Journ Training-Feature Story.ppt

8/14/2019 Journ Training-Feature Story.ppt

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Feature Story


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Features stories deal withaspects beyond the barefacts of the news It may inform but the

dominant purpose is toentertain. Subjects may have anything

under the sun. Features may also amuse orevoke sympathy.


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It may explain or supplementthe news but not opinionated. Feature story is the most variedin scope, purpose and style.Adds life and zest to any

publication. They could be the journalistkind of essays. Features belong to soft newsthat accommodate humaninterest of the story.


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CHARACTERISTICS of aGOOD FEATURES STORY CREATIVITY from the mostordinary to the bizarre or most

unimaginable subjects. It may or may not be timely. Maybe written in any form or

style. Uses usually novelty leadrather than summary lead.


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Although it applies imaginationof facts, features are not fiction,but based on facts.

Features talks to people in thescene or behind it. Timelessness andimperishability. Features apply the principle ofcreative writing. Sentencesmaybe longer allowing the useof figurative language andcolorful phrases.


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FEATURES AND NEWSCOMPARED Newspaper print more newswhile magazine print morefeatures. Main objective of news is toinform while features aim toentertain. Unlike straight news, featurearticle maybe of any length. News must be written in onestyle while features, in any form

& style.


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STRUCTURE of FEATURESTORYThe LEAD Should attract outright theattention of readers. Should draw interest of

readers


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Kinds of LEAD:1. QUESTION LEAD

E.g. What is the millennium bug?2. EXCLAMATION LEAD

E.g. A millionaire at ten. Fantastic3. QUOTATION LEADE g Gone are the days whenchildren are only seen andnever heard4. DESCRIPTIVE LEAD gives vividdescription of a person, place orsituation.


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5. STRIKING STATEMENT- shortsnappy statement set off in aparagraph itself.E.g. The convict hangedhimself.

6. CONTRAST LEAD points outthe opposite and extremes.7. NARRATION LEAD

8. SUMMARY LEAD


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BODY Must have unity, coherence and

emphasis. Must hold and sustain the interestof readers. The writer makes use ofdescriptions, narrations, figures ofspeech, idiomatic expressions,quotations, surveys, statistics,

interviews and anecdotes thatgives color to the story. A central idea or theme must be

carried all throughout the story.


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CONCLUSION It must bring impact. May give condensed summary,state the salient points, the

highest point of interest or themost important fact in thefeature. Come up with something for thereader to remember. End with a BANG


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DONTS IN FEATURE

WRITINGDO NOT EDITORIALIZE OR APOLOGIZE

DO NOT USE WORDS OR PHASES WITH DOUBLE

MEANING

DO NOT USE AND SO THUS THEREFOREEXCESSIVELY

DO NOT USE NICKNAME , AND UNFAMILIAR

ABBREVIATION

DO NOT USE SUPERLATIVE EXCESSIVELY

DO NOT USE THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL

WRITE THIS YEAR.

DO NOT REPEAT THE HEADLINE IN THE FIRST

SENTENCE


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DOS IN FEATURE

WRITING WRITE IN PAST TENSE THIRD PERSON

USE A FEATURE FORMAT

NAME ALL PEOPLE, PLACES, EVENTSRELEVANT TO THE STORY

WRITE IN NATURAL OR INFORMAL STYLE

USE CLEAR LOGICAL TRANSITION

INTERVIEW TO CAPTURE FEELINGS ANDPERSONAL REACTION

USE CLEAR , CRISP AND STRONG ACTION

VERB

USE GENTLE HUMOR WHENEVERPOSSIBLE


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Thank you

Documents

Journ Training-Feature Story.ppt