Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Writing Feature stories by Matthew Ricketson

1. WHAT EXACTLY IS A FEATURE STORY?

2. THE VARIETY OF FEATURE STORIES
Investigative pieces places, as much weight on the news as on storytelling. Information must be in context. Matter of presentation, tone and style are important in investigative features because the stakes are so much higher than in standard daily journalism and any error or misjudgment is magnified.
Columns are the stars of the print media that bring knowledge, wit and personality to their publication.

3. CROSSING THE BRIDGE FROM MEDIA CONSUMER TO MEDIA PRACTIONER
The truth isn't always beautiful, but the hunger for it is. -Nadine Gordimer

Select any feature and began analysis. Pay close attention to how a piece works (or doesn't). Notice certain common ways of capturing the reader's attention, the organization the material so that it flows, and certain logjams that crop up in features. Ask yourself the following questions:

How exactly would you improve the story if you were doing it?
Is the headline appealing and does it match the story?
Does the caption of pictures draw the reader to the story?

4. GENERATING FRESH STORY IDEAS

5. PLAN AHEAD TO AVOID WASTING TIME
Following the model of six potential group of questions draw up a plan of the questions you want to answer in the feature.








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