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Types of feature stories

Types of feature stories. Twelve patterns to spot, and to use. 12 types of feature stories. Colour story Human interest story News feature Backgrounder Lifestyle feature Travel story. General feature Interview piece Profile Investigative feature Column Review. 1 Colour story.

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Types of feature stories

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  1. Types of feature stories Twelve patterns to spot, and to use

  2. 12 types of feature stories • Colour story • Human interest story • News feature • Backgrounder • Lifestyle feature • Travel story • General feature • Interview piece • Profile • Investigative feature • Column • Review

  3. 1 Colour story • Scene, or “slice of life” • Conveys atmosphere or “feel” of event • Can be written • To accompany a news story • As an independent piece

  4. 2 Human interest story • Focus on a person or group • About emotion first and information second • Can be written as • Focusing on dramatic event • Focusing on less dramatic but difficult situation

  5. 3 News feature • Most common type of feature in newspapers • Starts with the news • Then explains reasons for events • Or examines implications

  6. 4 Backgrounder • Accompanies main news story • Clear and concise • Gives background necessary to understand main story • Background briefing format • Question-and-answer format (eg FAQs)

  7. 5 Lifestyle feature • Service story, “news you can use” • Information about life and how to live it better • Often in magazines • Entertaining • 3 types • List (eg, Six nutritious vegetables to grow) • Issue (eg, Vegetable growing for a better diet) • Idea (eg, How to grow carrots)

  8. 6 Travel story • Story about travel • Has information for travellers, insider tips, etc • Often relates to narrator as well as place

  9. 7 General feature • Topic of intrinsic interest to readers • Often held until a suitable news event occurs • Then published alongside news story

  10. 8 Interview piece • Confined to a single interview • Often in question & answer format • Maybe strengthened with background information

  11. 9 Profile • About an individual, like a mini-biography • But has multiple perspectives • Can include interview material

  12. 10 Investigative feature • In-depth study of topic • Well-researched • Contains revelations, controversy

  13. 11 Column • Regular feature in newspaper or magazine • Written by one author • Includes knowledge, wit, personality • Five types • Service and advice (eg gardening) • Gossip • Pundit, expressing opinion • Personal (any topic columnist wants to talk about) • Specialist (expert on particular topic)

  14. 12 Review • Review of book, film, theatre, etc

  15. Source • Matthew Ricketson. 2004. Writing feature stories: How to research and write newspaper and magazine articles. Allen and Unwin, Crow’s Nest, NSW, Australia

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