Feature story
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A feature story (also feature article, or simply feature) is a piece of journalistic writing that covers a selected issue in-depth. As such, a feature need not address an immediately topical subject as would be expected of a news story, is usually considerably longer, and may well present an opinionated view.
Features are commonly seen in newspaper supplements and magazines.
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[edit] Defining a feature
While the distinction between published features and news is often clear, when approached conceptually there are few hard boundaries between the two. It is quite possible to write a feature in the style of a news story, for instance. Nevertheless features do tend to take a more narrative approach, perhaps using opening paragraphs as scene-setting narrative hooks instead of the delivery of the most important facts.[1]
Some journalism educators and professional feature writers emphasize the fact that features are written according to generic forms such as Observational; Confessional; Investigative, etc.[2]
[edit] Types
In The Universal Journalist,[3] David Randall suggests the following categories of feature:
- Color piece
- Describing a scene and throw light on its theme(s).
- Fly on the wall
- see Fly on the wall.
- Behind the scenes
- Similar to the above, but with the journalist a part of events.
- In disguise
- Pretending to be another person (see Ryan Parry[4]).
- Interview
- See interview.
- Profile
- An examination of a particular person. Will often include an interview.
- Factbox / Chronology
- A simple list of facts, perhaps in date order.
- Backgrounder / A history of
- An extended factbox.
- Full texts
- Extracts from books or transcripts of interviews.
- My testimony
- A first-person report of some kind.
- Analysis
- An examination of the reasons behind an event.
- Vox pop / Expert roundup
- A selection of views from members of the public or experts.
- Opinion poll
- See opinion poll.
- Review
- See review.
The Feature Writing web project at the University of Winchester uses a similar range of generic categories which are more tightly defined. They are:
- Confessional Interviews/TOTs
- News Features
- Profiles
- 'Gonzo' participatory journalism or performance journalism
- Feature Interviews
- Arts Reviews
- Consumer Reviews
- Investigations
- Observational/Reportage
- Reader Response / Competitions
- Citizen Journalism and opinion polls
- Photojournalism
- Comment and analysis
- News Features
[edit] Usage by the press
 | This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2008) |
As the print media faces ever stiffer competition from other sources of news, feature stories are becoming more common as they can be more engaging to read. At many newspapers, news stories are sometimes written in "feature style," adopting some of the conventions of feature writing while still covering breaking events. Wire services such as the Associated Press, which previously made a point of distributing only news, now also include feature stories.
The Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing is awarded annually for a distinguished example of feature writing in an American newspaper or magazine, giving prime consideration to high literary quality and originality.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Bangkok Post. "Teaching feature stories". http://www.bangkokpost.net/education/tchfeat.htm. Retrieved September 6, 2006.
- ^ University of Winchester Journalism Department (UK). "Feature Wrtiting Web". http://journalism.winchester.ac.uk/?page=299. Retrieved July 5, 2009.
- ^ Randall, David (May 1, 2000). The Universal Journalist. Pluto Press. p. 240. ISBN 0745316417. http://www.universaljournalist.co.uk/.
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3282625.stm
