This document provides an overview of feature writing. It discusses the differences between news and features, noting that features have more flexibility in structure and timeline. It then lists common feature story types like trends, human interest, profiles, how-to's, and behind-the-scenes pieces. The document provides tips for writing features, such as using a single person's perspective, focusing on an incident or anecdote, employing startling statements or dialogue, and using setting to establish theme. It also discusses incorporating facts, figures, quotes, analysis, atmosphere and description into features.

1. Alfonso M. Samillano Jr.
ESL Teacher & ESP Practitioner
University of Antique – Main Campus
Sibalom, Antique

2. When people want to be informed about current
events, they read the news.
When they want to be entertained with articles
containing information as well as analysis and
emotion, they read features.
A news story has a ‘shelf life’ and must be used
immediately, whereas the feature story can be
used anytime.

3. • Society
• Health
• Food
• Entertainment
• Individuals
• The environment
• Economics
• Current issues
• Politics
• Sports
• Celebrities

4. • Trends
• Human interest
• Profiles
• How-to
• Behind the scenes
**There are many more, but these are most popular…**

5. • Trend stories report on changes that happen gradually
over time.
• It’s often a good idea to personalize the leads of these
stories.
• Is there a cool new look in women's fall fashions? A
website or tech gadget that everyone's going nuts over?
• An indie band that's attracted a cult following? A show
on an obscure cable channel that's suddenly hot? These
are the kinds of things that trend stories zero in on.

7. • Human interest stories in some way tell us more about
what it means to be human. They have little impact;
sometimes profiles can be human interest stories.
• Discusses issues through the experiences of another

8. Viewpoint: Is
bloodied
Syrian boy
Omran
Daqneesh just
another
image?
The iconic image of a bloodied Syrian boy in an ambulance has sparked
international compassion but, asks Lina Sergie Attar, can it now
transcend being just a hashtag or viral moment and become a
movement to end the war? – 08/20/2016

9. TYPES
• Profiles tell the story of a person or persons. Very
common; reveals an individual’s character or lifestyle
• Exposes different facets of the subject so readers will
feel they know the person.

11. • How-to(s): These articles help people learn by telling
them how to do something.
• The writer learns about the topic thorough education,
experience, research or interviews with experts.

13. • Behind the scenes: Inside views of unusual
occupations, issues and events give readers a feeling
of penetrating the inner circle or being a mouse in the
corner.
• Readers like feeling privy to unusual details
and well kept secrets about procedures or
activities they might not ordinarily be
exposed to or allowed to participate in.

15. • Not the inverted pyramid….
• The information in a feature is organized differently
from hard news stories.
• Sometimes a writer uses several paragraphs of copy
at the outset to engage the reader before getting
into the main elements of the story.

16. • After the title and opening paragraph(nutgraph) grab
the reader, narrative hooks/leads are used to
persuade the reader to continue reading.
• A writer can choose to tell the story out of order to
engage reader’s interest….
• Flashbacks
• Story-within-a-story

18. 1. Facts and Figures
At the core of journalism are facts and figures that
confirm claims and statements. These facts and
figures also often get distorted or misinterpreted as
a controversial story or issue continues and the
journalist must sort them out.

19. 2. Quotes
Miriam Santiago is quotable. She calls people less
educated than her as “lower life forms.” but not
everyone is as colorful. People say many things and
the journalist is left to sort out the meat from the soup.
Why are quotes important?

20. 3. Atmosphere
Emotions in feature stories are best expressed through the description of
events, people or the interplay of dialogue.
The first thing I saw was three dead bodies on the ground being carried into the
ambulance. Those were the neighbors of Omran’s family. The building was totally destroyed-
all six floors were now rubble.
Then I looked up to see another building half destroyed – Omran’s house. The
White Helmet rescue workers climbed the stairs of a building nearby as the stairs at Omran’s
house were destroyed. I joined in to
The first survivor they rescued was Omran. I took mycammera and started filming. I
found out later that he is just four years old.
The tears started to drop as I took the photo. It is not the first time help.I’ve cried. I
have cried many times while filming traumatized children. I always cry. Last night, everyone
cried.
Omran affected me because he was silent. He didn’t cry. He didn’t say a word. He
was shocked.

21. 4. Analysis
Everything has details, but it is the discerning journalist
who knows how to use them. Details are as precious to
the journalist as they are to the novelist.
A journalist may write that child labor is dangerous but
this does not strike the reader as anything unique.

22. **Typically longer than hard news**
•Description
•Question Lead
•Shocking statement
•Narrative
•Quotation
•Anecdote

23. The scent drives you to a paradise. It fills the whole
room with extreme ecstasy of fragrance so saccharine
and entrancing. Butterflies hover like clouds moving in
fastforward above the blossoming flowers and orchids. It
is a garden --- a garden inside a home.

24. Buy 1 Ariel sachet, get free iPhone 6
Plus!
On a tv release, Ariel detergent
powder with the scent of Aratiles
launches its first huge promo of the year.
With one sachet, consumers can get a
chance to win the latest iPhone 6 Plus.

25. “Nak, bangon ron dyan. Adlawun ron.”
Dawn has yet to come but James’
mother is already in the small kitchen of their
cogon-roofed house, setting fire for the
kettle to boil ginger for her son. James has to
set off early for school since General Fullon,
San Remigio is five mountains and four rivers
away from St. Vincent’s Academy.

26. “It is not right, we blame the son for the
sin of his father,” Vice Presidentiable
Honasan said.
On a debate, Honasan defended Vice
Presidentiable Bongbong Marcos against
personal attacks based on Martial law.

27. Mommy Dionisia is 68 years old but she looks like 25.
At such age, she still goes to ballroom dancing. And
when asked what her secrets are, she said just “Don’t
worry, be happy.” And in a teenage fashion, she
creamed “may asim pa!”

28. FEATURE WRITING HINT #1
• Focus on a single person for your lead.
• Tell the story through one person’s eyes; this requires
good reporting.

29. FEATURE WRITING HINT #2
• Focus on an incident or anecdote.
• Retell a specific moment or scene for your lead. Show,
don’t tell.

30. FEATURE WRITING HINT #3
• Try a startling statement or dialogue or other devices.

31. FEATURE WRITING HINT #4
• Describe a setting as a way of establishing the theme
of a piece

32. FEATURE BODY
• Keep related material together
• Divide piece into sections. Each section tells a different
part of the story.
• End stories in memorable ways. Often it’s a good to use
a quote. This is called a clincher.