

The Substance of the feature Facts Quotes Description Anecdotes Opinions Analysis Pay off / conclusion - reward for reader persevering until the end.

Facts

Quotes

Description

Anecdotes

Opinions

Analysis

Pay off / conclusion - reward for reader persevering until the end.

The end (of the feature) The end can be. . . A comment Arguing a case / drawing a conclusion A concluding quote A pointed question A summary of the article Indeed, many of the devices used to start it - BUT it helps to: Hold something significant back and Make a a connection with the introduction

The end can be. . .

A comment

Arguing a case / drawing a conclusion

A concluding quote

A pointed question

A summary of the article

Indeed, many of the devices used to start it - BUT it helps to:

Hold something significant back and

Make a a connection with the introduction

And one last thing. . . Importance of re-reading the article several times Check that the style is appropriate for your publication - for example, Past or present tense Use of first person Assumed knowledge Length of sentences and paragraphs Technicalities - abbreviations, numbers, etc Don’t be ashamed to use style guide, dictionary and thesaurus.

Importance of re-reading the article several times

Check that the style is appropriate for your publication - for example,

Past or present tense

Use of first person

Assumed knowledge

Length of sentences and paragraphs

Technicalities - abbreviations, numbers, etc

Don’t be ashamed to use style guide, dictionary and thesaurus.

The next stage Get someone else’s opinion (not another journalist) Cenziper talks of re-reading her work 3 times to check: Flow Fairness - how those involved are portrayed Facts - making sure that these are accurate Submit your article for subbing/ editing! Await publication.

Get someone else’s opinion (not another journalist)

Cenziper talks of re-reading her work 3 times to check:

Flow

Fairness - how those involved are portrayed

Facts - making sure that these are accurate

Submit your article for subbing/ editing!

Await publication.

Summary Feature writing takes many forms across newspapers and magazines. Equally the are a number of approaches - the key is to develop a style of your own that matches the publication you work for. Importance of structure, coherence, focus and themes. Even greater importance of strong introduction and conclusion. Trial and error - it often requires writing bad features to be able to write good ones.

Feature writing takes many forms across newspapers and magazines.

Equally the are a number of approaches - the key is to develop a style of your own that matches the publication you work for.

Importance of structure, coherence, focus and themes.

Even greater importance of strong introduction and conclusion.

Trial and error - it often requires writing bad features to be able to write good ones.