Feature stories are defined as human interest pieces that engage emotionally, providing factual narratives that may include vivid descriptions and quotes. They can cover a variety of topics and are often organized with specific structures, starting with a novelty lead and culminating in a strong conclusion. Writers are encouraged to use a combination of storytelling techniques to maintain reader interest while ensuring factual accuracy.

1. Feature Writing

2. Almost no one can give an exact
definition of a feature story. It is not a news
story written in inverted pyramid form with
no opinion or other embellishments. It is not a
fiction story, for most features deal with facts.
While it may explain, it does not provide
opinion like an editorial.
Figuratively, we can say that while
straight news appeals to the physical and
editorial appeals to the intellect, feature story
appeals to the emotion.
- Gelly E. Alkuino

3. Feature stories are portraits of
different facets of life depicted vividly
in writings.
- Gretel Laura Cadiong

4. Feature article is the
journalistic equivalent of the essay.
It’s function is to humanize, to add
color and to educate in an
entertaining manner. It tells about
how and why things happen.
- Dominador Pagliawan

5. A feature story as a write-up is
based on that mysterious ingredient in
journalism called human interest.
Feature article appeals to the
emotion. It tells stories and paints
pictures in the minds of the readers.
- Antonio Alido

6. A feature article is factual. It tells story
showing specific scenes. And it usually
quotes liberally and allows the reader to see
the story through detailed description and
vivid writing.
- Eden Dadap

7. Qualities of Feature Articles
1. It deals with any topic.
2. It usually entertains more often than it informs,
instructs or advises.
3. It may be long or short as long as it covers the
subject adequately and keeps it interesting to the
readers.
4. It may be light or serious, depending on its purpose.

8. Qualities of Feature Articles
5. It could be formal or informal and written
in any form and style, but well organized.
6. It may or may not be timely.
7. It begins with a novelty lead.
8. It is written in ascending interest.

9. Qualities of Feature Articles
9. It is based on facts. Though sometimes, the writer
uses his imagination to play up the details, it is still
anchored on facts.
10. It can be garnished with adjective, figures of
speech, dialogue, anecdote, local color and idiomatic
expressions.
11. It can be written in the first or third person.

10. Kinds of Feature Story
• Informative Feature
- It gives information to the readers. This
includes about subjects of current interests.
• Human Interest Feature
- A story that somehow involves people and
their troubles, failures and successes.

11. • Historical Feature
- It narrates the evolution of something
like the name of a particular place, origin of a
celebration and others.
• Personality Sketch
- People are interested in people, especially
with people who have become successful or
have attained celebrity status.

12. • Personal Experience
- It deals with any unusual
experience usually written in first
person.
• Travelogue
- It describes a place and the kind of
people the writer has met during his
travel.

13. • Science Feature
- It features anything related to
science and technology.
• News Feature
- This is usually based on a recent
event. Its focus is less on the information,
but on the deeper meaning of the incident.

14. • Sports Feature
- Any feature article related to
sports.
• How to Feature
- It aims to explain a process or how
a certain product or service is made or
rendered.

15. Sources of Feature Articles
1. Experience
2. Observation
3. Reading materials like books, newspapers,
magazines and others
4. Special events like anniversaries, holidays
5. Advertisements
6. Speeches and commentaries

16. 7. Movies
8. Casual conversation
9. Travel
10. Tourist spots
11. Fads
12. Interview
13. Imagination

17. Steps in writing a feature article
• For publication, you have to choose a topic which
you know well.
• For competitions, try all the possible topics and get
much information about these.
• Limit your subject to just one specific area.
• Think of a more interesting angle of the topic.
• Make an outline.

18. • Use appropriate and striking novelty lead.
• You can garnish your article with anecdotes,
dialogues and local color.
• Don’t just tell. Show the readers instead.
• Use powerful verbs.
• Make sure the article is filled with dramatic quality.
• Give proofs like statistical values to make your article
more factual.
• Follow this scheme, 90% facts and 10% opinion.

19. • Try to make use of the T-Q formula/ Transition-
Quote Formula.
• You can play with direct and indirect quotations in
the body to make it more fluid.
• When quoting, proper attributions should be made.
• Tie up your conclusion to the lead.
• Make a striking title.

20. Structure of a Feature Article
Feature story follows the pyramid
structure. The details of the story are
arranged according to the ascending
order of importance, from the least
important to the most important ones.
It begins with a novelty lead.

21. Styles in writing Feature Articles
• Blundell
• T/Q

22. Parts of the Feature Article
Blundell
Technique
• Introduction
- Lead and Nut
Graph
• Body
• Conclusion
T-Q Formula
• Lead
• Nut Graph
• Body
- Transition/Quote
• Conclusion

23. T-Q Formula
• Lead
- opening statement / sentence must grab and hold the
readers’ attention by using specific, interest-arousing words
- can be more than one paragraph
- can be and often are longer than one sentence
- should be specific to your stories
- should not be filled with clichés
- should be in the third person (except if you are writing a
personal experience)

24. • Nut Graph
- contains the 5 Ws and H which were
not
answered in the lead
- a summary of what your story about

25. • Body
- should contain the details of your story
- based on facts (90% facts, 10% opinion)
- should contain the transition/quote formula
(makes the fluidity of your story)
- establish the active voice of verb for the transitions
- In quoting, if you quote a whole paragraph, attribute
the
source with the complete name after the first sentence
then continue the quote after the attribution.

26. - If there is that chance that you have to quote from
the same source, the next time you have your
attribution, just write the family name of the
person whom you quoted from.
- The number of transition/quote may vary in
numbers.
There is no such required number of this scheme for
as
long as they are still needed in your article.

27. • Conclusion
- it is good to end your feature
article
with a powerful quote
- or you may tie it with the lead

28. Best Leads for Feature Articles
• Narrative Lead
- narration of a scenario
Ex.
Before the flood, Romeo visited his relatives
in the village, sensing no signs of weather
abnormalities. He went from house to house
inviting his folks to attend his wedding in the barrio
church, unaware that a strong typhoon was coming.

29. • Descriptive Lead
- uses descriptive words to vividly formulate an
imagery
Ex.
The raging rain fell outside of the dilapidated house. For the
past 14 hours, no one could ever hear anything other than raindrops.
Not one from the members of the family uttered a single word, but
deep within themselves, they knew the gnawing shadow of fear that
slowly crept into their senses. For it was the same ambience when a
lethal flood besieged their town two years ago, killing hundreds of
people.

30. • Quotation Lead
- This is a statement uttered by a well-
known speaker or celebrity in the community.
Ex.
“I don’t care if I burn in hell for as
long as the people I serve live in paradise.”
President-Elect Rodrigo R. Duterte
said in one of his campaign materials during the
recently concluded Presidential Election 2016.

31. • Question Lead
- is a thought-provoking question to
capture the interest of the reader and lead
them to find the answer provided by the
succeeding details of the article.
Ex.
When was the last time I told my father I loved
him?

32. • Teaser
- A device to deceive the reader in a jesting manner
to arouse his curiosity and gently lead him into the story. It is
generally short, crispy and witty. Riddles are often used and
they do not give the readers any clue on the nature of
the story. They are mostly suggestive and humorous.
Ex.
What comes first, the hen or the egg? Well, egg could not be
made possible without the hen. But where does the hen come from?

33. • Punch Lead
- It is short, striking one-sentence lead.
Ex.
Hungry farmers are selling not only
their plows and carabaos, but also their
children.

34. • Astonisher
- makes use of an exclamatory sentence
Ex.
The city’s water district is on fire!
People from all walks of life are
lambasting it for its alleged failure to
supply the much needed water to its
numerous consumers not only in the city
but also in the neighboring towns of leyte.

35. • One Word Lead
- a significant word that can strike the readers
Ex.
BANG!
Sprinters from the different divisions of
Region XII zoomed like bullets to the finishing line
during the 100-meter dash of the Cotabato Regional
Athletic Association (CRAA) Meet, held at Antonio
C. Acharon Sports and Development Center,
Calumpang, General Santos City on April 1-5, 2005

36. • Parody Lead
- It consists of a parody of a well-
known quotation, song, poem, book or movie film
title.
Ex.
Here, there, and everywhere.
This was how Manny Pacquiao
moved in the ring during his latest fight
with Timothy Bradley of USA, making
use of his speed and boxing skills.

37. • Background Lead
- It describes an event in which the
background overshadows the individuals who
participate in it; often use for stories about
carnivals, festivals, dances and others.
Ex.
The campus was turned into a miniature carnival
ground during its anniversary celebration. Decorated
with buntings and multi-colored lights, the school
quadrangle was a grand setting for a barrio fiesta.

38. • Freak Lead
- uses typographical effects to enhance
appeal
Ex.
For sale: a kidney
Ruben Tocal, 28, resident of
Taguig and a father of seven children said
yesterday that he was forced to sell his kidney to
provide his family a bright future.

39. • Contrast Lead
- It is used to point up opposites and
extremes.
Ex.
In the 1960’s, a ten-centavo coin was already a
treasure. Today, nobody wants to give it a second glance on
the ground.

40. • Staccato Lead
- A series of words or phrases,
punctuated by periods, commas, or dashes.
Ex.
Neglected. Denuded. Abused. Abandoned.
This is the real picture of our forest today.

41. Organizing the Body

42. 1. Provide the readers with vital
information
2. Make your sentences clear and concise
3. Use a thread
4. Connect paragraphs with transitional
words and phrases
5. Use dialogue to keep the story moving
6. Establish a voice

43. How to end your feature article?

44. • A summary of the whole article
Ex.
Health experts are right: vegetables
are excellent for the body. We need them for
more energy, to fight various diseases,
and for better looks.

45. • An announcement of the main point
Ex.
It is hard to define a feature
article because it can take so many
forms and can cover so many
subjects.

46. • A question left in the reader’s mind
Ex.
The hand of a feature writer toil
for the love of writing. They turn the wheel
of progress and hold high the torch of
freedom - the freedom of expression.
Do you have these hands?

47. • Suggestions fro the desired action
Ex.
Let us conserve our water now if we
want to save the future of our households.

48. • A reference to the title
Ex.
Given this, one would have
doubts that poverty, indeed, is a
hindrance to success.

49. • A repetition of the sentence or slogan
Ex.
No pains, no gains. Without hard work,
determination, and discipline, Manny Pacquiao
would not have made it to the list of the
country’s few billionaires.

50. • A forecast or prediction
Ex.
Three years from now, if population
explosion will not stop, we will have
doubled the country’s population count.

51. PITFALLS TO AVOID IN FEATURE
WRITING
• news or editorial leads. (Avoid first and second person
points of view.)
• stating the obvious in the lead
• using clichés
• writing in passive voice
• messy handwriting
• using too many adverbs and adjectives instead of specific
nouns and powerful verbs.
• lacking of strong quotes

52. To make your feature article a great one,
you should remember this mnemonics.
• GQ STUDD
G – great S – story lead
Q – quotes T – transition
U – unique angle
D – description
(show, don’t tell)
D – details

53. Sample of Feature articles

54. The Wind Beneath Our Wings
Feldah Ditalo Guitoria
I can fly higher
than an eagle
Cause you are the wind
beneath my wings…
Are these lines familiar?
Yes.. if I have to choose a song which will best fit the
lady behind the performing Campus Journalism Program
of the Eastern Samar Division, it would be this.

55. She is kind… but firm; she is stern… but fair; she
gives much but gets little; the epitome of a leader who
exudes honesty, kindness and fairness. She has the passion
for her work, never leaving a single stone unturned, until it’s
done. She never fails to remind everyone (I’m referring to
the DAESPA Technical Working Group) of his/her duty in
big events - trainings and press conferences. She works with
the group from start to finish, thus, coming up always with
a successful activity.
She keeps her feet on the ground in spite of the
accomplishments she had for our division in line with
campus journalism.

56. She remains to be approachable and
accommodating… always ready to lend her ears for
suggestions and “confessions” from her subordinates.
Yes, the lady I’m referring to is our indefatigable
and dynamic Division Campus Journalism
Coordinator… Mrs. Maria Casillano Moscare!
Ssshhh… She may not like what I’m going to reveal
to you now. Let’s keep this a secret between you and
me…on October 1………is her birthday.
Happy Birthday, Ma’am!!!

57. Raw yet sweet
Young as he is, tagged as the boy next door
in their school, oozing with cuteness and humility
attracts girls in his school.
John Lloyd Silva, a grade 8 student of
Immaculate Conception School, paints a perfect
emblem of an ideal guy for a relationship as the
female students fondly call him “boyfriend” for he
possesses what it takes to be a boyfriend material.
His young age doesn’t seem to hinder him to
get a lot of admirations from his girl schoolmates.
LEAD
Transi-
tion
Nut
Graph

58. “When I saw JL, it’s as if I saw my future boyfriend
already,” Jillian May Andres said. “He is so cute. He caught
my heart. I always want to see him each day. Actually, he
inspires me a lot. I don’t make any absences anymore at all.”
Silva treats his admirers just like sisters. He doesn’t
take those sweet notes and heart striking calls of him
whenever he passes along the corridor going to his room.
“Oh my God, I can’t control myself not to be
fascinated and get hooked about John Lloyd for he is so
sweet,” campus crush, Alexa Jane Mendez said.
“Sometimes, I feel awkward whenever he takes notice of
me and answer back when I say ‘hi,’ he replies, ‘Hi ate!’ So it
was just a sister’s treat.”
Quote
Quote
Transi-
tion

59. His innocence that he is a campus crush adds more
admirations from the girls about him for he acts so young
like what the typical boys do. The only trait of him is his
cuteness and sweetness. He is young, yet when he deals
with his peers especially with girls, his sweetness to them is
loud.
“I don’t know exactly what it’s like to love them,”
Silva said. “I am still young for that. Though I just love the
thought of showing them comfort and ease when they
approach me. There were even times that they
misinterpreted my smile that they thought I have a crush on
them but the truth is, I have my respect for them and that I
need to be nice and as much as possible accommodating.”
Transi-
tion
Quote

60. His spark as a young boy to all who
have a crush on him is but nothing but a
plain admiration according to him.
Though maturity doesn’t mark him yet,
he has that early sign of a perfect lover
however; he is still raw for that matter. His
sweetness gives so much foundation to the
so called “boyfriend-girlfriend” relationship.
Ending

61. Now you see… Now you don’t…
“Tantaradan-taradan-taradan,” rang my phone. My cousin
called me up reminding me to get packed and get ready before
lunchtime as we would be leaving for the island.
Excitedly, I gave an exalting response saying yes to her finally
after the resets. I could now grant myself a treat of relaxation and
could soak myself enjoying the last few days of my summer.
The ball of fire stood straight above the skies allowing fine
weather with tender blowing wind to complete the scene of our
departure for Sulu-an island with my cousin with her husband and
two of my close friends during the last days of summer.

62. We left from our abode before lunch and reached the
terminal just as the time the expected pump boat which we would
be riding on arrived from the island which soon we would visit.
My cousin approached the driver and asked if we would
be leaving already, then in reply, he asked for a little time to wait
to buy for a gas.
“Tara palit la anay kita hin tinapay ngan tubig,” my cousin
said. “Maghulat daw anay kita kadali kay mapalit pa hin gas kay
bangen daw kita mahubsan. Adto daw kita magbinugsayay kun
dumeritso kita.”

63. Of course, the rest of us don’t want to paddle in the
middle of the sea if the boat would be out of gas. And so we
waited by the RLM store and bought bread and water. Later,
the driver came and signaled us that we would be leaving now.
“Smile guys,” my friend said. “We should take a picture
before the engine starts so that we have a proof that we are
really leaving for Sulu-an.”
The five of us took a “groufie” while the driver tried
to start the engine. I and my two friends exclaimed that this
was it pancit! This was a trip that would conclude our
summer vacation.

64. “Da-da-da-da-da-da-da,” the engine sounded. “Fasten your
seatbelt guys as we would traverse the sea like you can’t imagine.
The tossing waves are just waiting there,” Kuya Jay-R jokingly said a
bit.
It was still a very fine and calm sea as if we were just riding
on a plain. No humps and disturbances. Yet, just as we thought it
was like that through the travel, shocks! It was not! Little by little the
waves got bigger and stronger. The front part of the boat racked
off as it fought against the approaching bulge of water. Meanwhile,
the driver said that we should relax for they were still normal.
“Oh my God!” Charlie shouted. “Are these still normal
Kuya? They are no joke anymore. What the! Earlier when we left, I
thought it was a smooth sail but now it’s as if the seas are mad at us
that we travel!”

65. Nervousness enveloped the four of us except for my
cousin’s husband for he was used with the waves for his family
was a native of the island. This was really a proof of what I
usually hear from my friends back in the mainland that the
waves are just big that I couldn’t imagine.
The feeling of fright was intensified more when we were
already in the glimpsed of the island for the darkened clouds
covered the blue skies and fell its precipitates thinking that the
situation could go worse. But in God’s will, it stopped after a
few minutes.
It was just an inch away, really it is true! Everybody of us
was in awe! It was a jaw dropping landscape. The seas were
sparkling blue, the shore waved its long inviting white sand,

66. and the whole island was really a piece of God’s masterpiece. It
was as if commending its wealth of green and offering its
abundance to us.
Indeed, as we stepped on the shore, I said that this was a
haven. After the now you see and now you don’t experience in
the vast sea, thank God we arrived safe and sound.
“Hello Sulu-an! Here we are!”

67. First Place NSPC 2014
Subic, Zambales
Sulat.
Bura.
Sulat.
Bura.
Sa patuloy na pag-inog ng mundo, patuloy rin ang
pangungukilkil ng kaisipang “ang pluma ay higit na
makapangyarihan kaysa anumang sandata.” Isang
kasabihang totoo at hindi na bago para sa akin bilang
isang mamamahayag.
L
E
A
D

68. Sa pang araw-araw na pagsusulat at
paghahanap ng solusyon sa pang araw-
araw na mga suliranin, may mga bagay
na mismong ako ay aking
nakaliligtaan. Mga isyung hindi lang ikaw
at ako ang may kinalaman, kundi pati
ang bansang tinubuan. Ito ang di
mapiglas-piglas na isyu ng tanikala ng
kahirapan.
N
U
T
G
R
A
P
H

69. Isa lamang akong simpleng manunulat
ng aming paaralan sa Cagayan de oro
at inaamin kong wala sa akin ang lahat
ng solusyon sa lahat ng problema.
Subalit nagbago ang lahat ng ito nang
aking kapanayamin ang aming guro sa
Araling Panlipunan na si Gng. Naildred
Suan.
T
R
A
N
S
-
I
T
I
O
N

70. Sa edad niyang 55, agad na mababanaag
ang kanyang pagiging seryoso sa buhay.
Bantad na bantad ang kanyang pagiging
desente at respetadong guro at indibidwal
na kahit sa simpleng pakikipag-usap sa
kanya ay sandamakmak na impormasyon
at kaalaman ang matutuhuhan—bagay na
siyang naghatak sa akin para siya’y
kapanayamin.
T
R
A
N
S
-
I
T
I
O
N

71. “Ma’am, gaano na po kataas ang antas
at lebel ng kahirapan sa Pilipinas?“ Ito
ang linyang bumulalas mula sa aking
nangungusap na bibig. Sa puso’t
damdamin ko’y nagsalimbayan ang
samu’t saring emosyon at palaisipan—
mga katanungang nag-aapuhap ng
mga kasagutan.
Q
U
O
T
E

72. Wala akong narinig na sagot mula sa
kanya sa loob ng ilang segundo.
Katahimikan ang tanging bumalot sa
silid na aming kinaroroonan.
Nakabibinging katahimikan na tumutulig
sa munting mga tainga na siyang
lagusan tungo sa pahat na isipang puno
ng katanungan
T
R
A
N
S
-
I
T
I
O
N

73. “Hindi ko alam kung gaano. Tanging
alam ko ay kung ano.“ Tanging linyang
bumasag sa nakabibinging
katahimikan. Linyang lalong
nagpagulumi sa aking isipan. Wala
akong nadarama kundi ang bugso ng
pagkalito na dulot ng kanyang sinabi.
Q
U
O
T
E

74. “Tanging alam ko ay kung ano—kung ano ang
dahilan ng kahirapang ating dinaranas. Ang dahilan
ay ang korupsyon na kagagawan ng mga opisyales
ng pamahalaan na nagnakaw, nagtaksil at
nanlinlang. Kanilang ninakaw ang perang galing sa
kaban ng bayan na nakalaan para sa mga proyekto
at hakbanging pangkaunlaran. Sila’y nagtaksil sa
ating mga mata at nanlinlang gamit ang kanilang
mga maiitim na kasinungalingang hindi naikubli ng
huwad na katotohanan. Sa katunayan, ang mga
taong ito ay ang mga binoto at iniluklok ng
sambayanan sa posisyong kanilang kinalalagyan.….
QUOTE

75. Binigay niyang halimbawa ang isa sa
mga episodes ng programa ng ABS-CBN na
“Failon Ngayon.“ Doon ay ipinakita ang
kalunos-lunos na kalagayan ng karamihan sa
mga pamilyang Pilipino na ang isang kahig
ay isang tuka. Makabagbag damdamin ang
kanilang kalagayan habang patagong
ninanakaw ng mga nakaupo sa katungkulan
ang perang nakalaan.
T
R
A
N
S
-
I
T
I
O
N

76. “Maraming aral ang patuloy na sinasabog ng isyung ito sa
moral at kamalayan ng taong-bayan. Mga aral ito na hindi
dapat mailista lamang sa hanging tiyak na hahawiin ng
rumaragasang usok ng kapalaluan. Kaya’t kailangang
mahanapan ng agarang solusyon ang problemang ito. Dahil
kung hindi, patuloy at lalo itong titindi at darating ang araw
kung saan tuluyan nang nakalugmok ang bansang Pilipinas sa
kumunoy ng di matibag-tibag na balangkas ng kahirapan.
Ikaw, bilang isang kabataang Juan dela Cruz; ano ang
maiaambag mo para sa malutas ang isyung ito?” Ito ang
huling linyang mula sa bibig ni Gng. Suan na umurirat sa lahat
ng aspeto ng aking pagkatao. Mundo ko’y tila huminto sa
pag-inog nang kanyang sinambit ang huling pangungusap
na nagbadya ng isang napakalaking palaisipan sa akin.
Q
UO
TE

77. Sulat.
Bura.
Sulat.
Bura.
Maraming araw ang lilipas. Maraming dahon ang
malalagas. Maraming papel ang maalpas at
maraming tinta ang maipapamalas. Magpapatuloy
ang aking pagsusulat at pagbubura. Subalit sa bawat
sulat na aking gagawin at bawat burang aking
tatahakin, akay-akay ko na ang bandila ng Pilipinas ng
may responsibilidad. Dahil sa murang gulang ko, ako’y
maituturing na isang responsableng Juan dela Cruz na
naniniwalang responsableng pluma ang kailangan
tungo sa walang-patid na daloy ng kaunlaran.
E
N
D
I
N
G

78. “Fostering 21st
Century Skills
and Character-based Education
through Campus Journalism”

79. Thank You!