Lecture 1 of a series of lectures on Feature Writing

1. Characteristics of feature

2. WHAT IS FEATURE?
Feature / feature article / feature story
An "umbrella genre" of journalism in newspapers, online
editions and magazines, with different sub-categories
(types).
At broadest sense: everything which is not hard news or
editorials or opinion columns.
"Soft news", human-interest stories
Does not have to be related to a recent news event/
current issue
Can be independen articles or sidebars to a news article

3. GENRE
A specific "type" of journalism with its own form, style and
rules.
E.g. news, reportage, editorial, opinion column,
commentary, documentary, investigative journalism,
interview, review, pop vox...
Sometimes used also to refer to the field of journalism,
e.g. sports journalism, environmental journalism.
N.B. The lines between different genres have become blurred
(e.g. between news and reportage or feature, or between
feature and opinion column). An individual story may not
be easily categorized!

4. Characterisics of feature
(by BAJ-3)
More
detailed
Not necessarily on
current matters
Educational
or entertaining
Creative use
of language
Allows
different styles
of writing
longer
Located
in a special
section in a
newspaper
Need
more time to
do
May provide
solutions

5. Arouses
Emotions
Allows
different
tenses
Allows personal
comments/opinios
Not-news-like
lead to capture
attention of
readers
Proceeds from less
(specific/individual) to
more (general)
Does not
expireInterviewees
are not
necessary
Needs
photos/images
Characterisics of feature
(by BAJ-3)

6. Feature vs. News -
topics/contents
FEATURE
Timely or timeless
New/original/personal
perspectives/angles
Personal observation
and experiences,
stories, anecdotes...
(HARD) NEWS
Current, timely
New information
Facts, figures,
statements by
powerful people etc...

7. Feature vs. News -
structure and style
FEATURE
Often narrative stucture
(crf. fictive stories)
Time: can be cronological,
also non-linear structures
Mostly long articles
Lead: "a narrative hook"
Journalist: visible observer, present
in the story, can be an active actor
Style: Personal, descriptive,
colourful, literary, emotional,
humorous...
(HARD) NEWS
Inverted pyramide
Non-cronological, "order of
importance"
Short, concise articles
Lead: the most important fact
Journalist: invisible, outsider,
reports what other people do
Style: Objective "matter-of-fact"
reporting

8. Feature vs. News -
work process
FEATURE
Can't be done from the
newsroom, require fieldwork
Sources: people as sources -
observations and experiences of
the journalist & interviews with
key characters; emphasis on
"ordinary people", people who
have experienced or witnessed
the things in question.
(HARD) NEWS
Can be done from the
newsroom
Sources: interviews,
press releases, briefings,
documents for
background
information; emphasis
on powerful people and
expert sources.

9. TYPES OF FEATURE
(1) Interview/personality profiles
(2) Personal experience articles (see also"gonzo journalism")
(3) Human interest articles
(4) Reportage
(5) Trend stories (current trend, issues, controversies...)
(6) Historical or commemorative articles
(7) Background articles
(8) Follow-up articles
(9) Seasonal features
(10) Travel writing ("travel feature" / "travel reportage" / "travelogue")
(11) Specialized features ("How-to articles", "Service journalism"): Science &
technology, Health & wellbeing, Home, Food, Fashion, Gardening....
(News analyses - feature or a genre of its own? Crf. background article)

10. GROUP ASSIGNMENT:
PRESENTATION
9 groups of 4 (5) students.
Each group prepares to present one
type of feature next Monday/Tuesday
(ca. 15 min per group).
As a group, find out information
about the type of feature assigned to
your group. Write a short summary
and email it to
pirita.juppi@tumaini.ac.tz by 25.3.
Find at least one representative
example of this type of a feature
story and print/copy it. Use it as an
example in your presentation.

11. Utilize multiple
sources
Such as
Garrison, Bruce 2004: Professional Feature Writing.
Mahwah, New Yersey: LEA.
Karashani, Fili 2011: Feature Writing Training Manual.
Union of Tanzania Press Clubs.
Ross-Larson, Bruce 2003: How to write Facinating
Features? Washington: ClearWriter.
Witt, Leonard (ed.) 1991. The Complete Book of
Feature Writing.