Feature Writing Feature types October 10, 2013

Feature Writing Feature Types The range of features types is lengthy - but what it calls for is imagination, ideas and intellect. You need to: have a very good knowledge of what is going on around about you to come up with good ideas know who to speak to remember good, basic newsgathering think about being creative in your approach to finding, researching and writing features

Feature Writing Feature Types Features are varied - while it might be dangerous to say that anything that isn’t news is features, a great deal of it is! Features will include analysis of a major news story, profile of a successful local entrepreneur, interview with a reader who climbed Mount Everest for charity etc. The scope of features is varied but we can categorise them.

Feature Writing Feature types Backgrounder Spin offs/follow ups Specialist columns Interviews Profiles Seasonal features Formula columns Leader columns/opinion pieces Reviews Advertorials

Feature Writing Backgrounders Provide 'background' to the news. A backgrounder allows more information, analysis, explanation or colour than a straightforward news piece, usually calling on experts to provide comment. Often backgrounders will look at how situations have or will affect the readers of the newspaper. What backgrounder pieces could we come up with today?

Feature Writing Backgrounder Colour pieces Sometimes features will be written that provide some background to a story - but these take quite an alternative, sometimes quirky look at a story. For example, if the PM is coming to visit a town the local newspaper might preview it with feature pieces looking at the work of the security people who will look after him. Or if the royals are off on a foreign trip, who is designing the outfits they will wear etc.

Feature Writing Spin offs/follow ups These are very similar to backgrounders but will pick a particular angle or re-angle the story with the addition of new material allowing it to appear in a different section of the newspaper. It has been party conference season – you could write a feature piece looking at the business benefits this brings to the conference locations? Or a piece on the importance of image? Or the impact these events have today? What spin-offs could we come up with today?

Feature Writing Specialist columns These cover a wide range of interests and are focused on the readership of the newspaper. They could range from pieces on local government, crime, health, education, social issues, politics etc. Mostly they would be geared at providing more detailed and/or investigation into news stories. Any ideas?

Feature Writing Interviews Mostly these will feature well-known personalities and local celebrities. You need to have a reason to be interviewing the person and require a considerable amount of research (not forgetting topicality). There are different styles for writing up interviews. An interview can become one long quote - a lazy way to do it, but still done nevertheless. Who could we interview today? And, why?

Feature Writing Profiles Profiles are an alternative to an interview and are made up of information gained from a variety of sources and quotes. Often they will give the impression that the person has been interviewed but on closer reading it becomes apparent that they have not. Who would you profile today?

Feature Writing Interviews and Profiles These will not always be with famous - or infamous - people but very often with normal, ‘ordinary’ people. Sometimes because they are doing extraordinary things. The key is always to be prepared. And remembering that many people do have extraordinary stories to tell - which means you need to learn to ask the right questions. Is there anyone you know that you could interview?

Feature Writing Seasonal features These are related to certain times of the year, anniversaries eg, Christmas, Easter, Halloween etc. But it can be more specific than that. Any ideas?

Feature Writing Seasonal features Seasonal pieces can also be linked to special dates, for example: November 30 December 1 March 8 What events/celebrations occur on these dates that could result in a good feature piece?

Feature Writing Formula pieces These are often the bread and butter pieces on the features calendar. They include pieces like 'Day in the life…', 'Where are they now…', 'The truth about…' etc. Often with these sorts of pieces there will be a topical peg - perhaps someone who is in the news or is a popular celebrity. Any ideas for a formula piece?

Feature Writing Leader columns/Opinion pieces/comment columns Commonly called the leader or editorial opinion. Aim is to support an idea or viewpoint. Writer can be opinionated and sometimes gains credibility for their forthright views. Opinion pieces are sometimes written to create feedback and to get people talking. They can also be used to stipulate the editorial/political stance of a newspaper.

Feature Writing Reviews A wide variety of areas are covered by reviews - these include the arts, such as books, films, plays, dance, music, art, exhibitions, cinema, etc. Reviewing can also cover hotels, restaurants, even shops. Many reviewers are freelance journalists who are experts in the areas they are writing about. For example, books are often reviewed by other authors.

Feature Writing Advertorials These are features that are paid advertising but follow an editorial format. They can be about anything from conservatories to the latest supermarket to open in town. They will be written from a very positive point of view and completely focus on ‘selling’ the product.

Feature Writing IDEAS TASK This huge range of features types means that there is a lot of scope for features writers to develop ideas. Come up with a features idea for next week (Thurs Oct 17) – identify which features type it is What is the feature about – what is the story? who you will interview what research you will do and what questions you might ask you should also discuss which publication it would fit into and why.