1. Your guide to writing clear, interesting and informative pieces
Personality Profiles
Your guide to writing clear, interesting and informative pieces

2. Personality Profile Definition:
“A profile is a short, vivid character sketch.”
Details:
“A good profile includes impressions, explanations and points of view.”
--Journalism Matters, p. 232

3. Elements of a Profile
Profiles are usually timely, but the newspeg is buried.
Bury the newspeg: Ted Allen, Snowboarding

4. Questions to ask yourself
What is my purpose in writing this?
What makes this person unique?
How can I let this person’s voice show through?
What should I focus on?
What does this person have to say?
What is this story REALLY about?

5. Tell a story
You don’t need to cover every aspect of a person’s life. Just tell us a story about this person.

6. Getting Started Do your research:
Interview the subject’s family and friends (and coaches, teachers, ect.)
Do an online search for information about the subjects’s interests and activities
Read all previous stories written about the subject
Set a purpose for your story

7. Getting Started cont. Write a list of questions:
Start with background and basics (bb)
Ask some easy questions to start
Finish with difficult or in-depth questions

8. The Interview(s) Get the BB out of the way first
Allow the interviewee to speak about his or her interests--adapt your questions as you go
Remember that most profiles require follow-ups

9. Profile Checklist Verify BB Note the surroundings
Note the subject’s mannerisms
Note t
Note the subject’s:
Mannerisms
Surroundings
Manner of speaking
Common

10. Tips Make the subject “live on the page” Provide “dramatic tension”
Use “telling details”
Weave in characteristic expressions, mannerisms and gestures
Use an account of the person’s activities (anecdotes)
“Begin with an unusual insight or noteworthy detail”
Emphasize what is unique about the person
Find a “hook,” something that draws the reader in
- JM, p. 232; Scholastic Journalism, p. 100

11. Go there See the subject in his or her own environment:
Observe an athlete or coach in practice
Watch rehearsal for an actor or musician
Sit in on a teacher’s class
Interview the dean in his or her office
Join an exchange student at his or her host home
Listen in on a meeting with the principal

12. Go there, cont. Watch a poet compose a new piece
Go on a home visit with a dog walker
Cook with a chef
Just keep in mind that you don’t ever participate!
Other ideas?

13. What a profile is and isn’t
A story that shows the reader interesting aspects of a person’s life
A profile is not:
A list of facts

14. Your turn
Soon you’ll begin your own personality profiles, but before you start read a few excellent examples.
Tomorrow we’ll talk about what made these great stories.
Take note of technique, style, color and detail.