7. Meetings
Governmental and quasi-governmental bodies
Emphasize the most important actions, the
dramatic, the unexpected
Speeches
Accurately reflect what a person said
in interesting and coherent way
Obituaries
Usually written by journalists for prominent or
interesting people
Types of News Stories
8. Meetings
Governmental and quasi-governmental bodies
Emphasize the most important actions, the
dramatic, the unexpected
Speeches
Accurately reflect what a person said
in interesting and coherent way
Obituaries
Usually written by journalists for prominent or
interesting people
Types of News Stories
9. Meetings
Governmental and quasi-governmental bodies
Emphasize the most important actions, the
dramatic, the unexpected
Speeches
Accurately reflect what a person said
in interesting and coherent way
Obituaries
Usually written by journalists for prominent or
interesting people
Types of News Stories
10. Types of News Stories
Weather Stories
Significant weather events
Long-term stories
Crime and Courtroom Stories
Conflict, impact, unusualness
Periodicals and Anniversary Stories
Shared events that are tied directly to
the calendar
11. Types of News Stories
Weather Stories
Significant weather events
Long-term stories
Crime and Courtroom Stories
Conflict, impact, unusualness
Periodicals and Anniversary Stories
Shared events that are tied directly to
the calendar
16. THE SEARCH FOR JACKIE WALLACE
Published February 03, 2018
17. Story and photos by Ted Jackson
One foot in front of the other, the hulking old man trudged up the
ramp to the Pontchartrain Expressway. A cold wind stiffened his
face, so he bundled tighter and kept walking. His decision was
made. A life full of accolades and praise meant nothing to him
now. A man who was once the pride of his New Orleans
hometown, his St. Augustine alma mater and his 7th Ward family
and friends was undone. He was on his way to die.
The man was tired. In his 63 years, he had run with the gods and
slept with the devil. Living low and getting high had become as
routine as taking a breath. A hideous disease was eating his
insides. He was an alcoholic, and he also craved crack cocaine. He
was tired of fighting. He was tired of playing the game.
18. Writing Feature Stories
List all the ways in which this story
differs from a hard news story!
Hard news vs. Soft news
19. Characteristics of Feature Writing
• Greater amount of detail and description
• Description of action, people, places
• Help readers see the story
• Incorporate the five senses
• More quotations and dialogue
• Writer can put self in story but keep focus on the story
20. Characteristics of Feature Writing
• Greater amount of detail and description
• Description of action, people, places
• Help readers see the story
• Incorporate the five senses
• More quotations and dialogue
• Writer can put self in story but keep focus on the story
21. Lead (can be several sentences/paragraphs)
Engine paragraph
• Hooks the reader
• Explains why story should be read
Body
• Substance of the story
Ending
• Puts story in perspective
• Answers lingering questions
• Makes final points
Parts of a Feature Story
22. Lead (can be several sentences/paragraphs)
Engine paragraph
• Hooks the reader
• Explains why story should be read
Body
• Substance of the story
Ending
• Puts story in perspective
• Answers lingering questions
• Makes final points
Parts of a Feature Story
30. The feature writer tells you what it was
like to have been there: “When Joe
Smith began to walk across the bridge,
it began to tremble, and he grabbed
the railing, etc.”
The news writer tells you the bridge fell
in and how many cars fell off.
38. Spelling, Grammar, and Style Mistakes
Embarrassing and harmful for writer
• Why?
• How do you prevent this?
Verbs
• Quickest way to improve writing
• Use active voice and action verbs
Wordiness
• Major and consistent problem
Answering All the Questions
• Do a complete job gathering information
Editing and Rewriting
Internal Consistency
• Article should make sense
40. First few paragraphs
• Get reader interested
• Raise questions that the story
promises to answer
“Nut graph”
• Indicates where the story is going
• Why written
• Invites reader to read on
Long-Form Journalism
41. Fiction techniques to tell a true story
Metaphors
Similes
Plotting
Pacing
Detailed scenes
Dialogue
Development of key figures
Writer may enter story
Literary Journalism
42. • Show us. Don’t tell us. Description, description, description!
• Talking about you interviewing the person and asking them a
question.
• Reserve direct quotes for the most powerful quotes.
• Use fewest words possible. Keep it simple.
• Read feature stories to understand the genre. Features are not
academic papers.
• Don’t insert your own opinion.
• Refer to your AP Style guide.
• Use last names on second reference.
• Edit carefully. Attention to detail is important!