Slides used in my Campus Journalism Class

1. Prepared by:
Leo Improgo Tan III
Campus Journalism Instructor
Feature Writing

2. Feature Writing
What is Feature?
takes and in-depth look at
what’s going on behind the
news.
It tires to explain why and how a
trend is going on.
It is most varied in scope,
purpose and style.
Its dominant purpose is to
entertain.

3. Characteristics of a Good
Feature
 Creativity- from the most ordinary
or common things to the bizarre or
most unimaginable subjects.
 Human Interest- entertaining,
inputs writers own thoughts and
emotions.
- explores different points of views.
- it gets into the lives of people.

4. Characteristics…..
 Factual Content- it informs the
readers of the situation, event or
aspect of life which might not have
covered by hard news.
 -it explain, inform, and supplement
the news.

5. Characteristics….
 Entertainment Value- it breaks the
monotony and morbidity of war,
murder, rape, scandal, controversy,
and corruption that fill the news
page.
- Feature articles add color, life and
zest of our publication.

6. Characteristics….
 Timelessness/Imperishability-
Feature stories can be had for
weeks or months without losing
their usefulness unlike news stories
which gets stale as soon as they are
told.

7. Characteristics….
 Entirety- feature stories are read in
their entirety, so the writer can
place the highest point of interest
at the end unlike the news.
 Variety of tone and Style- feature
stories rarely begin with the
summary lead. The writer can use
novelty lead and employ any
treatment suitable to his material

8. Characteristics….
 Organization- features apply the
principles of creative writing to
achieve unity, coherence and
emphasis.
 - sentences may be longer allowing
the use of colorful phrases and
figurative languages.

9. Structure of the Feature
Story:
 The Lead
- it should attract outright the
attention of the readers that their
interest immediately drawn so they
will decide to read on.

10. Kinds of Lead
1. Question Lead- Asking a the readers
a question the answer to which is in
the story.
- Ex. Banana Peelings: An ice cream
flavor?
2. Exclamation Lead- the opening
sentence by its very nature compels
attention.
- Ex. Sink or Swim!
A millionaire at ten. Fantastic!

11. Kinds of ….
3. Quotation Lead-
Ex. “ Gone are the days when
children are only seen and never
heard.”
“Nothing is rich but the
inexhaustible wealth of nature. She
shows us only surfaces, but she is a
million fathoms deep”.

12. Kinds of ….
4. Descriptive Lead- gives a vivid
description of a person, place or
situation so that the reader creates
a mental picture of it.
-Ex. Non-stop beating of drums. 24-
hour week-long street dancing.
Soot-stained faces, arms and legs.
Colorful costumes. The shouts of
“Hala Bira”and “Viva!”

13. Kinds of ….
5. Striking Statement- a short snappy
statement set off in a paragraph by
itself.
-Ex. The boat people are here to stay.
The convict hanged himself.
6. Contrast Lead- this lead points out
the opposites and extremes. It
should be sharp and witty.

14. Kinds of….
 -Ex. They were given a new house
and are Php 100,000 richer but the
fire victims could not get over the
death of their loved ones in the fire
that razed the squatters area in
Tondo, Saturday night.
7. Narration Lead- this lead is written
in a form of narration.

15. Kinds of ….
Ex. They activity started with a
parade participated in by the
different government officials and
employees which ended in the
tourism sports pavilion, Balbagon,
Camiguin. They were celebrating
the 32nd
lanzones festival.

16. Kinds of …..
8. Summary Lead- this is the
introduction that sums up the
subject of the feature story.

17. The Body
 Must have unity, coherence and
emphasis.
 Must be able to hold and sustain the
interest of readers.
 A central idea or theme must be
carried all throughout the story.
 Paragraphs are shorter than those
of literary short stories but longer
than in news stories.

18. The Conclusion
 Make sure your conclusion has
impact.
How? – by giving a condensed
summary or
state the salient points in the
story.
- by giving the highest point of
interest or the most important
fact in the feature.
 Use your imagination. Be sure you
come up with something for the
readers to remember.

19. Types of Feature Stories
1. Informative Feature-
- gives information
- includes stories about subjects
of current interest.
- it is based on interview and
research

20. Types of ….
 2. Human Interest feature- deals
with minor incidents that may
deserve attention because of
dramatic, humorous, tragic,
sensational or oddity angles.
3. Trend Stories- examines people,
things or organizations that are
having an impact on society.

21. Types….
 Trend stories are popular because
people are excited to read or hear
about the latest fads.
 4. How-to- do Feature- gives
information on the process of doing
things and how certain products are
made.

22. Types of …..
5. Personality Sketch/Profile- a
personality profile is written to
bring an audience closer to 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.
6. Personal Experience- This type
tells of some unusual experience
and as a first person account.

23. Types of ….
7. Humorous Feature- it is written
with lots of fun and laughter in it.
8. Interpretative Feature- it
instructs, informs and clarifies to
the readers the background and
significance of social, economic,
political and other problems of
everyday life.

24. Types of ….
9. Seasonal or Holiday feature- this
includes subjects such as events
celebrated at least once a year or
during the season like New Year,
Christmas, Independence Day, Earth
Day , etc.

25. Types of….
10. Travelogue- An account of one’s
travel experiences and a vivid
description of the place visited.