Last of the beats

4. Last of the beats

5. Last of the beats • Never got to business, politics, courts, etc.

6. Last of the beats • Never got to business, politics, courts, etc. • Going to spend today on features and then starting next week we’re off to some new areas including: broadcast news, writing for television & radio, law & ethics, media bias, writing reviews & editorials, and public relations

7. features

8. features • Less timely

9. features • Less timely • More personal

10. features • Less timely • More personal • Offer advice, explore ideas, hit emotions

11. features • Less timely • More personal • Offer advice, explore ideas, hit emotions • Meet celebs and newsmakers in depth

12. features • Less timely • More personal • Offer advice, explore ideas, hit emotions • Meet celebs and newsmakers in depth • Generally considered “soft” news

13. features • Less timely • More personal • Offer advice, explore ideas, hit emotions • Meet celebs and newsmakers in depth • Generally considered “soft” news • “The feature writer’s aim is the dramatist’s aim: make ‘em laugh, make ‘em weep.”

14. types of features • Personality profile

16. types of features • Personality profile • Human-interest

19. types of features • Personality profile • Human-interest • Color story

21. types of features • Personality profile • Human-interest • Color story • Backgrounder

23. types of features • Personality profile • Human-interest • Color story • Backgrounder • Trend story

24. types of features • Personality profile • Human-interest • Color story • Backgrounder • Trend story • Reaction piece

25. types of features • Personality profile • Human-interest • Color story • Backgrounder • Trend story • Reaction piece • Flashback

26. types of features • Personality profile • Human-interest • Color story • Backgrounder • Trend story • Reaction piece • Flashback • How-to

27. types of features • Personality profile • Human-interest • Color story • Backgrounder • Trend story • Reaction piece • Flashback • How-to • Consumer advice

28. types of features • Personality profile • Human-interest • Color story • Backgrounder • Trend story • Reaction piece • Flashback • How-to • Consumer advice • Personal narrative

29. So how do you write features?

31. So how do you write features? • Be creative: say bye to our dear friend inverted pyramid

32. So how do you write features? • Be creative: say bye to our dear friend inverted pyramid • But likely still will need a nut graf at some point so readers are with you

33. So how do you write features? • Be creative: say bye to our dear friend inverted pyramid • But likely still will need a nut graf at some point so readers are with you • It’s time to be dramatic: which of these will you emphasize in features? Immediacy, conflict, novelty, prominence, proximity, impact, emotion

34. So how do you write features? • Be creative: say bye to our dear friend inverted pyramid • But likely still will need a nut graf at some point so readers are with you • It’s time to be dramatic: which of these will you emphasize in features? Immediacy, conflict, novelty, prominence, proximity, impact, emotion • Hard news is almost always past tense; features, can go with present tense to put your readers/listeners on scene

35. Writing features • Colorful scenes... you are there

36. Writing features • Colorful scenes... you are there • Dialogue

37. Writing features • Colorful scenes... you are there • Dialogue • But still have to be accurate and objective

38. Writing features • Colorful scenes... you are there • Dialogue • But still have to be accurate and objective • Vary sentence structure

39. Writing features • Colorful scenes... you are there • Dialogue • But still have to be accurate and objective • Vary sentence structure • Find your own voice

40. Writing features • Colorful scenes... you are there • Dialogue • But still have to be accurate and objective • Vary sentence structure • Find your own voice • Use appropriate tone for the subject: don’t be flip and breezy when doing a story on drug abuse or divorce... don’t be ponderous with story on puppy Olympics

41. personality profiles

42. personality profiles • Good profiles reveal the inner self of your subject: attitudes, lifestyle, opinions, habits, mannerisms, biographical

43. personality profiles • Good profiles reveal the inner self of your subject: attitudes, lifestyle, opinions, habits, mannerisms, biographical • How well can you coax complete strangers into sharing the details of their private live?

45. investigative reporting

46. investigative reporting • Reporting on government, business or personal (especially the rich and powerful) misconduct

47. investigative reporting • Reporting on government, business or personal (especially the rich and powerful) misconduct • The organization wants to keep the information secret

48. investigative reporting • Reporting on government, business or personal (especially the rich and powerful) misconduct • The organization wants to keep the information secret • The subject is of importance to readers

49. investigative reporting • Reporting on government, business or personal (especially the rich and powerful) misconduct • The organization wants to keep the information secret • The subject is of importance to readers • Investigative reporting is, alas, so tainted by politics that it is a lost art in the U.S.

50. investigative reporting • Reporting on government, business or personal (especially the rich and powerful) misconduct • The organization wants to keep the information secret • The subject is of importance to readers • Investigative reporting is, alas, so tainted by politics that it is a lost art in the U.S. • Liberal publications/media such as NY Times, Washington Post, NBC refuse to investigate liberals