We've all heard the saying "Don't judge a book by its cover". And yet we all do it. An attractive cover immediately catches our eye and pulls us in; an unattractive one turns us off. The same is true of headlines. We are attracted to captions that are humorous, witty or sensational; we tend to ignore captions that are boring or run of the mill.
The headline is one of the most important parts of a feature article: it is the first thing the reader sees, it's what the reader recalls, it gives the reader an idea of the article's content, and it gives the writer the best opportunity to market the article.
According to David Aston, here are some ways to write a headline:
1. Use a how to headline
ex. "How to Tie a Tie in 5 Easy Steps", Esquire (http://www.esquire.com/style/advice/a25665/how-to-tie-a-tie-easy/)
2. Identify and Solve a Problem
ex. "To Fall in Love with Anybody, Do This", New York Times
(http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/fashion/modern-love-to-fall-in-love-with-anyone-do-this.html?_r=0)
3. Make a Statement
ex. "Ambush of Policemen Triggers Manhunt in Racially Tense Ferguson", Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/12/us-usa-missouri-shooting-protest-idUSKBN0M80CJ20150312)
4. Strike a Note of Controversy
ex. "Map of Shame; Do Canadians have access to world class cancer treatments? Only if you live in the right province", Reader's Digest (http://www.readersdigest.ca/health/healthy-living/map-shame/#GDMdvGCWAxkk1Yfs.97)
5. Pose a Question
ex. "What's Wrong with the Blurred Lines Copyright Ruling?", New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/12/arts/music/whats-wrong-with-the-blurred-lines-copyright-ruling.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20150312
6. Offer an Explanation
ex. "Help from the Hit Man: Music producer David Foster does more than make gold records; he fosters a charitable organization dear to many Canadians' hearts", Reader's Digest
7. Use intrigue
ex. "Merchant of Murder: Civil Servant Rick Mofina Kills people -- in his mind, as a crime fiction writer", Reader's Digest
8. Finality (ultimate, best, only)
ex. The 25 Best Diet Tips of All Time, Prevention (http://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/diets/25-best-weight-loss-tips-ever)
9. make it unusual
ex. "Wall Street Lays Egg", Variety, Black Monday, 1929
(http://fineartamerica.com/featured/wall-street-lays-an-egg-famous-everett.html)
10. make it sensationalistic
ex. "Headless Body in Topless Bar", New York Post (http://nypost.com/2010/02/22/83-killer-in-denial/)
11. use a simile or metaphor
ex. "Coffee So Fresh You'll Want to Slap It", Reader's Digest
12. refer to an historic event
ex. "Gold Rush: Can Canadian Olympic Athletes Hope to Score Some Heavy Metal?", Reader's Digest (http://www.readersdigest.ca/travel/world/10-greatest-summer-olympic-games#5hPQ00BD17SjgZLx.97)
Showing posts with label feature article. Show all posts
Showing posts with label feature article. Show all posts
Thursday, 12 March 2015
Wednesday, 11 March 2015
Fourteen Feature Article Formats
The feature article comes in many shapes and sizes. Here are fourteen different types accompanied by examples.
1. Profile
The profile, or interview, is a staple of the feature articles. It is a behind the scenes look at an individual, including his or her age, hometown, education, residence and family. It also touches on the subject's influences and choice of profession or vocation. Ideally, if you write a profile article, you should conduct the interview face to face so as to know the interviewee's appearance and mannerisms. It adds legitimacy to the piece. However, if a face to face interview is impossible, you can always conduct an interview over the phone or via e-mail. If you can see your subject in action (ex. a doctor at the hospital, a cop on his beat) then you get a better sense of what he or she is all about. These piece often take a question and answer format.
For example, read about the German leader Angela Merkel here: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/12/01/quiet-german
2. News
News stories focus on a topic of interest, using similar subjects to a deadline hard news story, but in greater depth and detail. Whereas a deadline story focuses on numbers and stats, a news story often focuses on an individual. For instance, a deadline story about heart disease would focus on the stats; a news story about the same topic would focus on a heart patient. News stories "tackle big, newsy topics while still telling very human stories" (http://journalism.about.com/od/writing/a/kindsoffeatures.htm).
For example, read about the Ebola Outbreak here: http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/ebola-outbreaks-i-discovered-this-virus-in-1976-its-frustrating-that-we-still-know-too-little-to-treat-it-effectively-9218620.html
3. Spot
A spot feature article is a breaking news event with a deadline. Often it takes the form of a sidebar to accompany the deadline news story in the mainbar. For instance, the mainbar might feature an article about a tornado, covering the five W's of the story. Sidebars, or spots, could cover emergency shelters, past tornadoes and pre-tornado weather conditions.
For example, read about the effect of Hurricane Katrina on the Louisiana Superdome at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effect_of_Hurricane_Katrina_on_the_Louisiana_Superdome.
4. Trend
This type of feature "takes the pulse of the culture",highlighting topics such as art, fashion, film, music and technology. Such articles are light, quick and easy to read. Possible subjects include women's spring fashions, the newest technological gadget or the hottest indy band.
For example, read about Disc-o-Rama Dresses at
http://www.vogue.com/slideshow/12175429/trends-fall-2015-paco-rabanne-francois-hardy/.
5. Live In
This is an in depth magazine-length article describing a particular place and the people who live there ex. a homeless shelter, an emergency room, a battlefield encampment or a police precinct. It's name is derived from the fact that reporters spend a large chunk of time at the site; they immerse themselves in the story. The reporter gets a sense of rhythm and atmosphere by spending so much time at the site. Reporting can take days, weeks or even months. Some live in articles serve as launching pads for books.
For example, Amy Ellis Nutt was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for her in depth article "The Accidental Artist", about a chiropractor who had a sudden urge to create art after he had a severe stroke, which turned into the book Shadows Bright as Glass. Read the article at
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/12/sarkin_chapter_1.html.
6. How To
This feature article is about the process of how things came about ex. a product, a service or an activity. It is written with easy to follow instructions and includes the shortcomings of the product or service and possible warnings. Mention where to locate supplies and refer to other sources.
For example, read about how to prepare a holiday dinner for a diabetic at
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/yourlife/food/cooking-recipes/2010-11-17-diabetescookbooks17_St_N.htm.
7. Personal Experience
This feature article highlights a unusual event in the life of a writer.
Example: https://vicrosaliotahud.wordpress.com/2011/02/21/my-lifes-journey-personal-experience-fetauring-my-self/
8. Humour or Satire
The purpose of this article is to entertain. It's often geared towards a specific audience. These types of articles are often written "on spec" which means you must submit the entire article when you pitch it.
For a funny take on Christmas, read http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/11/15/cheap.christmas.romans/index.html.
9. Expose
The aim of this article is to shock or surprise the reader. The subject is often controversial. It includes statistics, quotes and anecdotes.
For example, read about The Do's and Don'ts of Extension Cords at http://www.ismyhomesafe.ca/dos-and-donts-of-extension-cords/.
10. Human Interest
This feature article often starts with an anecdote and is written in chronological order.
For example, read about a little boy who lost his mother in 1986 and recently found her thanks to Google Earth at https://bruneljournalism.wordpress.com/2012/04/15/thi-is-a-really-good-example-of-a-human-interest-story/.
11. Essay or Opinion
This article is often written about an important or timely subject. It is harder to sell if written by an unknown or unpublished writer. Blogs are full of this type of article.
For example, read a pro-gun control article at http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/04/23/battleground-america?currentPage=all.
12. Inspirational
This article focusses on how to feel good about something, offering a moral message to its readers.
For example, read about the accomplishments of autistic teenager at http://www.indianapolismonthly.com/features/one-in-a-million-an-inspirational-story/.
13. Historical
This article reveals events of interest to millions of people. It focusses on a single aspect of a subject, often something new, and is told in chronological order. It goes beyond history, revealing a new connection to an old subject.
For example, learn about the Christmas Truce of World War I at http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/christmastruce.htm.
14. Round Up
The author of a round up gathers a collection of information from many sources based on a common theme. It can be filled with quotes, opinions, statistics, research, anecdotes and even recipes.
Read about Fiction Writing Tips at http://theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/12-fiction-writing-tips-from-published-authors-and-editors/.
Sources:
1. http://journalism.about.com/od/writing/a/kindsoffeatures.htm
2. http://theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/12-fiction-writing-tips-from-published-authors-and-editors/
1. Profile
The profile, or interview, is a staple of the feature articles. It is a behind the scenes look at an individual, including his or her age, hometown, education, residence and family. It also touches on the subject's influences and choice of profession or vocation. Ideally, if you write a profile article, you should conduct the interview face to face so as to know the interviewee's appearance and mannerisms. It adds legitimacy to the piece. However, if a face to face interview is impossible, you can always conduct an interview over the phone or via e-mail. If you can see your subject in action (ex. a doctor at the hospital, a cop on his beat) then you get a better sense of what he or she is all about. These piece often take a question and answer format.
For example, read about the German leader Angela Merkel here: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/12/01/quiet-german
2. News
News stories focus on a topic of interest, using similar subjects to a deadline hard news story, but in greater depth and detail. Whereas a deadline story focuses on numbers and stats, a news story often focuses on an individual. For instance, a deadline story about heart disease would focus on the stats; a news story about the same topic would focus on a heart patient. News stories "tackle big, newsy topics while still telling very human stories" (http://journalism.about.com/od/writing/a/kindsoffeatures.htm).
For example, read about the Ebola Outbreak here: http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/ebola-outbreaks-i-discovered-this-virus-in-1976-its-frustrating-that-we-still-know-too-little-to-treat-it-effectively-9218620.html
3. Spot
A spot feature article is a breaking news event with a deadline. Often it takes the form of a sidebar to accompany the deadline news story in the mainbar. For instance, the mainbar might feature an article about a tornado, covering the five W's of the story. Sidebars, or spots, could cover emergency shelters, past tornadoes and pre-tornado weather conditions.
For example, read about the effect of Hurricane Katrina on the Louisiana Superdome at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effect_of_Hurricane_Katrina_on_the_Louisiana_Superdome.
4. Trend
This type of feature "takes the pulse of the culture",highlighting topics such as art, fashion, film, music and technology. Such articles are light, quick and easy to read. Possible subjects include women's spring fashions, the newest technological gadget or the hottest indy band.
For example, read about Disc-o-Rama Dresses at
http://www.vogue.com/slideshow/12175429/trends-fall-2015-paco-rabanne-francois-hardy/.
5. Live In
This is an in depth magazine-length article describing a particular place and the people who live there ex. a homeless shelter, an emergency room, a battlefield encampment or a police precinct. It's name is derived from the fact that reporters spend a large chunk of time at the site; they immerse themselves in the story. The reporter gets a sense of rhythm and atmosphere by spending so much time at the site. Reporting can take days, weeks or even months. Some live in articles serve as launching pads for books.
For example, Amy Ellis Nutt was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for her in depth article "The Accidental Artist", about a chiropractor who had a sudden urge to create art after he had a severe stroke, which turned into the book Shadows Bright as Glass. Read the article at
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/12/sarkin_chapter_1.html.
6. How To
This feature article is about the process of how things came about ex. a product, a service or an activity. It is written with easy to follow instructions and includes the shortcomings of the product or service and possible warnings. Mention where to locate supplies and refer to other sources.
For example, read about how to prepare a holiday dinner for a diabetic at
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/yourlife/food/cooking-recipes/2010-11-17-diabetescookbooks17_St_N.htm.
7. Personal Experience
This feature article highlights a unusual event in the life of a writer.
Example: https://vicrosaliotahud.wordpress.com/2011/02/21/my-lifes-journey-personal-experience-fetauring-my-self/
8. Humour or Satire
The purpose of this article is to entertain. It's often geared towards a specific audience. These types of articles are often written "on spec" which means you must submit the entire article when you pitch it.
For a funny take on Christmas, read http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/11/15/cheap.christmas.romans/index.html.
9. Expose
The aim of this article is to shock or surprise the reader. The subject is often controversial. It includes statistics, quotes and anecdotes.
For example, read about The Do's and Don'ts of Extension Cords at http://www.ismyhomesafe.ca/dos-and-donts-of-extension-cords/.
10. Human Interest
This feature article often starts with an anecdote and is written in chronological order.
For example, read about a little boy who lost his mother in 1986 and recently found her thanks to Google Earth at https://bruneljournalism.wordpress.com/2012/04/15/thi-is-a-really-good-example-of-a-human-interest-story/.
11. Essay or Opinion
This article is often written about an important or timely subject. It is harder to sell if written by an unknown or unpublished writer. Blogs are full of this type of article.
For example, read a pro-gun control article at http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/04/23/battleground-america?currentPage=all.
12. Inspirational
This article focusses on how to feel good about something, offering a moral message to its readers.
For example, read about the accomplishments of autistic teenager at http://www.indianapolismonthly.com/features/one-in-a-million-an-inspirational-story/.
13. Historical
This article reveals events of interest to millions of people. It focusses on a single aspect of a subject, often something new, and is told in chronological order. It goes beyond history, revealing a new connection to an old subject.
For example, learn about the Christmas Truce of World War I at http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/christmastruce.htm.
14. Round Up
The author of a round up gathers a collection of information from many sources based on a common theme. It can be filled with quotes, opinions, statistics, research, anecdotes and even recipes.
Read about Fiction Writing Tips at http://theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/12-fiction-writing-tips-from-published-authors-and-editors/.
Sources:
1. http://journalism.about.com/od/writing/a/kindsoffeatures.htm
2. http://theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/12-fiction-writing-tips-from-published-authors-and-editors/
Monday, 9 March 2015
Researching Your Feature Article: Diligent Investigation and Inquiry
All I`m armed with is research. (Mike Wallace, former 60 Minutes correspondent)
As a columnist with the Toronto Star, Pierre Berton pounded out 1500 words a day, 5 days a week on his Smith Corona typewriter. It would have been easy for one article to roll into the next, for his writing to become tedious. But that didn`t happen. In his lifetime, Mr. Berton received over 30 literary awards, a dozen honourary degrees and a companion of the Order of Canada. Key to his success was his attention to detail, his commitment to the facts. For more about Pierre Berton, visit http://alinefromlinda.blogspot.ca/2011/11/tapping-keys-on-smith-corona.html.
As a feature article writer, research is tantamount. It involves "diligent investigation and inquiry into a subject", according to writer Bruce Garrison in Professional Feature Writing
(http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Feature-Writing-Routledge-Communication/dp/0805847650). Research doesn`t mean making one visit to the library and then calling it a day. Or reading one article about a subject. Garrison suggests that for every ten hours of research, put in one hour of writing. Therefore, the bulk of your time should be spent gathering information.
How do you know how much research is enough? "When you feel that one more fact will be a fact too many, you`ll know it`s time to stop," according to Bobbi Linkemer (http://www.freelancewriting.com/articles/writing-feature-articles-that-sell.php).
When you are writing your feature article, remember that readers need repetition. Layer your writing with your reporting. Fiona Veitch Smith recommends using a cue sheet on which you record relevant page numbers, paragraphs from books, highlighted sections of Internet articles and clippings from the newspaper (http://non-fiction-writing-course.thecraftywriter.com/how-to-write-a-feature-article/).
William Blundell, in The Art and Craft of Feature Writing, talks about the Rule of Threes (http://journalistsresource.org/syllabi/syllabus-feature-writing). First of all, when checking facts, make sure you corroborate at least three different sources. When stating a thesis, back it up with three different examples. And when presenting your case, offer each point in three different ways; a fact, an example and a quote.
Remember to give credit where credit`s due. Cite your sources. For information on how to cite print or online sources, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#Newspaper_articles.
Keep these points in mind before you write your next article. While you may not be Canada`s next Pierre Berton, at least you will be well informed.
Today, there are a plethora of resources right at your fingertips, including:
1. Media libraries ex. large newspapers & magazines (http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/databases/)
2. Public Libraries (https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/gateway/s22-212-e.html)
3. University Libraries (https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/gateway/s22-210-e.html)
4. Museum Libraries (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_museums_in_Ontario)
5. Historical Society Libraries
6. Government Libraries (https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/gateway/s22-211-e.html)
7. Specialty Libraries (https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/gateway/s22-213-e.html)
8. Reference Books ex. World Almanac and Book of Facts
9. City Directories ex. names, addresses (http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/directories-collection/Pages/directories-collection.aspx)
10. Atlases or Gazetteers ex. National Geographic Atlas of the World
11. Encyclopedias or Yearbooks ex. specialized encyclopedia with experts sources like the Encyclopedia of Associations
12. Abstracts ex. summaries of books, articles, theses (http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/presentations_abstracts_examples.html)
13. Chronologies ex. a list of events in chronological order
14. Dictionaries ex. Black`s Law Dictionary
15. Books of Quotations ex. Bartlett`s Familiar Quotes
16. Handbooks ex. Guinness Book of World Records
Friday, 6 March 2015
How to Write a Feature Newspaper Article
Feature articles are windows into the human experience, giving more detail and description than a hard news story, which typically relies on the "inverted pyramid" style of writing. Features focus on an event or an individual, giving the reader a chance to more fully understand some interesting dimension of the world. (http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Feature-Article)
The purpose of a feature article is to inform, entertain and persuade the reader. Feature articles are composed of five different components. They are:
Headline
Compose a catchy, to the point headline which attracts the reader's attention. Remember, if the headline is boring, chances are the reader won't want to read any further. For more information about catchy headlines, read http://alinefromlinda.blogspot.ca/2015/02/ten-tips-to-writing-irresistibly.html.
Byline
Insert the writer's name here.
Lede/Lead
This is the preview of the story. It helps the reader decide whether or not to read the article. Try to insert a hook here to draw the reader in. The lede sets the writer's tone and establishes a relationship between the writer and the reader.
Story
This is where the writer includes relevant facts from his or her research. Quotes from interviews and experts should be inserted here. Anecdotes and stories are also valuable, helping to maintain the reader's interest. Names, dates and places should be identified here. Any supporting information should follow including photos, tables, diagrams and graphs.
Conclusion
The purpose of the conclusion is to leave a lasting impression. Remind the reader of the main idea. Suggest a course of action. Encourage a change of opinion. Bring the article full circle by referring back to the introduction.
Tips
Here are some suggested tips to follow when preparing, researching and writing your feature.
1. use tight writing; features can be as short as 500 words, but some are as long as 1500 or 2000
2. show, don't tell
3. use strong verbs and nouns; use adjectives sparingly
4. use identifiable, reliable sources; if sources are weak, it's better not to use them
5. write about a well defined topic
6. avoid the passive voice; use the active voice whenever possible
7. vary sentence length
8. use an informal tone or the first person to make it more personal
9. facts validate the writer's view
10. exaggeration helps a humorous article
11. use rhetorical questions to draw the reader in
12. sprinkle the article with imagery to engage the reader's imagination
13. include direct quotes to personalize the topic
14. don't forget to proofread; consult The Elements of Style by Strunk & White at www.columbia.edu/acis/bartleby/strunk
14. don't forget to proofread; consult The Elements of Style by Strunk & White at www.columbia.edu/acis/bartleby/strunk
For a feature article scaffold, visit http://stage6.pbworks.com/f/How+To+Write+A+Great+Feature+Article.pdf.
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