Campus Journalism
Enhancement of Coaching
and Managing Skills
by:
JEMILROSE E. ELVINIA
Jose Marie Locsin Memorial High School
Feature
Writing
Feature Writing
A feature is anything that
is not a news article, meant
not only to inform, but to
entertain the readers with
the human interest aspect
of a person, place, event,
situation, or way of life.
Characteristics of a Feature Article
1. It is CREATIVE.
2. It is INFORMATIVE.
3. It is ENTERTAINING.
4. It is SUBJECTIVE.
5. It is UNPERISHABLE.
Lead
1. It grabs the readers' attention
and starts the flow of energy.
2. It introduces the topic.
3. A lead sets the tone of the
feature article.
4. It establishes the point of
view.
Summary Lead
Since its discovery in 1979, AIDS
(Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
has become one of the fastest killers of
the 20th century. Like ancient leprosy,
AIDS appears to be the most dreaded
ailment of our time.
“AIDS: The New Leprosy of our Times?” (The
Manila Commentator, May 14, 1984)
Narrative Lead
More than 15 years ago, a young
couple, both of Spanish descent,
embarked on their honeymoon trip in
the verdant hills of Mindoro, little
knowing that the journey would
practically change the course of their
lives.
“What is Manda Elizalde like?” (The Manila
Commentator, April 23, 1984)
Descriptive Lead
Kuh Ledesma is wearing no make-up,
and her hair is severely pulled back into a
bun, showing a widow’s peak on top of
an oval face. She flashes a welcoming
smile hoping to make a newcomer feel at
ease, and also, perhaps to belie rumors
about her haughtiness and aloofness to
the press.
“The Snow Queen Breaks the Ice” (Timesweek,
Dec. 15, 1985)
Quotation Lead
“Hindi sa nagmamayabang ako,”
Eva Estrada Kalaw begins, “but
personally, if you take up point by
point how we match Marcos’
group, I am the most qualified
among the three presidential
candidates.”
‘I am the most qualified’ ---Eva Estrada Kalaw
(National Midweek, Nov. 27, 1985)
Question Lead
Who says the Japanese aren’t
doing enough to promote imports?
“Doorstep Imports” (Asiaweek, Jan. 18, 1987)
What does a woman do when the
most important person in her life
leaves her?
“The maid has gone… but life goes on”
(Timesweek, Dec. 15, 1985)
Direct Address Lead
So you think you know the
law. Maybe. But, chances
are, you have broken the
law several times today.
-Anonymous-
Combination Leads
“God is not nice,” a wise Jewish
rabbi once said. “He is not an uncle.
God is an earthquake.”
It may not have seemed so at first to
Sonia Roco, when the first strong
tremors brought the roof of the Hotel
Nevada crashing down on her and 27
others. Trapped in the rubble,
surrounded by darkness, the cries of
the injured and the eerie silence of the
dead, she had begun to pray.
Quotation and Narrative Leads
“Sonia Roco: Life is a Gift”
(Sunday Inquirer Magazine,
Nov. 16, 1997)
B
ODY
Main Body
• Brings the subject to life, a
little story that narrates the
subject or a sort of anecdote.
• Appeal directly to the readers'
emotions or use some sort of
persuasive matter.
Writing Devices (to be included
in the body)
Choosing effective words:
• Direct
• Figurative
• Fresh
• Concrete
• Colorful
Writing Devices (to be included
in the body)
• Direct Quotes
• Anecdotes
• Descriptions
• Evidence
• Other related material
E
NDINGS
Conclusion/Ending
Leave a feeling among readers
that article has come to a
successful conclusionEnding is
a reiteration, a summation or
in some cases a statement that
there is more to be learned
Summary Ending
All in all, everything is a happy
combination for Joe Clemente. And,
this includes staying around for a long
time to come and doing what he loves
doing, at the risk of even going at it
alone.
Joe Clemente --- ‘In uniforms there is
challenge and strength’ (Asia W, Vol. I, No.3)
Climax Ending
The dusk deepens across
the lawn. The party is over. It
has been a long day…
“The Twilight of the General”
(National Midweek, Jan. 1, 1986)
Un-ending
Observers are waiting to see if
Peking and Hanoi will keep up the
level of conflict, or whether last
week’s clashes will become just
another incident in this secretive
war on a troubled border.
“A secret war” (Asiaweek, Jan. 18, 1987)
A
NECDOTES
An anecdote must be
memorable as well as
readable because it
confronts the reader
with the subject.
Functions
• They illustrate
• They support
generalizations
• They show/reveal
S
ample
Works
How to write a FEATURE
ARTICLE?
• CHOOSE A TOPIC
1. Find a compelling story.
2. Do research on your topic.
3. Decide on the type of feature
you want to write.
4. Consider the audience you'd like
to talk to.
5. Consider the type of publication you're
waiting for.
Choose a topic
1. Find a compelling story.
2. Do research on your topic.
3. Decide on the type of feature
you want to write.
4. Consider the audience you'd like
to talk to.
5. Consider the type of publication you're
waiting for.
Preparing to write the
ARTICLE:
• Choose a format for your article.
• Decide on approximate length for
your article.
• Outline your article
Writing the
ARTICLE : a hook to open your story.
1. Write
2. Expand on your lead in the second
paragraph.
3. Follow your outline.
4. Show, don't tell.
5. Don't use too many quotes.
6. Choose language that is appropriate to
your readers.
7. Keep your opinion out of the article.
8. Revise your article.
Finalizing the ARTICLE :
• Check for accuracy and check
again.
• Have your subject read your
article.
• Check spelling and grammar.
• Get feedback on the article.
• Write a headline.
• Submit your article by the
deadline.
T
he Habit of
Coaching
Read
If you want to be a writer, write. Write
and write and write. I you stop, start
again. Save everything that you write. If
you feel blocked, write through it until
you feel your creative juices flowing again.
Write Writing is what makes a writer,
nothing more and nothing less.
- Anne Rice -
Thank
Background Template
The background slides in this
presentation are fixed (i.e., a
JPG file of the same design is
used as a background). But in
the cover slide and in this slide,
all objects can be manipulated
for further editing purposes or
whatsoever.
