FEATURE WRITING

Campus Journalism Workshop June 29, 2013

WHAT IS A FEATURE STORY?

A feature takes an in-depth look at whats going on behind the news.

It tries to explain why and how trends develop. A feature does not have to be tied to a current event or a breaking story, but it can also grow out of something that was reported on the news. A feature story humanizes, adds color, educates, entertains and illuminates.

KINDS OF FEATURE STORIES

Personality profiles or character sketches Human interest stories

Travel Food Reviews Others

Trend stories In-depth stories

WHERE DO WE BEGIN?
Rhetorical Question Startling statement Narrative Quoted Marks Saying, old Maxim, etc History or background Problems to be discussed or facts to be established

WHERE DO WE BEGIN?
Example: They say it takes a village to raise a child. At the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, it takes a whole schoolfrom students, the administration, to finance officersto keep the tuition fee at P12 per unit, the lowest in the country. The concerted effort allows some 72,000 poor but deserving students to have a fighting chance at a college degree yearly.
At PUP, keeping tuition fees low is a community effort PATRICIA DENISE CHIU, GMA News | June 19, 2013

WHERE DO WE BEGIN?
My son Awit turned 11 years old three weeks ago. Because we really do not go all out to celebrate, we just had a simple dinner consisting of some of Awits favorite foodspasta carbonara, fried chicken and cake. As he was suffering from cough, we did not buy ice cream anymore. Childrens birthdays in the Philippines are rarely celebrated without ice cream. Even adults make it a point to buy a gallon or two on their special day. Pa-ice cream ka naman, people would playfully chide celebrants and those who are marking some special dates. Young and old alike find it irresistible. After all, who can resist ice cream? Even the muppets of Sesame Street love it. They even have a song that goes Everyone likes ice cream no matter who they are.
NINJA MAMA | Everyone likes ice creamand making it into a cake, too By Ninj Reyes-Abay | Lifestyle Section, InterAksyon.com Sunday, June 9, 2013

WHERE DO WE BEGIN?
Great ideas are often born in coffee shops and watering holes. Thanks to the influence of caffeine and alcohol, as well as like-minded friends willing to follow the wildest trains of thought, a venture that might just change the course of the nationheck, the world, even is born. Everyone emerges from the drinking session or coffee date ecstatic. On a high. Indestructible. Watch out people, someones out to end hunger/homelessness/poverty!
From a barkadas eureka moment, Spark Project ignites Pinoy dreams to reality Text by Tricia Aquino | Photos by Patch Dulay | Lifestyle Section, InterAksyon.com, Friday, June 14, 2013

WRAPPING UP
Summarize points You can also end with a question that could trigger critical thinking or further discussion Reiterate the significance of the piece Forecast Repetition of introduction Quotation

REMEMBER!

Pick a subject. Research. Outline. Limit areas of discussion, choose interviewees. Write a tentative title. Spotlight the main things you want to talk about. The magic is in the details. Start with a lead that captures your readers attention. Move your story along with descriptions of what happened, quotes from people involved in the issue, and details that place the reader in the midst of the action. Make sure your ending is meaningful. Tie loose ends Keep it simple.

CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEW

Profile

or pre-interview the subject, if possible.

Ask

questions that invite insight from your interviewee.

Observe.

CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEW!

If you dont understand the answer, do not be embarrassed to ask for a clarification.
Always ask the hard questions during the latter part of the interview. Always be courteous.

WORK IT!
Travel feature about the Katipunan Avenue Profile or character sketch of your hero Pair up! Write a feature story about your seatmate. Food trip in Maginhawa Street (or anywhere else) K + 12 Bullying Choose your own topic