TIPS IN WRITING FEATURE ARTICLES

After brainstorming and researching your subject it’s time to start planning. Everyone
approaches writing differently, but creating a rough outline of where you will start, and where
you want to get with your feature article should guide your writing.

1. Introduction.
Your introduction should set the scene and catch your reader’s attention. Here is your chance to
set the tone of your feature article, or bait the hook for your readers. Consider the ‘who’, ‘what’,
‘where’, ‘why’ and ‘how’ of your article, and providing your readers with the angle your feature
article is going to take. Remember, your introduction should give your readers a reason to keep
on reading.

2. Body.
If the introduction is the sourdough bread, the body is the delicious filling to your feature article
sandwich. You’ve set the scene in your introduction, so the body is your chance to take your
reader on a journey. Through the body be creative with your language. Although you may have
a clear imagine in your mind for the topic of your article, you need to use creative and
descriptive language to share this image with your reader. Remember to stick to your angle and
don’t be afraid to add your own opinion and flair through this part. And finally, try to make sure
you have a point of interest in each paragraph of your article to keep your reader engaged.

3. Conclusion.
This is often a neglected part of a feature article, but the conclusion ties the whole article
together. It summarises your thoughts and angle, and gives you a place to offer a course of
action for your readers (if a course of action is appropriate for your article). Your conclusion
deserves just as much attention as your introduction and body, so take the time here to tidy up
any loose ends through your feature article.

This is a basic layout of a feature article. Of course, the great part of knowing the rules is now
knowing how to break them. Once you get comfortable with writing a solid feature article you
can try experimenting with your writing style, structure and narrative.

SPORTS NEWS TIPS

Sports Writing
Sports journalism is a form of writing that reports on sporting topics and games. While the sports
department within some newspapers has been mockingly called the toy department, because
sports journalists do not concern themselves with the 'serious' topics covered by the news desk,
sports coverage has grown in importance as sport has grown in wealth, power and influence.
Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_journalism

There are lots of different kinds of stories you can write on the sports beat, but probably the
most basic is the short game story. A short game story, usually 500 words or less, follows a
straightforward format that can be applied to any game you cover. Here’s the format:

1. The Lede

The lede of your story should include the final score and some details about what made the
game interesting. Generally this means focusing on the efforts of an individual player.

Let’s say a team’s star athlete is injured and a previously unheralded player comes into the
game as a substitute. Not much is expected of this rookie but he defies expectations and plays
a great game, leading the team to victory.

Example:

Second-string quarterback Jay Lindman, who had never played a down for Jefferson High
School, came off the bench after star QB Fred Torville was injured Friday night and threw three
touchdown passes to lead the Gladiators to a 21-14 victory over the McKinley High School
Centurions.

Or maybe the game is a close, seesaw battle between two evenly matched opponents, and is
won in the final seconds by an especially dramatic play.

Example:

Second-string quarterback Jay Lindman threw the game-winning touchdown with just 12
seconds left to lead the Jefferson High School Gladiators to a 21-14 victory over the McKinley
High School Centurions Friday night.

Notice that in both examples we focus on the efforts of an individual athlete. Sports is all about
the human drama of competition, and focusing on a single person gives the game story a
human interest angle that readers will enjoy.

2. The Body of the Story

The body of your story should basically elaborate on the lede. If your lede was about the
benchwarmer becoming the game’s star, then the body should go into more detail about that.
Often a simple chronological account works best.

Example:

Torville’s ankle was sprained when he was sacked in the first quarter. Lindman came into the
game with low expectations but threw his first touchdown pass in the second quarter with a
high, floating ball that receiver Mike Ganson snagged in the end zone.
In the third quarter, Lindman was forced to scramble out of the pocket to avoid the rush but
managed to fire a bullet to receiver Desean Washington, who made a diving catch at the goal
line.

3. The Wrap Up

The wrap up or ending of your story usually centers on quotes from the coach and players
gleaned from post-game interviews or press conferences. Getting great quotes for sports stories
can sometimes be tough – coaches and athletes often speak in clichés – but a snappy quote
can really be the icing on the cake of your game story.

Example:

“I knew Lindman could play but I didn’t know he could play like that,” said Gladiators coach Jeff
Michaelson. “That was one heck of a game by a young guy who showed a lot of heart.”

Washington said Lindman exuded confidence even in the huddle before his very first snap.

“He just said, ‘Let’s do this to win,’” Washington said. “And he went out there and did it. That boy
can throw the ball.”

Filipino sample

Nanaig ang Ateneo Blue Eagles kontra karibal na De La Salle Green Archers para masungkit
ang kampeonato sa UAAP Season 80 men's basketball tournament nitong Linggo.

Isang mainit na fourth quarter run ang pinakawalan ng Ateneo para tuluyang iwan ang La Salle,
88-86, at maagaw sa kanila ang korona.

Umpisa pa lang ng laban, agad ipinakita ng Blue Eagles ang determinasyon. Lumamang pa sila
ng 10 sa pagtatapos ng unang quarter, 24-14.

Pagdating ng ikalawang quarter, pinilt ng La Salle na bumalik sa laban sa pamamagitan ng

shooting at inside plays nina Ricci Rivero at season Most Valuable Player Ben Mbala.

Nagtapos ang unang half sa iskor na 45-38, lamang ang Ateneo.

Nagpakitang gilas ang Green Archers sa third quarter. Tumindi ang dipensa para maitabla ang
iskor sa 66.

Ito ang unang kampeonato ng Ateneo makalipas ang limang taon, nang tuldukan ng La Salle
ang kanilang five-peat domination.
Nagtala ng gate attendance na 22,000 sa Araneta Coliseum kung saan idinaos ang laro.

-- Ulat ni Ganiel Krishnan, ABS-CBN News