This document defines a feature as a creative, subjective article designed to both entertain and inform readers about an event or aspect of life. It discusses the key elements of features, including creativity, subjectivity, entertainment value, and being informative. The document outlines that features are long-form journalistic pieces found in newspapers, magazines, blogs, and other media. Features require research and description, cover topics in-depth through reflective thought, and have novelty leads that hook readers into the story. While not reporting on breaking news, features penetrate deeper into subjects using techniques like dialogue, voice, and wrapping up the story through its conclusion.

1. Rida Munir Butt
Saba Ijaz
Misbah Bahadur
centreformediaandcommunicationstudies
universityofGujrat

2. Definition:
“A special article in a newspaper, magazine
or a part of television, radio broadcast that
deals with
a particular subject”.

3. What is Feature?
A feature is a creative, sometimes
subjective article, designed
primarily to entertain and to inform
readers about an event, situation,
and any aspect of life.

4. Elements of above statement
• Creativity:
• Subjectivity:
• Entertainment
• Informative
• Imperishable

5. So feature stories are:
• Feature stories are popular content
elements of newspapers, magazines,
blogs, websites, newsletter, TV
broadcast and other media.

6. • Feature stories are journalistic
researched, description, colorful,
thoughtful reflective through about
original ideas.

9. • Are factual and require reporting
• May or may not be timely.
• The form and style must be according to
the contents and purpose
• Have novelty leads

10. • Mention keynotes in the opening
sentences
• Feature stories cover topic in-depth
• doesn’t mean to report recent breaking
news
• Features are generally longer
• penetrates deeper in the subject.

11. Feature Writing
• Does not have to be written in the
inverted pyramid format
• Written to hook the reader and draw
them into the story

14. • Human interest story:
• Personal experience feature:
• Character Sketch or Profile:
• Service feature or “how to”:
• Historical Features:

15. • Behind the scenes:
• Seasonal Themes:
• Developmental feature:
• Featurettes
• Travel stories

19. • Features are not only
restricted to print media
• There are also found audio
and video features

20. Sources of feature
• Personalities
• Commemorations

21. • Social and cultural sources
• Science and technology

22. • History
• Psychological factors
• Investigative stories
• Policies
• Electronic
• Social subjects

23. • Expositional and
instructional

25. ….
• Efficiently composed information
• Fact based
• Keen observation and interest
• Consider the demand of reader
• Entertain and inform as well
• Written off-the-cuff
• Divergence
• Human interest

26. • Lead must be impressive
• Positive approach
• Critical view of topic
• Form and content must be suitable to
topic
• Literary touch
• Style
• Defined conclusion
• Be visual

27. • Brainstorm idea
• What’s the purpose?
• Research the topic.
• Grab the reader’s attention
• Keep that attention
• Leave an impression.

28. • Topic
• Who are your readers?
• What do your readers already know?
• What do your readers need to know?
• Write a theme for your story.

29. Choosing the Theme
• Has the story been done before?
• Is the story of interest to the audience?
• Does the story have holding power
(emotional appeal)?
• What makes the story worthy of being
reported?
• The theme answers the question, "So
what?"

30. • The “So What” paragraph
• Usually in the third or fourth paragraph
• Explains the reason the story is being
written

31. Writing the Lead
• A summary may not be the best lead
• A lead block of one or two paragraphs often begins a
feature
• Rather than put the news elements of the story in the
lead, the feature writer uses the first two or three
paragraphs to set a mood, to arouse readers, to
invite them inside

32. Body of the Feature
• Provides vital information while it
educates, entertains, and emotionally
ties an audience to the subject
• Important components include:
– Background information
– The “thread” of the story
– Dialogue
– Voice

33. Background Information
• A paragraph or two of background
should be placed high in the story to
bring the audience up to date

34. Background Information
• A paragraph or two of background
should be placed high in the story to
bring the audience up to date

35. The “Thread” of the
Story
• Connect the beginning, body and conclusion of the
story
• Because a feature generally runs longer than a news
story, it is effective to weave a thread throughout the
story, which connects the lead to the body and to the
conclusion
• This thread can be a single person, an event or a
thing, and it usually highlights the theme

36. Dialogue
• May be used to keep a story moving
• In feature reporting, it must be accurate
• Can give readers strong mental images
and keep them attached to the writing
and to the story’s key players

37. Establish A Voice
• The "signature" or personal style of
each writer
• Voice is the personality of the writer and
can be used to inject color, tone, and
subtle emotional commentary into the
story.
• Voice should be used subtly

38. Wrapping it Up
• The ending will wrap up the story and
come back to the lead, often with a
quotation or a surprising climax.
• Often, a feature ends where the lead
started, with a single person or event.

39. •Writing is a process
•Writing requires discipline
• writing is building
Finally … sit down and
write……….   

40. That’s what all we have …….
03/11/2012 Feature writing