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Sunday Ogbonna
Department of Mass Communication
College of Social & Management Sciences
Caleb University, Imota
Lagos, Nigeria
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system or translated into
any language or computer language, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, magnetic, chemical, thermal, manual or
otherwise, without the prior consent in writing of Sunphil Press,
Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not by way of
trade, or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out, or otherwise circulated
without the publisher's prior consent in writing, in any form of binding
or cover other than in which it is published and without a similar
condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent
purchaser. © Sunday Ogbonna 2021
Acknowledgements
I appreciate the Vice Chancellor of Caleb University, Imota, Lagos,
Prof. Nosa Owens-Ibi; Prof. Olufemi S. Onabajo, Prof. Adebayo
Fayoyin, Prof. Esan; Dean, College of Arts, Social & Management
Sciences, Dr. Olamuyiwa Olamade (Ass. Prof.), Dr. Charles
Nwachukwu, (Ass. Prof.); Acting HoD, Mass Communication, Dr.
Abiodun Oyeleye and colleagues in the Department of Mass
Communication, Dr. Abiodun Fagbohun, Mrs. Ifedolapo Ademosu,
Miss Omotola Nejo and Miss Omolara Ajayi
I want to acknowledge a very senior colleague in the Department of
Mass Communication, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Dr.
Emmanuel Ufuophu-Biri, whose text on The Art of News Reporting
was quite useful and the tonic l needed in writing this book. I appreciate
your effort and have learnt from your experience.
Many thanks to my students in the Department of Mass
Communication, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State, especially the
sets that have continuously raised the intellectual standard of the
university to a higher level. Keep the flag flying high as worthy
ambassadors.
To my beloved wife and children: Mrs. Philomina, Master Kelechi and
Miss Favour. I thank you for your love, patience and understanding by
being there for me through the thick and thin. The cadre of
compugraphers: Kelechi Samuel Sunday and Favour Isioma Sunday
of Sunphil Press Limited, who worked to ensure the successful
completion of this manuscript. l also thank Mr. Emeka Okafor, who
proofread the manuscript. l am indebted to you all.
Above all, l owe the success of this book to the Almighty God, the
author and finisher of my faith for using me as an instrument in
authoring this book. Lastly, to my pastor: Bishop (Dr.) Samuel Fadeyi,
General Overseer, Gospel Light Mission International, Ejigbo, Lagos.
I am just a mortal and as such am infallible. l therefore take absolute
responsibility for any shortcomings in this book and appreciates
students that will make this 'their book' in many years to come.
Foreword
This book, News Reporting, Feature and Editorial Writing: An
Academic Guide; has been written to provide the fundamentals of news
reporting and writing for both the university student and the lecturer or
trainer.
The content covers all that is required to learn in a semester especially
where the course objective is to provide the basic journalistic skills and
knowledge. Students should find the book useful as a source of
information that should and to whatever the lecturer would be teaching
in class.
Similarly, the lecturer or trainer should find the book useful as a
textbook that should serve as recommended text for a foundation 100
Level course syllabus.
The book treats such topics as: newspaper organization and
management, definition of news, the nature of news, types of news and
news writing styles, lead writing, interviewing, broadcast news
writing, Feature and Editorial Writing.
These topics are more than adequate for any basic or introductory
course, and the textbook has such features as summaries and review
questions after each chapter which makes the book an excellent tool for
class work and revision.
 Preface Table of Contents
Present day students still need all the basic knowledge of news Page
reporting, feature and editorial writing they can acquire. The quest for Acknowledgements
academic excellence is an endless mission. With this in view, we Foreword
consider this book timely in filling the void for a book that will serve as Preface
a guide in news writing and reporting. It is our belief that there is
always room for improvement. News Reporting, Feature and Editorial Chapters
Writing: An Academic Guide is aimed at providing simple, lucid and
readable material in a subject that could otherwise be confusing to 1. The Print Media House
students of mass communication and practicing journalists. Its Introduction; 1
contents are meant to clear up most of the grey areas for the benefit of Organizational Structure of a Newspaper House;
those interested in news, whether in the print or broadcast media. Personnel Requirement in the Editorial Department;
Summary;
The book is designed to be used as a core introductory text in news Questions for Review;
reporting and writing, fundamentals of reporting, Feature and Editorial
writing. It is divided into three sections of twenty chapters beginning 2. What is News?
with section A that deals with the print media house, including the Introduction;
personnel that work in the newspaper house; delves into the question of Definition of News;
what news is. It dealt with its nature and characteristics, types of news, Online Journalism and News Definition;
and the lead. Other topics include news writing styles; news gathering; Nature of News;
interviewing, writing the news and broadcast media writing. Section B Qualities or Characteristics of News;
examined Feature writing while Section C dealt with Editorial writing. News Values;
We hope that students, lecturers, practicing journalists and all Summary;
concerned will find this book very useful and handy. We welcome Questions for Review;
constructive views on how the book can be improved upon for the
advancement of knowledge. 3. Types of News
Introduction;
Sunday Ogbonna Hard News;
Lagos, 2021 Soft News;
Investigative Report; 33
Characteristics of Investigative Reporting;
Functions of Investigative Journalism;
Sources Open to an Investigative Reporter;
Constraints of Investigative Reporting;
Interpretative Report;
Types of Interpretative Reports; Sources of News;
In-Depth Stories; Differences between News Beat and Sources of News;
Summary; Types of Reporter;
Questions for Review; Qualities of a Reporter;
Summary;
4. The Lead Questions for Review;
Introduction;
The Lead; 7. Interviewing
Types of Lead; Introduction;
Functions of Lead; Kinds of Interview;
Qualities of a Good Lead; Types of Interview;
Summary; Type of Interviewee;
Questions for Review; Rules Guiding the Interviewer;
Hints on Interviewing;
5. News Writing Styles Principles of Interviewing;
Introduction; 53 Summary;
The Inverted Pyramid Structure; Questions for Review;
Chronological Style or Model;
Modified Pyramid or Screw Model; 8. Writing The News
The Essay Organizational Model or Style; Introduction;
The 5”W”s and “H”; Components of a Good News Story;
Summary; Guidelines for the Use of Quotations;
Questions for Review; Use of Names/Titles;
Types of Attribution;
6. News Gathering Summary;
Introduction; Questions for Review;
A Beat;
The Beat Reporter and Online Journalism; 9. Broadcast Media Writing
Importance of Beat in News Gathering; Introduction; 105
Major News Beats; Differences between Broadcast and Print News; 106
Business Reporting; Writing for Radio; 107
Hints on Business Reporting; Writing for Television; 108
Sports Reporting; General Rules of Broadcast Writing; 109
Diversity of Sports Lead; Summary; 110
Figures of Speech in Sports Reporting; Questions for Review; 110
Qualities of a Sports Reporter;
SECTION B Summary
FEATURE WRITING Questions for Review

10 –Definition of News 15-Style in Feature Writing

Introduction Introduction
Differences Between Feature and Hard News Story Elements of Style
Elements of Feature Writing Forms of Style
Summary Determinants of Writer's Writing
Questions for Review Style Summary
Questions for Review
11- Characteristics of Feature -Language in Feature Writing
Introduction Distinct Features of Feature story Introduction
Characteristics of Features Characteristics of Effective Language
Functions of Features Summary
Techniques of Writing Feature Story Questions for Review
Summary
Questions for Review 17-Steps on How to Write a Feature
Introduction
12-Types of Feature Story Outline of the Feature
Introduction Organising and Writing the Feature
Types of Features Summary
Qualities of a Feature Questions for Review
Writer Summary
Questions for Review 18-Legal & Ethical Issues in Feature Writing
-Source of Feature Ideas Introduction
Introduction Legal Issues in Feature Writing
Sources of Feature Ideas Ethical Issues in Feature
Searching for Topics in Feature Writing Summary
Summary Questions for Review
Questions for Review
SECTION C
EDITORIAL WRITING
14- Information Gathering in Feature
19-Definition of Editorial
Introduction
Introduction
Information Gathering in Feature
Characteristics of an Editorial
Sources of Information
Summary
Research in Feature Writing
Questions for Review
20- Types and Functions of Editorial
Introduction
Types of Editorial
Functions of Editorial
Writing Summary
Questions for Review
Bibliography
Chapter 1
The Print Media House

Introduction

Amongst the widely recognized media of journalism, newspaper (print

media) is the oldest in terms of history, compared to radio and
television (broadcast). Nobody can say exactly when and how
production of newspaper started. But what most historians believe is
that print journalism might have started in Germany and the
Netherlands (Ogunsiji, 1989, p. 1).

At inception, the newspaper was society's primary instrument of mass

communication and till today the logbook of human affairs than any
other means of communication. It was for a long time, the chief
medium by which the people learnt of each other, debated the problems
which confronted them; and spoke their minds on public issues. The
earliest methods of spreading news included public announcements by
town criers, the posting of proclamations and the circulation of
newsletters.

The earliest effort of newspaper was the Roman Acta Diurna instituted
by Julius Caesar and pasted daily in public places to be read or copied
by interested parties as from 59 B.C. The invention and spread of the
printing press (1430-1450) was the major factor in the early
development of newspaper. These served as the pioneer of today's
modern newspapers. Newspaper business is a hazardous business like
many business undertakings which are geared towards profitable
rewards.
News reporting 2 and writing Journalism itself is full of hazards;
political, social and economic hazards.
A newspaper plant that rests its dependability on the Board of
Directors' charity, or subventions may survive only a few years after
which it must be ready for burial (supra).
Organizational structure of a newspaper house
Modern newspaper house like any manufacturing house is concerned
with the processing of news into a finished product newspaper. The
newspaper is the effort of many professional men and women who
work conscientiously for the attainment of one goal-getting the paper
on the newsstand for the reading public. Among these professionals are
journalists, engineers, craftsmen, artists, administrators and so on.
They work in different departments of the newspaper organization.
A typical newspaper organization is made up of four major
departments. These departments are:
- The Editorial Department;
- The Commercial/Advertising Department;
- The Mechanical/Production Department;
- The Administration/Accounts or Finance Department.
In the broadcast media, there are separate news and current affairs and
programmes departments.
The Editorial department
The editorial department is made up of six sub-divisions in a
large newspaper organization. They are:
* The newsroom
* The sub-desk or copy desk
* The editorial boardroom
* The features section
* The photo section and
* The print media house 3
* The Library
(Ogunsiji, 1989, p. 64)
In addition to the above, the editorial is made up of the following:
The proofreading desk
Business/crime /energy/political/ women/specialized desk, etc.
The reporters, especially in the print media work in editorial
department. Without the editorial department there may be no need for
the various other departments. Even the head of the newspaper
organization is found here. Within the editorial we have the following
sub-sections:
Newsroom
The newsroom according to Sonaike (1987, p. 16) is the young
reporter's office. It is the first port of call for all news stories. The news
room, during the daily rush hours (usually between 3pm and 8pm is an
impressive scene of an organized pandemonium. One of the earliest
adjustments the cub-reporter has to make is to concentrate enough to
turn out the story in the midst of the deafening chatter of dozens of
typewriters, the incessant ringing of GSM phones, the heated
arguments on some political developments, and the endless human
traffic into and out of the newsroom. The newsroom is where all the
operations of the news media (print and broadcast) are organized and
geared towards the production of the end product- news (Lawal, 2001.
P. 4).
In some newspaper organizations like the Champion Newspaper
Limited and others, the newsroom is the main entrance to the foreign
news desk, feature desk, political desk, energy, maritime and other
desks.
The newsroom is the office to reporters, copy-editors, proofreaders,
sub-desk editors, etc. In short, the newsroom has several sections and
adjuncts. Before the end of a work session, every editorial staff must
have cause to visit or come into the newsroom. This same department
that is as busy as the beehive in the evening hours is usually empty and Publisher
quiet in the morning hours.
Managing
Director
The Commercial/Advertising Departments
This department is the second most important department in the Editor-in-Chief
General Manager
newspaper house. It is in charge of soliciting and collecting of Manager Production
advertisements for the newspaper. In other words, the department
generates the revenue necessary for the publication. Without money, it
Editorial Composing
will be difficult to keep the newspaper alive by continuously Page Editor
producing. The present cover price of N150 per copy of newspaper
cannot pay for the input made in its production. This may be
responsible for the high rate of extinction of most newspapers. Where News Editor Advertising Lithography

the department is commercial oriented, the department runs the outfit

professionally. The department is headed by an advertisement or
commercial manager. Circulation of the newspaper is also the Deputy News Circulation Press Room
Editor/City Editor
responsibility of this department. The length and breadth a newspaper
is able to circulate, also determines the level of patronage it gets from
advertisers. A paper with little or no advertisement may not get
anywhere and this may lead to its closure. Reporters Promotion

Re-writers

Sub/Copy
Editors

Photographers

Sports Transport Business Lifestyle Arts

Editor Editor Editor Editor Editor
The Production/Mechanical Department
This department has the responsibility for the typesetting,
lithographing, plate-making and actual printing of the newspaper. The
mechanical section of this department runs the streamlined printing
machines operates and maintains all mechanical equipment including
the circulation vans used in distributing the newspapers. It is headed by
a supervisor, while a manager heads the production arm of the
department. Both arms have such offices as machine operators,
compositor, engravers, plate makers, casters, mechanics, electricians,
graphics artists, etc.
The Administration/Accounts or Finance Department
The administration department helps in formulating policies inthe
organization. Staff in this department include the General Manager
(GM), Financial Controller and Personnel Manager.Issues such as
staff recruitment, welfare, discipline, training and termination of
appointment if need be, fall under the ambit of the administration
department.
Personnel Requirement in the Editorial Department
The size of a typical newspaper house more than any other factor
determines its personnel requirement. Business organizations have
distinguishing factors that set them apart from each other. The same is
true of their structure, leadership and objectives. These differences
determine the management of the organizations and their personalities.
There are therefore various personnel found in a newspaper
organization, these are:
The Publisher
Board of Directors
Managing Director (MD)/ Editor-in-Chief
The Editor
The Editorial Page Editor
News Editor
Line Editors
Reporters / Correspondents
Sub-Editors
Proof-reader
The Publisher
The publisher is the mastermind and chief financier of the
newspaper(s) enterprise. A newspaper comes into being because
someone strongly believes that certain ideas should be propagated, and
is able to raise the money and manpower needed to prosecute the
project. The publisher may not be a journalist by training, but he should
be able to recognize good journalistic material and provide the
wherewithal and professional environment conducive for the
journalists to do their thing. If the publisher is a journalist by training,
he must be good enough and sufficiently placed high in the profession
to command respect from the journalist who will work with him.
Otherwise, the publisher cannot attract those who may consider
themselves his superiors in the profession and, where he does, he
would sooner or later start having personality clashes with them,
(Okoye, 2004, p. 63)
The board of Directors
The board is constituted by appointees of the sponsoring bodiesor
individuals. This body is concerned with policy formulation and the
basic operational policies of the establishment. It is headed by a
chairman known as the chairman of the board. Though they may not be
active members of a newspaper house, their role is however very
important. The Board and all members who constitute it are the
sponsors or proprietors of the News reporting 8 and writing newspaper,
the radio or television stations. They are the people who pay the pipers
and they also dictate the 'tunes' They sometimes interfere with the
managerial responsibilities, and it had been debated in many symposia
as to whether they have the right to interfere.
Managing Director (MD)/Editor-in-Chief
The Managing Director (MD) or the editor-in-chief is sometimes
known as the Managing Editor. Depending on the structure of the
newspaper organization, the managing editor's role is purely
managerial and supervisory. The managing editor-in-chief is the chief
implementer of the newspaper's policies and objectives.
The Editor
The editor is the last gatekeeper. He is in-charge of the day-today
running of the newspaper. He is also the head of the editorial
department. He has the final say as to how much space could be
allocated to a news story, and the position of the story in the case of
newspaper. A good editor goes through the front and back pages of
every edition of the newspaper before it is published. The name of the
editor and the address of the newspaper are imprinted on the back of the
paper. The editor is expected to be familiar with the production process
of a newspaper publication. He makes sure the paper does not publish
any libelous, seditious, or any other offensive words in his paper.
The Editorial Page Editor
The editorial department of every newspaper is responsible for the
content of the newspaper. The editorial page editor however deals with
the editorial pages of the paper. These include editorial/opinion pages,
letters-to-the editor, and other pages where members of the public and
independent writers express their views on certain issues of interest.
He also edits the opinion and letters-to-the-editor pages for libel and
other offensive comments.
His most important function is to keep the newspapers' editorial, select
each day's editorial and opinion stories written by columnists for
publication in the newspaper.
News Editor
The news editor is one of the most important personnel in the editorial
department. He assigns reporters to different assignments/beats. He is
the busiest as long as editorial duties are concerned. Every news page
must pass through the news editor. He ensures that the news pages are
error-free by cross-checking the stories edited by the sub desk. The
news editor also keeps diary of all coming events which include
invitations to press conferences among others.
Many ailments that contribute to killing the media are found in the
newsroom. Hence, the news editor should be a real professional and
experienced reporter who has virtually covered hundreds of news
assignments, and possesses good professional leadership traits and
qualities (Duyile, 2005, p. 90).
Line Editors
The following: women's page editor, features editor, sports editor,
foreign page editor, business editor, political editor, news editor, etc,
are heads of specific news interests or beats. Each of the line editors
selected materials for his/her pages, edits and casts headlines for
stories earmarked for publication. Line editors are expected to be
conversant with various areas they hold sway.
Reporters/Correspondents
The reporters/correspondents are in-charge of bringing the raw
materials to be refined as news for publication. It is the
reporters/correspondents who go out to get the stories used in the
publication by attending press briefings, conferences, and other
events. They get in contact with the source and write the news.
There is however a little difference between a reporter and a
correspondent. The reporter is stationed at the place where the medium
is located and comes there to write his stories after covering an event,
while the correspondent stays far away from the medium he works for.
He sends his story via email or fax, etc.
Sub-Editors
The sub-desk manned by the sub-editors is in-charge of editing news
stories. Every error of spelling, poor sentence construction, errors of
omission or commission, ambiguities and grammatical problems are
detected and corrected by subeditors. Before one can work as a sub-
editor, he must have had experience in reporting. There is no way a
person who does not know how to write a news story can aspire to edit
what others write. His major goal is to turn out a good story out of a
badly written one.
Proofreaders
The proofreaders check the mechanical accuracy of the typeset stories
and make corrections on the copy. They sometimes use what are
referred to as proofreading symbols which are understood by
compugraphers to make correction. After marking out the errors on the
copy, compugraphers or typesetters effect the corrections. After this, it
is the duty of proofreaders to certify that corrections have been effected
and then pass the copy for printing.
However, nowadays, this is done on the computer. Even reporters are
now expected to type, edit and certify their pages in most newspaper
organizations.

Summary
This chapter looked at the organizational structure of a modern
newspaper house. It examined the functions of the various
departments-editorial, commercial/advertising, administration/
account, or finance and the mechanical/production departments. The
chapter proceeded to discuss the various personnel that work in the
editorial department and their functions as it concerns the production
of the newspaper. It also noted that the structure of a newspaper house
enables us to understand the
process of news production. It further stressed the importance of the
editorial department as the livewire of a newspaper house.

Questions for Review

1. The newspaper house is made up of many departments.
Discuss.

2. Why is the editorial department in the newspaper house

regarded as the most important?

3. It is the duty of the editor to verify, correct and organize facts

before they are published. Discuss.

4. Explain the role of the following in a typical newspaper house:

News reporting 12 and writing (i) Editor (ii) Line Editor (iii)
Sub Editor (iv) Reported and Correspondents.

Chapter
What is News
2 definition of news”.
Introduction
The question of what news is and what it is not is as old as human
civilization. Just as news reporting is as old as human communication
itself. This explains why as early as 351BC, the Athenians wandered
through the streets asking questions on what news is. With the passage
of time and society getting far more complex, the business of news
reporting became sophisticated
and intricate (Sobowale, 2004, p. 1). A single definition for news
becomes problematic because so many different factors influence its
selection and production. “The news,” according to Fleming et al.
(2006:4), “is an integral part of life in the twenty-first century. Once a
discrete category is available only in certain format at certain times,
news is now available around the clock on radio, television, the
internet, sent via text to your phone, as well as in its traditional paper
form.” Nwodu, echoes similar view when he states that “news as a
matter of fact ranks among the widely used and perhaps the loosely
most defined concepts in the fields of journalism (2006, p. 1).”
It is in an attempt to define news as 'dog bites man isn't news, man bites
dog is' so goes an adage probably as old as journalism itself can be
understood. Like many such sayings, it conceals as much as it reveals.
News can thus be understood in this perspective.
To understand news, Rolnicki (2007, p. 3) state that it involves:
“understanding a news medium, whether a newspaper, magazine, year
book, broadcast station or internet site.” Similar idea was expressed by
Ogunsiji (1989, p. 23) that “the definition of news is as many as the
thousands of journalists we have in every country. In fact every
journalist has his own way or method of defining the term 'news'.
Every layman in the street can readily come up with acceptable
Thus, in general terms, news is very relative and it depends on what one
thinks is news. At any given moment millions of events occur
simultaneously in the North, East, West and South-Newes; the four
main points of the compass from where the word 'News' is said to have
been coined from, is one theoretical postulation in trying to exhume the
etymology of the word 'news'. Another postulation is that news was
developed as a special use of the plural form for “new” in the
fourteenth century. In the Middle English, the equivalent word was
'newes'like the French “nouvelle” and the German “neues”. Similar
development was also found in at least three Slavi languages (Czech,
Slovak and Polish), where there exists a word “noviny” meaning
(“newes”), developed from the word novy (“new”). News events
include, but not restricted to murder, rape, robbery, a president delivers
a speech at a tournament, a minister detained for corruption, etc. all
these can go for news.
Then, as now, different news medium catered to different audiences
and so gave greater or lesser prominence to different types of stories all
under the heading of 'News'. This is important because it enables a
reporter to sort and prioritize information and help readers distinguish
between what is relevant, what they need to know and what is less
important even though readers may be interested in the subject.
The understanding of news is also useful to reporters so they can make
all stories appealing to readers. A cursory look at some definitions of
news will go a long way in illustrating the points made above.
Definitions of News
It is now obvious that there are various definitions of news just as there
are professionals in the field of journalism. Thus, news is a relative
term and its definition depends on the circumstances and situation of
the person defining it, and the person's sense of news value or
judgment. From a layman's angle, news is anything that has just
happened which attracts the interest and attention of many people. The
definition, though not adequate enough, has an element of truth in it.
Comprehensively, there are various definitions of news by
communication scholars and authors worth mentioning here. News is
jointly defined by Julteng and Nelson (1983), as “anything that
interests you and that you did not know”, and that “news is whatever
the reporter and editor decides is news”. This view is akin to Teel and
Taylor (1983) who said “News is pretty much whatever your editor
decides it is.”
News is defined by Charnley cited in Ogunsiji (1989, p. 23) as “the
timely report of facts or opinions that hold interest or importance, or
both for a considerable number of people”. The Oxford Advanced
Learners' Dictionary defines news as “information about important or
interesting recent events, especially when published or broadcast.”
The British Royal Commission on The Press (1949) and the Ross
Commission cited in Frost (2002, p. 11), said this about news: There
are, however, certain elements common to all conceptions of news. To
be news, an event must first be interesting to the public, and the public
for this purpose means for each paper the people who read that paper,
and others like them. Second, and equally important, it must be new,
and newness is measured in newspaper offices in terms of minutes.
Also, Lawal (2001, p. 3) summarized news as thus: “a factual accurate
account of event or problem or something real and current and out of
the ordinary that interests people. News in the opinion of MacDougall
(1977) is “an account of an event which a newspaper prints in the belief
that by so doing it will profit.” While to Kessler and McDonald cited in
Popoola(2003, p. 2), “News is the power plant of our colossal
information machine. The output of such power obviously is intended
to inform and educate, but it also may persuade and entertain.”
According to Rolnicki et al (2007, p. 34) the following facts about
news need to be noted:
- News must be factual, yet not all fact are news;
- News may be an opinion, especially that of a prominent person
or an authority on a particular subject;
- News is primarily about peoples, what they say and do;
- News is not necessarily a report of a rece4nt event;
- What is important news to one community may be unimportant
or have little or no news value in another community;
- What is news today is often not news tomorrow;
- What is news in one community may be news in every
community;
- What is news for one person may not be news for another;
- Two factors necessary to news – interest and importance, are
not always synonymous.
A former editor of the Nigerian Daily Times, and erstwhile information
minister, Prince Tony Momoh says that “News is any event that unseats
(upset) the status quo” (Popoola ibid.). For Akinfeleye (1982, p. 96)
“News is not a process but an account of:
1. Timely events;
2. Act of making information of common knowledge;
3. An account of unusual events which must be reported; and
4. An account of unusual event which may not be reported.
According to Onabanjo (2000, p. 15), “news is about recent
happenings in various societies which may be local, national or
international in outlook and which are disseminated in the interest of
the public.” A definition of news that takes into account most of the
above mentioned variables, is that proffered by Nwodu (2006, p. 4),
which states that “news is an account of subjective timely mass media
report or account of an event, occurrence or phenomenon that is of
immense importance to people.” A senior colleague of the Delta State
University, Abraka, Ufuophu-Biri, defines news as “the published or
broadcast account of an event or occurrence in the mass media.”
The above definitions of news emphasize that nothing is news until it is
reported. It also points to the fact that news must have a human touch,
human acceptance and be of significance to a large number of people,
locally or otherwise. To be of interest, news must affect people's lives.
Online Journalism and News Definition
The internet has totally changed the definition of news in many respect
as “the reporting of facts when produced and distributed via the
internet; and also called the 'fourth' journalism”. It is the collection,
preparation, and distribution of news and related commentary and
feature materials through media such as pamphlets, newsletters,
newspapers, magazines, radio, film, television, and books carried
online. Online journalism can also be defined as the reporting of facts
when produced and distributed by the internet which can connect
easily with people who wants to share information and an idea with
others as the events or issue just breaks out or is happening. In
comparison with traditional journalism (television, print and radio
broadcasting) online journalism has to do with recent happenings
about something that is most immediate and recent.
Here again, under traditional journalism a journalist or reporter works
under someone; in online journalism, you are your own boss; posting
news online and getting across to your audience. Online journalism
news is readily available and less expensive when compared to printed
traditional newspapers. The existence of online journalism paved way
for all and sundry, irrespective of age to be reporters as some youths
have seized the opportunity offered by the online platform to advertise
their works of arts such as poems, writings digital stories; through the
use of texts, audios and videos respectively.
Online media need a platform or means by which information can be
spread faster and the availability of online platforms like the blogs,
social media – Facebook, Twitter andothers has made this remarkably
possible.
Nature of News
News by nature is interesting, because it is unusual, sudden,
unpredictable, important, or odd. It is about people, places and events.
Because it is also a perishable commodity, what is news now may not
be news in few hours later. It therefore must be disposed of to the
receiver (readers, listeners or viewers) as quickly as it is obtained and
confirmed. That is, if there is need to clarify certain things, so as to
avoid inaccuracy of report. In terms of news being unusual can be seen,
for instance, a plane that takes off from the Murtala Mohammed
Airport, Lagos and lands at Heathrow Airport in London does not
make news because there is nothing unusual about the takeoff and
landing of the plane. But, if however the same plane fails to arrive in
London safely, or is unduly delayed, then, it becomes news. Something
unexpected has happened. This is bound to arouse curiosity of a large
number of people and the anxiety of those whose relations board the
particular plane.
Qualities or Characteristics of News
Going by the definitions of news in the previous page; being
interesting, perishable, timely, humanly acceptable and of significance
to a large number of people; it then follows that news has certain
characteristics or qualities that distinguishes it from other forms of
stories. In other words, news must meet certain criteria to qualify as
news, they are as follows:
Accuracy
News must be accurate. Every news story must aspire to be accurate,
precise, exact in terms of every statement, use of names and date, age,
data presentation, figures, addresses, and quotation, etc. This
unwavering commitment to accuracy is essential to a news medium's
credibility and a journalist's personal integrity. Accuracy means
correctness not only of specific details but also of general impression
with regard to the way the details are put together and the emphasis
given. Many news editors endeavour to cross-check their facts before
publishing any news story. This is because no reader takes a medium
serious when that medium does not get it right with its facts and
figures.
When a story is based on the writer's imagination, it becomes
inaccurate. Ufuophu-Biri (2006, p. 29) cautions that “the facts must be
presented the way they are without editorializing. Even if the facts are
incongruous in some respects as judged by your value system, you
must publish them the way they are.” Accuracy is not easy to achieve
due to myriads of facts that go into a story, the speed involved in
modern journalism, and many people who help to produce the finished
story. Every news medium thus wants to be the first to break a story.
But the poser: Must it do this at the expense of accuracy?
Balanced
Balance in a news story is an important issue that confronts a reporter
in his day-to-day work. The reporter may need to ask himself: am I
being fair to all parties concerned in a story? Am I treating all sides of a
story without any evidence of partiality?
News is usually considered balanced and complete when a reporter
informs readers, listeners or viewers of all important details of a news
event in a proper relationship. Balance in news writing entails giving
prominence to both sides in a story. Thus, Nwodu (2006, p. 19) states:
“balance means that equal prominence and opportunity should be
given to all sides of a story without fear or favour.” Some reporters
have been accused of receiving “brown envelope” by a party to an
issue when such individual's views were neither sought nor requested
for, and such stories get published. The element of balance is lacking in
most newspaper stories published in the country. The trend in the
publication of evening newspaper has seriously questioned the issue of
balance. Newspapers in this country do not carry balanced reports
especially in the way they represent their stories.
Timeliness/Currency
No newspaper reader would want to read yesterday's news. People
would rather prefer current information on events. The hotter the news
the better except where readers want a fresh angle to an event, e.g. the
Otokoto, Okija and late President Umar Musa Yar'Adua sickness saga.
No reader wants to have anything to do with stale news. Timeliness
does not mean that all the events or facts in a news story are current. It
may mean only that the story is appropriate at the time it is published
monthly; currency may be a better word than timeliness. The evening
newspapers have a track record of reporting breaking news. The
problems associated with such evening publications according to
Nwodu (supra) are as follows:
1. Poor news treatment;
2. Acute lack of in-depth reporting
3. Limited variety of news items;
4. Absence of thorough editing of manuscript and proofreading
of galley proof;
5. Limited scope of circulation; and
6. Limited number of pages.
This aspect of news timeliness is what differentiates newspapers from
magazines. Magazines come out on longer intervals (e.g. weekly,
monthly, quarterly, annually, etc). However, in order to attract
readership, magazines are printed in bond or art paper, cover in-depth
reporting, has better style of writing and uses illustration and colour.
Objectivity
Objectivity hinges on separating independently verifiable 'facts' from
subjective values (Schudson 1978, p. 293). Michael Schudson
explains this objectivity norm' further: “The objectivity norm guides
journalists to separate facts from values and to report only the facts.”
Objectivity is an essential principle of news practice, though it's often
difficult to achieve. The reporter owes it as a duty to his readers to
present all sides of an issue and allow the readers to draw their
conclusion from the story. This is because a reporter's opinions and
emotions can easily interfere with factual presentation in stories about
which strong biases and idiosyncrasies to bear on the news story. If a
reporter is too close to the story (i.e. knows the sources intimately or
has expressed strong opinions about some aspects of it), it might
bebetter to reassign the story to another reporter to avoid any
question of bias.
Objectivity as a concept in the quality of a news story has generated
intense debate among scholars of journalism, media experts and
practitioners alike. There are, however, two sides of the divide. While
objectivity is neither here nor there, few others believe that objectivity
is achievable if reporters write their stories without being biased, either
in their choice of words or in their presentation of facts. Those in the
majority see objectivity as a relative term. In other words, they argue
that what is objective to a particular reporter may not be objective to
another reporter.
No matter how hard a journalist tries to avoid subjective biases and
prejudices, he/she cannot run away from his shadow. However, a
journalist must strive at all times to suppress all the prejudices and
biases caused by the psychological, sociological, and environmental
factors which may slant his story.
Journalists might see themselves as satisfying their professional
commitment to objectivity by taking the following steps before
publishing (Harcup, 2007, p. 68):
1. Looking at both sides of a story;
2. Assessing conflicting claims;
3. Assessing the credibility of sources;
4. Looking for evidence;
5. Not publishing anything believed to be untrue;
6. In short, seeing if the story stands-up. (Harcup 2007:68)
Simplicity
A major characteristic of news reporting is simplicity. News is concise
and clear to make the story understandable to readers. The news is
meant for the mass audience with the intention that the audience will
understand the report. To achieve this, the language should be concise;
every word should be meant to count. Subjects should be complete and
specific, opinions attributed to the source and direct quotes should rise
above ordinary comments and vague information. The use of high
sounding words and wordy sentences clumsily structured would defeat
the purpose or intent of the news story. The reporter should also water-
down the story where it is too technical by using ordinary words the
average literate person on the street can understand.
News values
News offers a highly selective version of events influenced by the
“ideological structure” of prevalent news values (Hall 1973:235). One
of the most realistic definition of news which is a commercial
proposition is that which says “news is what the city editor says is
news.” But the editor's decision as to which news event should be
covered or which news story should be published is more often than
not influence by certain news values. It then means that not every
event, person, action, activity, or incident qualifies as news. News
must therefore meet certain criteria.Such criteria referred to as news
values are elements used by editors in the process of evaluating stores
meant for coverage or publication. These are known as the news
values, sometimes referred to as the elements of news worthiness. The
elements on which news stories are evaluated are:
Timeliness/Immediacy
Timeliness or immediacy is an essential element of most news. News
must be current. News must get to the audience or readers as soon as
possible. According to Ufuophu-Biri (2006:13), “News is now. News
is recent, on-going and often a continuation of the day or the moment
before.” For daily papers and broadcast and online news, the words
'yesterday', 'last night', 'today' and 'tomorrow' characterize most
stories. Occasionally a story will concern events that happened in the
past. In this case, the reporter tries to seek a “today” (a fresh) angle to
the previous event. Many newspapers publish background analysis of
major news events. These in-depth stories have a longer time
implication then the 'yesterday', 'today' or 'tomorrow' angles of many
news stories. Despite the restriction of early deadlines, news stories
can still be written, both the latest development and consequence
should be in the lead.
Proximity or Nearness
Proximity or nearness simply refers not only to geographical nearness;
i.e. nearness of an event or occurrence to the audience, also to interest,
sometimes called effect. When a person sees a familiar place on the
pages of a newspaper, there is the likelihood that he will read that report
before any other one. In other words, interest to news is triggered by the
effect the story will have on its readers, listeners or viewers.
Proximity could be divided into three categories, viz:
1. Proximity in time;
2. Geographical proximity;
3. Psychological proximity.
Geographical Proximity
Ogunsiji (1989:27), notes entails: “The nearer an individual is to the
location of a news event, the more relevant the event becomes for him.
The event is more likely to attract his attention and generate interest in
him than another event which occurred thousands of miles away.”
Psychological Proximity
According to The Art of News Reporting, psychological proximity is:
“a situation in which there is a psychological or emotional attachment
between the audience and the subject/object of the news”. Thus, the
high inflation rate in Zimbabwe is assessed to be of more concern to
Zimbabweans than to Nigerians. News that occurs in a particular area
is much more significant to the people or the area than to people from
another area.
Consequence and Impact
Consequence is another important element on which news is
evaluated. It means the impact of an occurrence on people and places.
It pertains to the extent of appeal to the importance and to the effect a
story will have on readers. In other words, the impact! This is because
every story that bears direct consequence on human beings is more
likely to attract and sustain audience attention.
For instance, the increasing call for the probe of the former President,
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and some of his ministers, against the
Willbros, Halliburton and aviation scandals which broke out after the
end of the administration attracted attention in the Nigerian media. The
reason is that such happening is bound to provoke comments. The issue
of corruption has had serious consequence on the economy and
Nigerians. Such event is often considered to be news worthy because
the readers, listeners or viewers will always like to know the latest
development regarding the issue.
Consequence that affects a person's well-being will make the news
story more important to readers. How many people will be affected and
how badly, are considered by the reporter when the story is being
developed and by the editor when determining how much display the
story gets in print media or how much time it gets in a news broadcast
and online media.
Prominence/Personality
Generally, every action of important people seems to considered news
worthy, from their official life at one end to their private life at the
other. In the words of Rolnickiet al.(2007:12) news is about “persons,
places, things and situations known to the public by reason of wealth,
social position, achievement or negative publicity.” News is
personality based. The more popular a particular name, place, event or
situation, the more interest the story will have. The death of former
prime minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto (1953 –2007) made world-
wide headlines because of her prominence rather than because of the
circumstances that caused her death. That explains why reporters are
sometimes attached to important personalities or are trailed by the
paparazzi of the world.
Drama
This is an element of news that adds vitality and colour to a news story.
A reporter always tries to find dramatic background and action. Human
beings like drama a lot. The more dramatic a story is, the more
appealing it is to the audience. Mystery, suspense, comedy, the unusual
and even the bizarre are the chief element of drama (supra). As an
important news element, the reporter should adopt the story telling
method to relate the facts to the reader.
Oddity or Unusualness
Oddity helps to make news. The greater the degree of unusualness or
oddity in a story, the greater its value as news readers will be delighted
to read that a vulture turns to a human being, that will certainly make a
big news. Whatever that is considered unusual or odd by the public
make news. If a man lives on top of a tree, instead of a house, the media
will be eager to report such news. Oddity or unusualness makes news
in the media and is always the audience delight. A first time or even a
last time event often is more interesting to the audience.
Conflict
Conflict is one of the most basic news elements. It is the news element
that appears most frequent in news media. For instance, “news of wars,
coup d'états, earthquakes, floods, and such other occurrences make
interesting news items. The media war between Professor Wole
Soyinka and General Ibrahim Babangida made an interesting headline
in the dailies. The assassination of Benazir Bhutto made an interesting
news item in the BBC, VOA, and CNN and all over the world.
In conclusion, Hetherington (1985:8-9) adds that interesting stories are
likely to involve significance, drama, surprise, personalities, sex,
scandal, crime, murder, and or proximity. However, research suggests
that potential items must generally fall into one or more of these
categories to be selected as news stories (Harcup and O'Neill
2001:279):
The Power Elite
Stories concerning powerful individuals, organizations or institutions.
Celebrity
Stories concerning people who are already famous.
Entertainment
Stories concerning sex show business, human interest, animals, and
unfolding drama, or offering opportunities for the humorous
treatment, entertaining photographs or witty headlines.
Surprise
Stories with an element of surprise and /or contract.
Bad News
Stories with positive overtones, such as rescues and cures.
Magnitude
Stories perceived as sufficiently significant either in the numbers of
people involved or potential impact.
Relevance
Stories about issues, groups and nations perceived to be relevant to the
audience.
Follow-ups
Stories about subjects already in the news
Media Agenda
Stories that set or fit the new organization's own agenda
Summary
This chapter attempted to define news, and examine the factors or
criteria used in determining the selection and publication of news,
referred to as “news value”. The chapter looked at the qualities or
characteristics of news and discussed the nature of news.
Questions for Review
1. News is defined by various scholars in various ways. Discuss.
2. Discuss with relevant examples the qualities of news.
3. What is news value or the main determinants of news
worthiness?
4. What are the roles of ownership and advertisers' influence in
deciding the criteria for news selection?
 an opinion, an editorial or an analysis. Though reporters always “fill
in” some essential background, readers need to think about the
information presented to comprehend its significance. As a result,
much straight reporting of facts for hard news has given way to
interpretative reporting in which the reporter explains the significance
of facts and give the background necessary for people to understand
what they read, hear or see and the opinion of experts on the event that
Chapter 3
Types of News
are being reported.

Hard news is simply a report of an event. Being a report, it adopts the

Introduction
The reason for categorizing news into various types is to avoid the
problem that may likely arise as to which news should be regarded as
hard or soft news. Apart from the above two, there are the investigative,
interpretative and in-depth news stories. There is, however, no
watertight compartment demarcating the various types of news, as the
characteristics of one type is likely to be found in the other. News can
thus be classified into:
1. Hard News;
2. Soft News;
3. Investigative News Stories;
4. Interpretative News stories;
5. In-depth News.
Hard News
Hard news stories have significance for relatively large number of
readers, listeners or viewers often about timely events that have just
happened or about to happen in government, politics, foreign affairs,
education, labour, religion, courts, financial markets and the like. It is
the usual routine reporting of telling the readers what happened; who it
happened to, where it happened and why it happened.
The hard news story is neither an essay, nor a commentary. It is also not
conventional inverted pyramid style, using the five W's and H. It must
therefore leave no question unanswered. In the opinion of Lawal
(2001, p. 11), “it is the sort of news that helps the people to decide
which course of action to take or that will affect them financially,
physically or in some other important ways.”
Hard news is a story where the grain is sifted from the shaft of chaotic
and confusing information. They are stories with lots of facts and
figures. It must be written in plain simple way to retain readers'
interest. In view of Ogunsiji (supra:30), “what a reporter must do to
make a hard news story interesting is to eliminate irrelevances as much
as possible and concentrate only on the essential facts of the story.”
Soft News
Soft news are stories about lighter account of events. It deals mostly
with events such as ceremonies involving opening of hospitals,
schools, funerals, marriages, accomplishments of people, adventure,
sports, controversy, etc., soft news has a wider scope than the hard new
story. Rolnicki (2007, p. 4) posit that soft news is “usually less
important because it entertains, though it may also inform, of course,
and is often, less timely than hard news.” It includes human interest
and feature stories that may often relate to hard news. It appeals more
to emotions than the intellect and the desire to be informed.
The soft news story does not use the inverted pyramid style but rather
adopts the chronological style of writing a story. It can also use any
type of lead in the introduction: direct, delayed, question, staccato,
anecdote, etc. Soft news stories are very common with “soft sell”
magazines.
Investigative Report
Investigative story is the type of story which involves digging out facts
not previously known to readers. It is a genre of journalism that
unearths hidden significant information on issues that concern the
public. Investigative journalism means a particular type of journalistic
inquiry, as defined by John Ullmann and Steve Honey man cited in
Harcup (2007, p. 74), “as the reporting, through one's own work
product and initiative, matters of importance which some persons or
organizations wish to keep secret.” In his book, David Spark cited in
Ganiyu, (2004, p. 133), defined investigative reporting as reporting
which “seeks not just the obvious informants who will be
uncontroversial or economical with the truth, but the less obvious who
know about disturbing secrets and are angry and disturbed enough to
divulge them.”
Bayo Onanuga (supra), the Editor-in-Chief or The News Magazine,
sees investigative reporting as “when a journalist goes beyond merely
scratching reports on the surface, checks and cross-checks
information; unearths the hidden and the concealed” Mudathir Ganiyu
(2004, p. 134) author of Reporter's Companion: A complete Guide to
News Reporting and Writing, defines investigative reporting as that
aspect of reporting which brings out the dark aspect of the society
which those concerned would rather the public does not know about.
In order to explain issues in detail, investigative stories are usually
long. The reporter is not expected to editorialize or interpret the facts in
the story. All that he is required to do is write a good story based on
facts supplied to him by interviewers or investigators. Investigative
stories deal with serious subjects and they usually involve obstacles
with make gathering information difficult. Investigative journalism
has saved the society by exposing various societal ills perpetrated by
government officials. For instances, the Watergate scandal in America,
the Buharigate and the revelations coming on mismanagement leveled
against the past civilian administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo
(rtd).
Difference between Investigative Reporting and Routine
Reporting
Hester lists the differences between investigative and routine reporting
as follows:
i) Usually, investigative reporting is undertaken with the idea that
some action should result, that some change should be made.
We will see sometimes that there are exceptions to this, that
sometimes a thorough investigative story might lead to a
reaffirmation of what is already being done and an appreciation
of it by the public;
ii) Usually, investigative reporting is in a long format and takes a
long period of time to prepare to gather information for and to
write;
iii) Almost always, an investigative reporting effort takes more
resources in staff time and in money, since the stories are
deemed to be of more than routine importance;
iv) Frequently, investigative reporting is undertaken, not just to do
a factual report on a subject but with the idea that change needs
to occur, that reforms need to be carried out, or wrongs
corrected. Thus before an investigative reporting project starts,
the medium's management, editors and reporters, must all
agree to spend the time and money required to undertake the
project;
v) Usually, investigative stories involve some special promotion
before the actual publication;
vi) Usually, more attention is also paid to illustrate the
investigative stories with good photographs, drawings, graphs, line-
drawings or charts, and maps;
vii) Usually, the most experienced reporters and editors are given the
assignment to work on the investigative project, since it is considered
one of the most difficult types of journalism to carry out successfully;
of evil in the society by exposing both the plans and the real
evils.
3. It plays the role of a custodian of morality by exposing
immorality both at high and low places.

viii) Almost always, decisions have to be made by high-level policy 4. It uncovers corrupt, immoral and unethical practices.
makers at the publication, or in a government department, to approve
an investigative project. This is because the publication in a way 5. It places checks and balances on the government and on public
assumes a stance either criticizing or approving of the situation being figures.
investigated. More is at stake here than routine. From the perspective
of Karl Marx, the society consists of men of insatiable desires. The 6. It serves as the police of the society against whatever may be
attempt to satisfy these desires and needs result in immoral acts in high detrimental to the society.
places. Thus, investigative journalism differs from routine reporting in
that it is based on the need to change society for the better. Rather than 7. It also helps to mirror the society and present some true pictures
the use of routine news report approach to gather information, which facilitate the shaping and restructuring of some activities
investigative reporters often use insider contacts, (fifth columnists), or and aspects of the society.
tipsters to obtain concrete public interests orientated information about
certain wrong-doings in the society. 8. It facilitates the realization of the journalistic status as the
“fourth estate of the realm”. It enables journalism to play the
Characteristics of investigative reporting, according to Ogunsiji role of the fourth arm of government that s the people's arm that
(1989, p. 31), include: is entrusted with the duty of checking the excesses of the
a) Being tied up with records. government and the ruling class.
b) It is a digging assignment.
c) It costs much. There are many sources open to an investigative reporter.
d) It is time consuming. Some of these are:
e) It calls for hard work. 1. Politicians
f) It takes more patience and persistence, and Misdeeds by politicians in the political arena.
g) Results are not easy to get.
2. The Governments
Functions of Investigative Journalism Misdeeds in government finances, contract awards, bribery
The functions of investigative journalism are as follows: and corruption in the various tiers–federal, state and local
1. It serves as a crusade against societal ills by digging out secret government.
and potentially destructive acts, especially by governments.
3. Companies and Parastatals
2. It serves as a societal watch dog that prevents the perpetration Especially government corporations and public liability
 companies to find out insider dealings, embezzlement of funds,
tax evasion or better still, the success of a small company
growing to the height of challenging a multi-national giant in
the market place.
4. Consumer Affairs
The investigation into goods or products people use that have
direct bearing on the lives of the consumers.
5. Crime
Crimes such as murder, robbery, drug trafficking, smuggling
and others are fertile arrears of inquiry for the investigative
journalist.
6. Security Services
The various arms of Nigeria's security services are a den of
corruption.
7. Historical Events
Things that happen in the recent past form the basis of an
investigative report and help to explain the present. (Ogunsiji,
supra: 145)
Constraints of Investigative Reporting
Notwithstanding the positive purpose of investigative reporting to
ensure that justice prevails in the society, it is not without inherent
constraints. These constraints are as follows:
Threat to a reporter's life.
* Risk to media organizations. Many media houses have come
under serious threats and attacks by those affected by
investigative stories. For example, government sometimes
react against media houses by closing, proscribing, banning,
confiscation of copies of offending publications, arrest,
detention and jailing of media workers.
* Threat to the lives of family members of investigative
reporters.
* A negative attitude of security officials towards investigative
reporters and their organizations.
* The informant, if uncovered, faces danger from those he gives
information about.
Interpretative Report
In this form of story, the reporter has the latitude to interpret the news
the way he sees it. He is free to editorialize, inject his own opinion and
pass comments on the facts being reported. Like investigative or in-
depth reporting, interpretative reporting, Ogunsiji (1989, p. 31) notes,
“require additional facts for easy clarification, detailed explanation
and logical analysis”.
In the opinion of Ganiyu (2004, p. 179), interpretative reporting is a
step ahead of the news story in that it seeks to give meaning and
perspective to the news story. While the news story is a straight,
clinical report, that give the reader the facts of the story and leaves him
to reach his own conclusion one way or another. He maintains that
interpretative reports dig beyond the surface of news stories to explain
the causes of occurrences, the motives of the dramatis personae and the
significance of the events in the story to the reader. Mac- Dougall
(1977) defines interpretative reporting as “an objective judgment
based on background knowledge of a situation, and appraisal of an
event.”
Against the above background, interpretative report expands the
horizon of the average reader, going memory lane to give background
information on an issue or event. It makes meaning to the reader out of
the myriads of facts, and explains the importance of today's action on
tomorrow's decision.
Types of Interpretative Reports
Like the various types of news mentioned earlier on, we have at least
five types of interpretative reports. The approach the reporter adopts in
writing his/her report will depend on the type. The five types identified
by Ganiyu (supra: 187) are as follows:
1. The New Review;
2. The News analysis;
3. The Survey;
4. Comparison;
5. Forecasts.
The News Review
The news review or round-up is written from a personal point of view
that summarizes the happenings reported by the newspapers or even
the writer himself from his beat in the last one week. Though the period
for review on an issue may differ, especially where a story that has
direct relationship with another occurred a month after the previous
story. Every reporter that covers a particular beat makes it a priority to
review events on that beat once in a while. The essence of any report is
to enable the reader to follow events or to catch up on missed news. For
example, reporters who cover crime beat may once in a while review
activities on the crime wave in the country. Apart from crime reporter,
some reporters that cover other beats such as aviation, politics, national
assembly, labour correspondent, etc., maintain columns where they
review the activities of their beats from time to time (weekly, bi-
monthly, etc.).
The News analysis
The Advanced Learners' Dictionary defines “Analysis” as the detailed
study or examination of something in order to understand more about
it. Following from this, the news analysis “is a commentary on an
important and sometimes controversial news item or issue written with
the aim of clarifying the issue further for the reader and putting it in
proper perspective.” The news analysis tries to influence change on the
part of decision makers. What differentiates the news analysis from the
news review is that the former is published in a column page relevant to
the topic inside the newspaper while the latter is published in the front
page of the newspaper. The strike by the Nigerian Union of Teachers,
frequent increase in the price of petroleum products during the
Obasanjo administration and the fight against corruption and corrupt
practices should be explained in detail to make it more understandable
to readers, listeners or viewers.
Survey
Survey is a very vital method for collecting data for the purpose of
describing a population too large to be observed directly. Through a
careful sampling and construction of a standardized questionnaire, it
becomes possible to gather data from a group of respondents whose
characteristics may be taken as being representative of those of the
larger population (Babbie 1975).
Surveys are useful in the measurement of public opinion, attitudes and
orientations which are dominant among a large population at a
particular period. The relevance of survey Okoro (2001, p. 37) notes,
comes clear in its definition as “a process of gathering data from a
target population through the questionnaire or interviews, and
subjecting such data to statistical analysis for the purpose of reaching
conclusions on subject matter of study, and providing solutions to
identified problems.”
Ganiyu (2004, p. 193) informs that the sampling of a representative
number of people in a given population over an issue, often a burning
and controversial one is what the survey sets out to achieve. He
maintains that survey is a scientific method used by the reporter to
gauge people's opinion or reaction to an issue. Survey is different from
vox pop found on the pages of some newspapers, which only ask a few
people the same question and reproduce their opinions verbatim on
such issues.
The Guardian is in the fore from among other newspapers published in
the country that use the survey report in presenting their stories. Before
now, The Punch had a department in the newspaper house that carried
out surveys.
Comparison
In ordinary sense, comparison is the process of comparing two or more
people or things. But in the context of interpretative reporting, it is used
to compare past performance with the present on an in-depth manner in
order to establish the differences. In the economy for instance, how
much was the annual budget year compared with the current year?
How much was allocated to the various sectors compared to last year
when such comparison was made.
Business news is issue for comparison, the performance of the stocks
compared to previous week (s)? Even in the consumer affairs the cost
of food items in the market can be compared to past weeks and
explanation can be deduced perhaps from the global food crisis.
Forecasts
Forecasts have to do with the prediction of what will happen in the
future based on the information that is available now. Interpretative
forecasts involve the analysis of past and current trends in order to
discern future directions of an event or issue. To make forecasts, the
reporter should entertain the opinions or views of experts in such area;
people who are conversant with past and current trends, who are in the
best position to predict future directions.
Summary
This chapter has attempted to classify the various types of news. Five
major types were distinguished, namely; hard, soft, investigative,
interpretative and in-depth news. The chapter highlighted the
characteristics of each type of news. The idea is to enable the student
understand which type of news he/she reads or intends to write. The
chapter noted that the hard news story remains the dominant and most
common.
Questions for Review
1. News has been categorized into various types. Discuss.
2. Why is the hard news regarded as the most important news?
3. Make a detailed distinction between investigative and
interpretative stories.
4. Discuss elaborately with examples the major differences and
similarities between the hard news and soft news.

In-Depth News Stories

The in-depth news story is a form of story that needs full treatment and
back grounding. It looks at the issue from various angles. Such in-
depth stories come after the news break and require creative thinking
and deep imagination on the part of the writer. Issues abound for the
reporter to do an in-depth story on.

A reporter can write an in-depth story on the bad state of roads across
the country, especially the Sagamu-Benin road not rehabilitated by the
Obasanjo administration. The reporter can take it from the angle of the
economy. He/she may also look at the issue from the social
perspective, etc. This he does by gathering facts and then allowing the
facts to tell the story.

Chapter
The Lead
4 The lead must be short, comprehensive and meaningful. It must seek to
Introduction
Before the news writing stage will begin proper, we will assume that
the news has been gathered “through the various available means
(interviewing, observation, telephone, radiophone, telex) and from the
various available sources (regular beats such as courts, the police,
institutions, etc.; special assignments such as conferences,
shareholders meetings, etc.; press/news conferences; and so forth).”
(Folarin, 1998).
After the news materials have been gathered through the various
means of news gathering process, the next stage is “to process the raw
materials and put them together in a logical, accurate, concise,
coherent, and readable manner” (Akinfeleye: 1982).
It would be a waste of time and resources if the ingredients
(information and facts) are not well packaged to make the news
meaningful to the average reader. A good news story will therefore
“make room for quick reading, less repetition, easy editing and faster
headline preparation” (Alao: 1992). A reporter will therefore map out
well in advance a strategy on how to create interesting story from the
material he has collected.
The Lead
The lead is the first paragraph or the introductory part of the story
usually referred to as the Intro. It answers some or all of the questions
asked by the 5'W's and H of the story, standing for Who, What, When,
Where, Why and How. These elements should appear in the Lead or
Intro, such that anyone that reads the first paragraph of the story will
get the gist of the entire story.
answer the 5Ws and H. It is terse, with generally not more than 35
words in one sentence that summarizes the major elements of news
worthy events. The lead is the gateway into the story and it is also the
most difficult part of the story to write.
Types of Lead
Various types of lead are used for hard news stories. The following are
some of the types of lead:
Summary Lead
This is the most commonly employed lead in the Nigerian media
industry. As the name implies, it summarizes the most important part of
the story. The summary lead is perhaps the simplest to write and
understand. It gives general over view of the story, while the
succeeding elements provide additional information and explanation
to the lead. One important feature of this type of lead is that it answers
the 5'W's and H.
For example:
Business and social activities were yesterday brought to a standstill
in Jos, the Plateau State capital, as offices and shops were hurriedly
shut over fears of another round of violence.
Delayed Lead
In the case of the delayed lead, the main point i.e. the most important
part of the story is buried inside the story. It is used mostly in soft news
and features to set the scene of the story. At times, the lead may be
delayed to create suspense, to draw the interest of the reader to make
him/her keep reading the story. After the lead, the story is made to run
in a narrative to make the reader to read the story to the end in order to
get all the gist of the story.
Contrast Lead
As the name implies, contrast lead is used to contrast the action, event
or object with another or to contrast two elements of the same report. In
other words, the lead sometimes compares and contrasts the elements
in the lead.
For example:
Nigeria, for the first time, recorded only one polio paralysis
case by February 26, 2010, in a Local Government Area (LGA) in
Kwara State, compared with 42 cases in 35 LGAs in 15 states over
the same period in 2009.
Question Lead
This is a kind of lead employed by reporters to ask rhetorical questions
because the lead starts with a question. It is usually made in direct
address while the answer to the question is made available in the body
of the story. The question lead helps to sensitize readers or listeners'
interest by tasking their senses of curiosity and ability to answer the
question raised in the lead.
For example:
Is there anything wrong or contradictory about someone who prides
himself as a true man of God and also an herbalist?
Narrative Lead
The narrative lead is used to describe events in a story form. In other
words, it is a kind of lead used mostly for human interest and non-
breaking stories. It tells the story in a chronological order or sequence
whereby the reader is carried into the main gist of the story. Though
similar to the summary lead, the major difference is that in the
summary lead the reporter is detached from the story while in the case
of the narrative lead the reporter may somehow be involved.
For example:
Frontline nationalist and elder statesman, Chief Anthony Enahoro, was
recently reported to have said that those of them who fought for
Nigeria's independence devoted more energy and time to the struggle
to expel British colonial power than the time and energy they expended
in laying the foundations for a democratic and just Independent
Nigerian nation.
Quotation Lead
A quotation lead adopts a striking statement from reports of
conferences, public statements or speeches and workshops in the lead
of the story. The quotation lead is usually simple to use, but should be
used sparingly. That is in situations where the quotation is quite
significant to the story as a whole.
For example:
Over and above all the razzmatazz that attended President
Barack Obama's visit to Ghana and memorable speeches
therein, One statement he made struck a major chord with
me…“Africa Does not need strong men, Africa needs strong
institutions”.
Anecdotal Lead
The anecdotal lead is the lead that begins with a short story that
illustrates the main point of the story. This lead goes down memory
lane. It gives a narration of an event in the past which the body of the
story will further explain.
For example:
Ngozi Anih lost her husband early in 2006 and was left with
three children. Before the Sudden death of her husband, Ben
Israel Anih, both had a vision for charity work, especially
toward the less privileged.
Multiple Element Lead
As the name implies this type of lead focuses on more than one
important event or element of the story and put them in a summary
form just as it is in summary lead. In other words, two or three equally
important elements, may be linked together to achieve a free flow
introduction or lead. For instance, there are more than one
recognizable elements or events in the lead.
For example:
Prosecutors say a woman drowned her newborn Boy, hid the
body in a wooded area near her home, then later burned down
the residence.
Staccato
A staccato lead contains short, sharp and crisp sentences that carry a
very high degree of outburst. The story sentences serve as a menu that
heralds some important content of the story. This serves as an appetizer
to the readers.
For example:
Depression, rejection, shame, bitterness, Anger, name it, I experienced
all. Now, I am a Mother, a joyous one, a happy one. Once I was
rejected, now I am accepted.
Direct Address Lead
A direct address lead is the kind of lead that personalizes the story by
addressing the reader directly using the second person pronoun or the
second person possessive pronoun. It addresses
the reader directly as “you” or “your”.
For example:
This is a message to all you ladies out there: If you are getting
the 'jots' for Charly Boy, the Brand, perish the thought please
because Mr. Charles Oputa, the man wearing the Brand, Is not
interested in any dalliance.
The Punch Lead
This is the type of lead that hits the reader like a punch in the eyes and
shocks him out of the reveries. It is meant to confound the reader.
For example:
Following their failure to put up a good Performance in Angola
2010 African Cup of Nations, the Super Eagles will soon be
disbanded.
Functions of Lead
Lawal (2001), states the following functions of the lead:-
1. To summarize the story.
2. To provide answers to the questions of who, what,
when, where, why and how.
3. To provide quick identification of persons and events in the
news story for the reader and listener.
4. To emphasize the most important element in the new story by
placing that element in the first paragraph of the story.
Qualities of a Good Lead
1. A good lead must first and foremost be very accurate.
2. It must be concise.
3. It must be simple for easy understanding
4. It must be punchy to elicit readership
5. Where occasion calls for it, a good lead could be provocative.
6. It must summarize the gist of the whole story.
Summary
In this chapter we examined the lead and attempted to classify theme.
Eleven major types were categorized, namely, summary, delayed,
contrast, question, narrative, quotation, anecdotal, multiple element,
staccato, direct, and the punch lead. W discussed the functions and
qualities of the lead. We noted that the most commonly used in writing
hard news story is the summary lead.
Questions for Review
1. What is a Lead?
2. List and explain six types of Leads families to you.
3. A good Lead must answer the questions of the 5'W's and H.
Discuss.
4. Why is the summary Lead used in writing hard news stories?

Chapter 5
News Writing Styles
Introduction
News writing style encompasses not only the language and sentence
structure, but also the way in which stories present the information in
terms of their importance to the intended audience. Unlike all other
types of writing however, news writing is regarded as highly organized
stylistic because it demands imagination, discipline, humour
perception, sympathy and taste…News writing today is more flexible
and innovative than it was in the 1950s and 1960s. Although today's
news writing techniques relay timely information arranged in
conventional manner, yet there is room for the unconventional style
and creativity (Alao, 1992, p. 106).
Most often, the nature of the news material serves as a major
determinant to the way (style) the news is presented. After the raw
material has been sourced, the next thing is for the reporter to put his
report together in conventional journalistic format.
In writing the news story, it has three different parts namely: the
Introduction (called the Intro or Lead), a body and conclusion. (See
chapter 4 for the Lead). The presentation of the hard news is done in the
traditional inverted pyramid format. Soft news and developmental
news are however presented in the pyramidal and chronological
models respectively.
The Inverted Pyramid Structure
This is the most commonly used from of news presentation. In this
model, the most essential and most interesting elements of the story are
presented at the beginning, with supporting information following in
their order of diminishing importance. The least important point or fact
is presented last in this sequence. This method of news presentation
enables readers to stop reading at any point and still come away with
the essence of a story. It also enables readers to explore or read a story
to an extent that their depth and curiosity can take them, without
imposing the details they consider irrelevant but still make that
information available to more interested readers. The inverted pyramid
structure also enables stories to be trimmed to any arbitrary length
during the page planning, to fill in the space available. Most Important
Information 1
2
3
4
5
6 Least important
7 information
8
9
Fig. 2 The Inverted pyramid structure
Advantages of the Inverted Pyramid Style
It facilitates reading
It facilitates reading and saves time. In view of the voluminous nature
of newspapers, an average reader does not have the time to read that
much neither is he interested in all the stories appearing in the
newspaper. But if the climax of every story is at the beginning as
adopted by the inverted pyramid style, the reader can learn the gist of
the news quickly and if interested, can continue with the details of the
story that may be of interest to him.
It facilitates page make up
In laying out a page, the page make-up editor finds it necessary to cut
the length of some stories. If the least important details are at the end of
the story, he can do this without harming the story.
It satisfies curiosity
The inverted pyramid style is the conventional way of telling stories. If
a man dies in a car crash, the average person doesn't want to be
concerned with the dead man's preparation for the the important news
first, and that is, that the dead man died in a car crash, before going on
to tell how, when and where the accident happened. It is a natural way
of telling important stories. Moemeka cited in (Folarin, 1998, p. 12)
It facilitates headline writing:
The headline writer can always check the key idea of his headline from
the intro.
Chronological Style or Model
The chronological style is used to give an account of an event for
situation in a sequential or chronological order. In most cases, the news
story ends with a concluding account that may give additional
information outside the main action. Unlike the inverted pyramid style
where the information is offered in a descending order of importance,
the chronological style presents the information in ascending order of
importance.
Lead
Event 1
Event 2
Event 3
Wrap-Up
Or
Conclusion
Fig. 3 The Chronological structure. Source: Alao (1992):
News Reporting
There are two major ways of wring the news story, namely the inverted
pyramid and the chronological model, as illustrated above. Nwodu
(2006, p. 46) identified the third which he calls the modified pyramid
or screw model.
Modified Pyramid or Screw Model
Modified Pyramid or Screw Model: This model, according to
Nwodu (Supra) was developed by Edward Smith, and is best suited
for development news. It is a blend of inverted pyramid and pyramid
models. Nwodu (2006) restated Nwosu's ( view that the modified or
screw model adopts the top portion of the inverted pyramid but then
levels off along the shank of the screw or the body of the story, thus
making room for information that are of equal strength.
Lead, which is in the story
Most Important Information
Second Most Important Information
Conclusion
Fig. 4 Screw model of news presentation. Source:
Nwodu (2006): Journalism Practice
The Essay Organizational Model or Style
The essay organizational approach model or style is not common with
news writers. This is because the essay itself does not have a laid down
pattern or approach that news writers can follow. Any writer of the
essay may come up with an intro or lead that suits his/her fancy.
Moreover, news writers find it very easy to use any of the three first
models or styles-inverted pyramid, chronological, modified pyramid
or screw model style when writing news stories. Essay model took it
root from essay writing i.e. you start the essay by telling the audience
your point of view while the middle of the essay presents the facts to
support your point of view. Most often, essay model or style is found in
newspaper editorials, columns and articles.
Fig. 5 The essay organizational structure
The 5”W”s and “H”
The 5 Ws and H are the reporters' signpost or guides that are contained
in the Lead or Intro written in a single sentence. It is the most important
structural element of the story. There is a rule of thumb that says the
lead should answer most or all of the five 'W's and 'H'. This enables
readers or listeners to have
Lead
Body
Main Facts
Conclusion
(Ties to Lead) the necessary information or facts about an event. Some
good reporters adopt the signpost in the lead. Every news story must
answer the six basic questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? and
How?
Who?: The 'Who” refers to the person involved in the story. For a story
where the person involved is an important personality the 'who'
becomes very important.
For example:
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday received the minimum
paid up capital for Class 'A' Bureau De Change (BDC), reducing it
from N500 million to N250 million with effect from July 7, 2009.
What? The 'What' answers the question, 'what happened or what is
happening to the 'Who'. The 'What' is very important in a lead
especially and may sometimes form the basis of the lead.
For example:
Kind words came for Nigeria yesterday from the United States
(U.S.)Diplomatic Community over President Barrack Obama's
exclusion of the country from his maiden African tour.
When? The 'When' is concerned with the date and sometimes, the
'time'. It is very important to state the date of the incident.
In some stories, the 'When' forms the major element of the Lead. When
the 'when' is emphasized it helps to give the story element of currency
and timeliness. Though, it is hardly used to begin the lead or the Intro.
For example:
Six Months after he first made the promise, Edo State Governor,
Adams Oshiomhole, Yesterday launched a Special anti-crime squad
Code-named Operation Thunder-storm to check the rising wave of
crimes in the state, particularly kidnapping.
Where? The 'where' refers to the place/location of the event or
occurrence. The location of an event/occurrence is very important in a
story. It gives the proximity of an event or occurrence to the readers.
For example:
Detectives from the Force Criminal Department in Abuja has arrived
Akure, the Ondo State capital as part of ongoing efforts to fish out the
Late Chief Security officer to the Governor, Mr. Tunde Awanebi.
Why? The 'Why' of a story gives the reason why an incident or event
occurred. Most times the reason why an incident occurred appears to
be the most interesting angle of the news story.
For example:
For alleged non-compliance with Due Process, the Federal
Government has suspended the S8billion railway contract awarded to
a Chinese Company by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
How? Like the 'Why' the 'How gives further amplification or
explanation behind an action or an event. And gives the fact that
readers are always keen to fathom out not just 'What' happened by
'Why' it happened. 'Why' appears to be the most interesting angle of a
news story. Nwodu (2006:43).
For example:
Reprieve finally came the way of 27 Peace-keeping soldiers sentenced
early in the year as the Nigeria Army said on Saturday that it had
commuted the life imprisonment given them to seven year
imprisonment.
Summary
This chapter examined the major styles of news writing. Four major
styles were distinguished, namely, the inverted pyramid, the
chronological order, the modified pyramid or screw model and the
essay approach. The chapter discussed the 5'W's and 'H' in news
writing. It noted that the most important of these styles is the inverted
pyramid style used mainly in writing hard news story.
Questions for Review
1. Explain in details the inverted pyramid style used in the writing
of hard news story.
2. Why is the inverted pyramid style used in writing hard news
story?
3. Discuss elaborately the major difference between the inverted
pyramid style of news writing and the chronological style.
Chapter 6
News Gathering
4. What are the reasons behind the use of the inverted pyramid
style?

Introduction

This is the first step in the news reporting process. It is the process
whereby the reporter/correspondent covers or observes an event, and
uses the information or facts gathered in
reporting. It is also the act of collecting raw materials for the news. The
advent of internet and global system for mobile communication is
shaping the process of news gathering and reporting in the country.
These two have greatly facilitated new gathering for print and
electronic media. Take for instance, a reporter who sits in a news room
in Lagos, and with the aid of internet, writes a story on the lection crises
in Kenya and Zimbabwe after the sham elections that reinstated both
presidents. The arrival of GSM has made reporting easy, especially to
reporters who, ab initio, found it difficult to speak directly to news
sources. Reporters who claim that they could not speak with the source
are now viewed with disdain.
Whatever type of news story the reporter is writing, he/she still needs
to collect the facts/information as raw materials which will be used for
the wring of the news. If the reporter is present at the scene of the
incident or he/she is an eye witness, the facts are still necessary. The
facts may come by asking questions, cross checking reference books
and talking to experts and professionals.
There is never a “no news” day situation, and the work done by
reporters for print, broadcast and online media never stops. In twenty-
four hours, this cycle of journalism life is repeated across the globe by ways which include the following:
hundreds of thousands of journalists. With global telecommunications 1. It enhances day to day work of news organizations by making
and massive amounts of information available to all reporters than ever news readily available.
before, distance, costs time and politics are no longer barriers for news 2. It boosts the quantity of news items carried by news
gathering for most reporters. The reporter today has the world as news organizations.
beat without venturing out of his office. However, the conventional 3. It leads to specialization. The more a reporter covers a special
reporter gets his information/facts by way of beat reporting, beat, the more he specializes in the coverage of such beat.
interviewing, general reporting or accidental development.
Major News Beats
A Beat 1. Police/Crime.
Not all news stories come knocking on the newsroom door in the form 2. Judiciary or Court
of press releases, reporters still have to find them out. This is done 3. Government House (Federal/State) and local governments.
through a systematic and routine procedure called “a beat system”. The 4. Legislature/Parliament (Federal/State and local councils.
search for news takes reporters to various locations, institutions and 5. Science, Power and Mines
organizations. News beats in the opinion of Nwodu (2006, p. 87), are 6. Agriculture
“special interest areas where reporters are assigned to for purposes of 7. Education
continuous coverage”. 8. Sports
9. Recreation and Leisure
A reporter assigned to a particular beat therefore is responsible for the 10. Banking /Finance
gathering of most information from such beat and reporting them to the 11. Health/Hospital
public through his medium. While Rolnicki (2007, p. 18) sees beat 12. Custom/Immigration
reporting as: “a plan to cover routinely all potential news sources in a 13. Armed Forces
specific area.” A reporter who covers each contact or information 14. Foreign Affairs Ministry
source is called a beat reporter. 15. Information Technology

The Beat Reporter and Online Journalism Business Reporting

The online journalist depends largely on the contribution of the
audience as his source or beat reporters or correspondents. This mode
of journalism has turned everyone into a reporter and consumer of
news information. As a beat, the audiences who play a significant part
in news dissemination make direct presentation of facts or description
of events without an attempt at interpretation. The entire universe is the
beat, while everyone is the reporter, journalist or correspondent.
Importance of Beat in News Gathering
Beat reporting is a very important news gathering process in many
To be able to report business and related economic activities
effectively, as all other fields of human endeavor, the business reporter
must be knowledgeable in his field of interest. We are in an era of
specialization, where the space for the generalist keeps shrinking by
the day. Reporters are usually assigned to particular beats where
overtime, they become experts; though a few reporters are put on the
general beat to report stories that may not fall into any particular beat.
Ganiyu (2004, pp. 85-86).
News about commerce is as old as the newspaper itself. Business and
economic news has become everybody's personal business.
Information regarding cost of living, job opportunities, high or low
interest rates and how it affects the economy has become interesting
news. For instance, the crash of the stock market in Nigeria made so
many headlines. “Our food, clothing and shelter are produced by
business enterprises, and their quality and the prices we pay for them
are largely a result of business decisions made by the business
community. We have a large stake in those decisions, and we want to be
informed of them and to know how they are made.” Mencher (2000, p.
520)
Most business reports has increased tremendously over the years
because there is news where there is business. More newspapers
spaces have therefore been devoted to reporting business and the
economy. Following from this, the art of interpreting companies'
activities, in the area of recruitment, retrenchment, management and
personal services has become imperative. Business and economic
reporting has exploded, making a wide range of opportunities for those
who master the basis of the field.
Hints on Business Reporting
Maintain contacts
The business reporter should keep tabs with professionals or experts in
this field or human endeavour. These experts can come from the
academia, organizations, companies and parastatals, etc.
Keep a calendar of events
Most organizations' activities are pre-planned in advance before the
events eventually take place. Therefore, the business reporter must
keep such a diary of activities will take place. For instance, the annual
general meetings (AGMs, etc.)
Terminology
Be familiar with the jargon of your beat and interpret them to the
understanding of your readers, listeners or viewers, Interpret data,
charts and graphs to your audience.
Gather reference materials on your beat
Newspaper and magazine clips and house journal articles dealing with
the subject area of your beat must be kept for future reference.
Be factual and Accurate in your reports
This is in terms of facts and figures and quotes.
Cultivate and sustain sources
Form the habit of getting in touch with your sources either by physical
visits or phoning them.
Report current information
Avoid stale and boring stories.
Don't compromise your professional ethics:
The reporter should not compromise his professional ethics of
reporting in order to keep a source. Let your readers relate and identify
with your story when reporting.
Sports Reporting
The world of the sports reporter is both intriguing and yet demanding.
People are now using sports as a means of 'escape' from the hustle and
bustle of life now more than ever before. Little wonder then that sports
newspapers keeps appearing on the news stand almost on regular basis.
The newspapers devote a large percentage of their time and space to
sports stories. Most things that make for good news writing are
applicable to good sports writing. These are getting a good lead,
putting first things first, avoidance of unnecessary words, clear
meaning, and accuracy. There are however differences between news
and sports writing. Notwithstanding the fact that most sports events
occur in the evening and many sports fans went to the stadium for the
event, or watched it on television or listened to it on radio, yet they
enjoy reading discussion of it on or a critic of it. Thus, the written
account of the game must be more of an interpretation or analysis than
a straight news report. The reporter must provide the colour,
background and personalities. Games are like elections; there are a lot Addressing an inanimate object as if it were a person; example: “The
more to them than just the scores. For example, what the football coach publicity turned his head.”
said to his team that helped turned the game around in the second half is
important. Sports writers are not at all forbidden from criticizing Hyperbole
officials of the game. This is an extravagant exaggeration for the sake of effect: Example:
“The Upset nearly caused the destruction of the civic auditorium by a
Diversity of Sports Lead full house of fans.”
The sports reporter, probably more than any other part of the
newspaper reports, has broken away from the inverted pyramid form Rhetorical Question
of reporting. However, sports lead should be short enough to be Asking for effect with no answers expected. Example: “Have the Super
understood by readers. For all its excitement and conflicts, there is Eagles players made up their minds to lose all remaining matches?”
certain monotony to sports – the same number of players in a team, the
same type of playground, the same type of plays repeated over and Qualities of a Sports Reporter
over. The four major qualities required of a sports reporter are as follows:
As a result, the same type of robot-like reporting usually turns up in _ Accuracy;
football stories. Such programmed leads are quick and easy to produce _ Power of observation;
but they are devoid of imagination and freshness. The sports reporter _ Fair-mindedness; and
must employ writing techniques, particularly literary devices to enrich _ A gift of the vivid, telling phrase.
his stories.
A reporter, whose mastery of the language includes a familiarity with Accuracy
figures of speech, is one whose stories are bound to capture readers. Vague reports of sporting events are valueless to the reader, who is
Sports reporters have more opportunities to employ figures of speech hungry for exact details of form, patterns of play, individual
than other reporters. performances and the like.

Figures of speech in Sports Reporting Observation

The sports reporter must learn to develop his powers of observation so
Metaphor that he can describe what he saw, rather than what he thought he saw or
This is the use of word or phrase to compare one thing with another what a colleague declared happened. Reliance on one's own sense of
without the use of 'as' or 'like', e.g. “The field was a sea of mud.” judgment is very necessary.

Smile Fair-mindedness
Using 'as' or 'like to compare one thing to something of different kind He must know that on him depends to a great measure the reputation of
or quality. Example: 'The coach exhorted his players like an individual players, for a series of good or bad press, reporter must
evangelist.” therefore be scrupulously fair in his comments.

Personification Vivid, Telling Phrase

The sports writer must be prepared to study hard to equip himself for
his chosen field. He must master thoroughly all the rules and important
points of the games he hopes to report. This is because nothing will
provoke a flood of protesting letter as quickly as a blunder due to
ignorance. He must also know the strengths and weaknesses of the
present opponents and those of their earlier ones to serve as
comparison.
The history and background of each form of sports, both locally and
internationally must be mastered by the sports reporter if he is to really
be on top of the job. Apart from the conventional qualities a sports
writer is supposed to have, there are additional attributes which are also
important. They include the following:
Remaining Cool
A sports reporter must not permit his enthusiasm to reach that extent
which fans display. He must follow closely what is happening so as to
explain the difficult sports and decision for fans who were too busy to
notice exactly what happened.
Knowing the records
To keep up with what is expected the sports reporter not only must
understand the rule book but must also know the record book
containing the statistics of what players and teams have done in the
past. Without the background, the reporter will not know whether a
particular achievement is usual or unusual.
Values of Contacts
Since the sports reporter must make knowledgeable comments in his
reports, such can only be made in the light of reliable information, and
then he needs the right contacts. Club managers, trainers, coachers,
selectors, promoters, club directors as well as players must all be found
among the names in the sports reporter's “contact book”.
However, to retain such contacts, the reporter must have a reputation
for trustworthiness, fair-mindedness and personal integrity. If the
sports reporter breaks a confidence once or makes an unfair use of
information obtained in friendship and trust, he has lost forever at least
one valuable contact. The sports reporter must never allow reliance on
information received be substituted for his own judgment or to induce
him to distrust the evidence in his eyes.
Sources of News
Apart from news beat, sources also play an important role in the news
gathering process. Sources are central to journalism practice. Sources,
according to Harcup (2007, p. 44), are the people, places or
organizations from whom potential news stories originate; and the
people, places or organizations to whom journalists turn when
checking potential stories. Bell (191, pp. 193-194) argues that “the
ideal news source is also a news actor, someone whose own words
make news.”
Journalists are surrounded by sources of potential news stories,
features or opinions on a daily basis. However, these sources have to be
assessed. When assessing sources a journalist's over-riding
consideration in the opinion of Gans (1980, p. 128), is efficiency. He
added that 'reporters who have only a short time to gather information
must attempt to obtain the most suitable news from the fewest number
of source as quickly and easily as possible. He identified six 'source
considerations' used by journalists to evaluate sources of news as
follows:
1) Past Suitability
Sources whose information has led to stories in the past are
likely to be chosen again and to become regular sources
(although journalists could eventually become bored of them).
2) Productivity
Sources will be favoured if they are able to supply a lot of
information with minimum effort by the journalist.
3) Reliability
Journalists want reliable sources whose information requires
the least amount of checking.
4) Trustworthiness
Journalists evaluate sources trustworthiness overtime and look
favourably on who are honest and do not limit themselves to
self-serving information.
5) Authoritativeness
Other things being equal, a journalist will prefer a source in an
official position of authority.
6) Articulateness
Sources capable of expressing themselves in articulate,
concise and dramatic sound bites or quotes will be favoured
when journalists need somebody to be interviewed. (Gans
1980, p. 129-131).
Differences between News Beat and Sources of News
News beat is a special area where the reporter goes on a daily basis to
gather his news stories; while on the other hand, sources are routine
points of contact for journalists. News beats are potential areas of
getting information by the journalist while sources may not even be
aware that they are sources. Mostly, sources may be used in confirming
certain information, though they can also generate fresh news stories.
However, a good journalist will look for leads from a range of sources
and will certainly not rely on stories mainly from the press releases of
PR Institutions. Sources of news have been categorized into three,
namely; Predictable sources, anticipated sources, and unpredictable
sources.
Predictable Sources
Alao (192:48) sees it as the sources that regularly service the news
industry either because of their functions that make their activities of
public interest or by their nature that helps generate events that attract a
large number of people. As the name implies, there are the sources of
news that are pre-planned because the reporter or journalist knows in
advance either through formal or informal invitation.
Anticipated Sources
Though similar to predictable sources of news, however, anticipated
sources are restricted to planned events especially that which come up
from time to time (annually) etc; this may be the yearly independence
anniversary celebration, democracy day, etc.
Unpredictable sources
There are various situations which may arise to be referred to as
unpredictable event or situation. For instance, plane crash, various
vehicular accidents, etc are all unpredictable events or situations.
Types of Reporter
The various sources of news in the news gathering process have
warranted the different categories of reporters we have today. To be
able to source news and information from the various beats and
sources, we have the following types of reporters:
1) Cub Reporter or Roving Reporter
As the name implies, these are inexperienced reporter attached
to more experienced ones to enable the latter reduce work load
and gain experience. The roving reporter can in the process of
moving from one beat to another stumble on serious scoop,
which may be hidden from the person covering the beat. A
roving reporter can move from the person covering the beat. A
roving reporter can move from one beat to another in search of
news stories.
2) Beat Reporter/Specialized Reporter
This is a specialized reporter attached to a particular
organization or social unit on a more or less permanent basis.
This does not however mean that if he stumbles into a juicy
story outside his beat, he will not report it. Rather, he devotes
most of his time and energy covering his beat. Most often,
specialized reporters receive special training in the area they
cover in addition to series of on the job training. The reporter
 can be assigned to cover such specific areas as politics,
business, foreign affairs, banking/finance, etc.
3) Reporter-at-large
This type of reporter can be assigned at short notice to any kind
of area, event, etc; because of his or her experience, expertise
and versatility. So, he/she is not assigned to any regular beat.
He/She has no beat to which he/she can be identified with. A
reporter at large is often called a general interest reporter and is
most times a highly experienced reporter. He/she must have
worked in various beats, and can comfortably report any event.
4) Freelance Reporter/Stringer
As the name implies, freelance reporter works for news
organizations on part time basis and gets allowances or
commission based on the number of story filled and or used. He
is not a staff of the organization and is free to render services to
as many news organizations as he can cope at a time.
While in the case of a stringer, he/she is usually employed by a
medium on a full-time basis, but without pay. The only
consolation for the stringer is the hope that with time he could
be converted to full staff and scheduled for all payments by the
news medium.
5) The Correspondent
This is a special type of reporter employed to report from
locations outside the base of the newspaper, magazine, or
broadcast organization.
Qualities of a Reporter
The reporter is the most important person in a news organization. He is
the first to come in contact with whatever news the medium will come
out with in its content. The quality of a news medium will also
determine the quality of the news gathered and reported by a medium.
This is because the reporter is in the forefront of whatever raw
materials (information) for the production of the news. There is no
doubt that because of his immense role in news production, he needs
some basic qualities and qualifications. Some of these are follows:
Good Educational Qualification
The onions of the reporter must hover. In other words, he must know a
little bit about everything on the job and must acquire proper academic
training in mass communication or other related disciplines. The
minimum qualification for journalists, who wish to join a media house
these days, is the HND or first degree in any journalism related area.
Must have Nose for News
The story was once told of how an editor sent a cub reporter to cover a
press briefing. The chairman while delivering the speech at the
occasion slumped and died. The reporter returned without news to tell
the editor that the event did not hold because of the death of the
chairman. He failed to see the latest (and bigger) development which is
the death of the chairman. A reporter must therefore develop an instinct
for news, be able to sense it and give it shape. He must also have the
knack to 'scratch out news even if there is no news'.
Confidentiality
A journalist must not reveal the source of his information. He must be
in a position to observe the ethics of his profession even at the risk of
his being killed or jailed. If a journalist reveals his source, not only his
personality and the reputation of his organization, but the entire
journalism profession would suffer by it.
Incorruptibility
A reporter or even a news media should not give in to temptations.
Whereby a reporter or his medium gives in to corruption, the medium
will lose readership and public trust, for instance, a public service
advertisement on The Sun newspaper of 14/07/08 placed by The News
magazine reads thus:
During the struggle against the military, Tinubu remained one of the
backers of our organization. On a particularly distressful occasion in
1995, he helped us to pay the salary of our staff. If such a person runs
into problems, there is no moral justification behind our crucifying him
or advocating his downfall. This medium cannot attack him.
This is the commercialization of the media, that operators have talked
about, the journalist or media should therefore steer clear from the
temptation that may make it go against the ethics of the journalism
profession.
Persistence
The job of a reporter requires persistence even against all odds. At
times sources may be reluctant to give out information. The reporter
should therefore have the spirit to persevere in order to get the
information he needs.
Resourceful minded
The reporter must be resourceful minded. He should be able to make
news out of hidden information or fact. In other words, he must not
trivialize any event which he carries across, but rather make something
out of nothing.
Objectivity
The reporter must be an impartial umpire. He must realize that the
public depends on him for objective unbiased and accurate account of
event or story. What the reader wants is fact and not the reporter's
opinion and emotional sentiments.
Speed and Accuracy
The reporter should while gathering news stories bear in mind the need
to meet deadline. He should know that stories are written to be
published as at the time the paper goes to 'bed'. Anything short of
meeting this deadline rules out the acceptance of the story. The broad
guideline slogan as Lawal (2001:14) says is, “get it right and get it new
and when in doubt cut it out.”
Must have contacts
For a reporter to constantly get information on a regular basis, he must
have contacts, whether in high or low places. He must cultivate good
relationship with everybody because chances are that such relations
may lead him to a scoop. After all, news can only come from news
sources that have been cultivated in the past.
Computer Literacy
This is the computer age and any reporter that does not know how to
use the computer should think twice. Computer literacy has become
very important for the reporter. It is not uncommon today to see a
reporter type and edit his story in the newsroom.
Summary
This chapter examined the “beat” in the news gathering process. The
chapter also looked at news sources and the importance of “beat” in
news gathering. The major news beats were examined, namely; sports
and business beats. It noted that the news source makes news to be
readily available to media-print or broadcast.
Questions for Review
1. News can be sourced from two major ways. Discuss.
2. What is the importance of beat in the news gathering process?
3. List and explain the various types of reporters found in the
media house.
4. As a sports reporter, what factors do you take into
consideration when writing a sports news?

Chapter
Interviewing
7 1963, p. 34)
Introduction
An interview by definition is a meeting at which a person (the
interviewee) is asked about his or her views, opinion or activities by
another (the interviewer) (Alao, 192, p. 52). News Interviewing is the
process or the act of meeting people either face-to-face or on the
telephone for the specific purpose of finding out and writing out
something about an issue or an institution or a personality (Akinfeleye,
1982, p. 103), The Interview is a means or reaching out to people to get
their views by asking them questions on the opinions. Generally,
journalists conduct interviews when they need information about
events or issues of public significance. Daniel Boorstin cited in Harcup
(2007, p. 94) categorizes the media interviews, alongside the press
conference and the press releases, as a 'pseudo-event', that is, not so
much a way of reporting he news, but making the news. He records that
the first full-fledged modern interview with a well known figure was
an encounter with Brigham Young published verbatim in the New York
Tribune in 1859.
Interview was seen by some as invasions on privacy and by others as
contrived events. A nineteenth century editor described interviewing
as the most perfect contrivance yet devised to make journalism an
offence, a thing of ill savour in all decent nostrils'. Despite such
hostility, the interview gradually became established in the U.S, then
Europe, as a legitimate way of gathering material for journalism
(Boorstin, 1963, pp. 26-27). Interviews not only gather material but
create material; Boorstin argues further thus:
Nowadays a successful reporter must be the midwife or more often the
begetter of his news. By the interview techniques he incites a public
figure to make statements which will sound like news. During the
twentieth century this technique has grown into devious
apparatus which in skillful hands can shape national policy.(Boorstin,
Interviews are the life-blood of journalism. They have the power to
change minds, governments and even history. They are the voice of the
people involved directly in the stories that make up the news, and to try
to get a true picture of what is happening, you need to hear from them.
Interviewers are also minefield through which the journalist must walk
with great care. Reporters conduct two kinds of interviews:
Kinds of Interview
There are basically two kinds of interviews: news interview and
personality interview.
News Interview
The purpose of news interview is to gather information to explain an
idea, event or situation in the news. This kind of interview helps
explain the news event to supplement the reporter's observation and
information. Lawal (2001:20) states that this kind of interview in order
to make the person talk about new plan and projects or on any issue that
will be of interest to the reading or viewing public.
Personality Interview
This is also known as the profile. The focus is on an individual. A news
peg is often used to justify the profile. The purpose or focus here is a
person rather than an event or situation. According to Mencher
(2000:339): The profile is a mini-drama, blending dialogue, action and
description. Through the words and actions of the subject, along with
those of his or her friends and associates, and with the reporter's
insertion of back ground and explanatory matter, a life is illuminated.
The writer's task is to blend background into the narrative. In profile
writing, momentum is the key requirement for the profile. One of the
drawbacks to momentum is the provision of the necessary background
of the person profile. When the background is inserted, the story flow is
checkmated, and this reduces its movement. In this kind of interview,
the bio-data of the personality is presented and will be in the form of a
biographical sketch indicating his achievements and other landmarks.
Types of Interview
There are various types of interviews. These are:
1. Spot News Interview;
2. Panel Interview;
3. Telephone Interview;
4. Personality Interview;
5. Group Interview;
6. Exclusive Interview;
7. Vox POP.
Sport News Interview
It is not all the time that reporters will be at the scene of an event.
Reporters thus conduct interview at the scene where an event takes
place. For instance, the reporter may want to interview the eye
witnesses of a collapsed building or fire incident or even interview
dignitaries attending an event at the airport.
Panel Interview
A panel interview is an interview in which the interviewer may be one
and the interviewee may be more than one. The reporter throws
questions to each member of the interviewee in the panel. An example
of this type of interview is Channels Television 'Sunrise'.
Telephone Interview
This is the type of interview normally conducted through the phone.
This kind of interview is now common in Nigeria with the advent of the
GSM. The main advantage of this form of interview is that it saves
time; quite fast and cheaper than other forms of interview.
Personality Interview
This may also be known as profile. The focus is on an individual whose
life's activities the reporter wants to write about. A personality
interview in most cases is usually a manto- man affair where
'exclusives' may be revealed.
Group Interview
Is an interview where you have many reporters (interviewers) who ask
questions and the interviewee responds? Reporters in a group
interview are free to ask any kind of question. This
may be at the press briefing/press conference, such as the one
Champion Newspapers holds at regular intervals tagged 'Champion
Arena'. The subject may be on an issue or it may revolve around many
issues.
Exclusive Interview
This is the type of interview where there is only the interviewer and the
interviewee. It may also be an interview granted exclusively to a
reporter without extending such invitation to other reporters.
Vox POP
This is an abbreviation of Vox Populi, a Latin phrase which means
“voice of the people or populace”. It is a type of interview where a
reporter or reporters are asked to gauge the opinion of people on an
issue of importance to gauge their attitude. Here various people are
interviewed and their opinion forms the crux of the story. For instance,
reporters may be asked to gauge the views or people on the absence of
President Yar'Adua on medical treatment to Saudi Arabia. The
objective is to gauge the attitude of the people.
Type of Interviewee
The Interviewee is the person that is being interviewed. There are four
types of individuals that the reporter may likely come across when
conducting interview as a means of sourcing for news (Lawal, 2001, p.
21). These are:
1) Those that have information to give and are willing to talk
 about it.
2) Those who are willing to converse (discuss), but have nothing
to communicate or offer.
3) Those that do not want to be interviewed or dragged into
dialogue.
4) Those that give news (information) but ask you not to publish.
They will tell the reporter that the information they are giving him/her
is 'off-the-record'. The reporter should handle these types of
interviewees with carefulness to elicit information from them. The
amount of information he/she gets from them will depend on his tact
and ability to read the situation and use the best word that will convince
the interviewee to open up.
Rules Guiding the Interviewer
§ Both the interviewer and the interviewee in an interview have
certain expectations. Generally, the reporter expects truth from
the interviewee. The interviewee also expects that the reporter
will write the story fairly and accurately.
§ But in reality, this may not be so. For instance, sources may
conceal, evade, distort and lie when they believe it is to their
advantage. The reporter must be alert to know when the
interviewer is departing from the truth.
§ Some reporters on the other hand, do also conceal, mislead and
at time lie. According to Mencher (2000, p. 336) most
journalists agree that the reporter should:
1. Identify him/her at the outset of the interview.
2. State the purpose of the interview
3. Make clear to those unaccustomed to being interviewed that
the material will be used.
4. Tell the source (interviewee) how much time the interview will
take.
5. Keep the interview as short as possible.
6. Ask specific questions that the source is competent to answer.
7. Give the source ample time to reply.
8. Ask the source to clarify complex or vague answers
9. Read back answers if requested or when in doubt about the
phrasing of crucial material
10. Insist on answers if the public has a right to know them.
11. Avoid lecturing the source, arguing or debating.
12. Abide by requests for non-attribution, background only or off-
the-record should the source make this a condition of the
interview or of a statement.
Hints on Interviewing
Fred L. Zimmerman, a Wall Street Journal reporter and editor, cited in
Mencher (2000, p. 348) suggests the following:
1. Almost never plunge in with tough questions at the beginning.
Instead, break the ice, explain who you are, what you are doing,
why you went to him or her. A touch of flattery usually helps.
2. Often the opening question should be an open-ended inquiry
that sets the source off on his or her favourite subject. Get the
person to talk, set up a conversational atmosphere. This will
provide you with important clues about his/her attitude toward
you, the subject and the idea of being interviewed.
3. Watch and listen closely. How is he or she reacting? Does he
seem open or secretive? May be interrupting him in the middle
of an anecdote to ask a minor question about something he is
leaving out, just to test his reflexes.
4. Use the information you are obtaining in this early stage to
ascertain whether your pre-interview haunches about him were
right. Use it also to determine what style you should adopt to
match his mood. If he insists upon being formal, you may have
to become more businesslike yourself. If he is relaxed and
expansive, you should be too, but beware of the possibility the
interview can then degenerate into formless conversation over
which you have no control.
5. Start through your question to lead him along a trail you have
picked. One question should logically follow another. Lead up
 to a tough question with two or three preliminaries. Sometimes
it helps to create the impression that the tough question has just
occurred to you because of something he is saying.
6. Listen for hints that suggest questions you had not thought of.
Stay alert for the possibility that the theme you picked in
advance is the wrong one, or is only a subsidiary one. Remain
flexible. Through an accidental remark of his you may uncover
a story that is better than the one you came for, if so, go after it
right there.
7. Keep reminding yourself that when you leave, you are going to
do a story. As he /she talks, ask yourself: What is my lead going
to be? Do I understand enough to state a theme clearly and
buttress it will quotes and documentation. Do I have enough
information to write a coherent account of the anecdote he/she
just told me?
8. Do not forget to ask the key question(s) the one your editor sent
you to ask, or the one that will elicit supporting material for
your theme.
9. Do not be reluctant to ask an embarrassing question. After
going through all the preliminaries you can think of, the time
(will) finally arrive to ask the tough question. Just ask it.
10. Do not be afraid to ask naïve questions. The subject
understands that you do not know everything. Even if you have
done your homework there are bound to be items you are
unfamiliar with. The source usually will be glad to fill in the
gaps
11. Act in the habit of asking threading water questions, such as
“what do you mean?” or “why's that” this is an easy way to
keep the person talking
12. Sometimes it helps to change the conversational pace, by
backing off a sensitive line of inquiry, putting your notebook
away, and suddenly displaying a deep interest in an irrelevant,
but be sure to return to those sensitive questions later. A sudden
pause is sometimes useful. When the subject finishes a
statement just stare at him/her may be with a slight ambiguous
smile, for a few seconds. He/she may become uneasy and blurt
out something crucial.
13. Do not give up a question because the subject says “no
comment”. That is only the beginning of the fight. Act as if you
misunderstood him/her and restate the question a little
differently. If she clamps up, act as if he/she misunderstood
you and rephrase the question again. On the third, feign
disbelief at her refusal and ask if it is valid. Later, ask for
“guidance” in tracking down the story elsewhere. Or suggest
non-attribution, or get tough, whatever you think might work.
14. Occasionally your best quote or fact comes after the subject
thinks the interview is over. As you are putting away your
notebook and saying goodbye, the subject relaxes and makes a
crucial but off-hand remark. So stay alert until you are out of
the door (Mencher, 2000, p. 348).
Principle of Interviewing
Everything we do in life has its principles and application. Interview is
not an exception. Before one sets out to carry out a successful
interview, he/she must have done a background research on the
interviewee. For example, before you set out to interview a judge, you
must have examined his decisions in key cases and talked to people
who had appeared in the judge's courtroom. Based on this, the
principles of good interviewing are: i) preparation; ii) get interviewee
trust; and iii) ask relevant questions.
Preparation
The interviewer should familiarize himself with as much background
as possible. To obtain good interview, journalist must follow the 'P's
principles of persistence and preparation. Mencher (2000, p. 328),
states that persistence is necessary to persuade people to be
interviewed, and it is essential in following a line of questioning that
the subject may find objectionable. Preparation on the other hand, may
consist of a few minutes spent on glancing through a story carried on
the interviewee the previous week. It may be a prolonged examination
of clippings and materials that databases have turned up on the
interviewee.
Part of the preparation also includes research: Research begins with the
library clippings about the subject. If the interviewee is well known,
the who's who book may be consulted, and other biographical
dictionaries can be consulted.
Get Interviewee Trust
Some interviewees do not want to be interviewed or dragged into
dialogue. For you to get the interviewee trust you as a reporter, you
must share a kind of bond with the interviewee which will culminate
into trust. It is trust that can make a reporter (Interviewer) get a scoop.
Ask relevant questions
The interviewer should develop a theme for the interview, and this is
turn suggest questions to be asked. As earlier mentioned in this chapter,
the interviewer can ask direct, open-ended and close-ended questions.
The direct question follow from what the interviewer views as the
subject matter of the interview, the open-ended is question that is
considered in general terms, while the close-ended question elicits a
specific response.
As we have seen, reporters often begin their interviews with open-
ended questions, which allow the source to relax. Then the close-ended
questions are asked, which may seem threatening if asked at the outset
of the interview. Television and radio interviews usually end with a
close-ended question. The reporter who asks only open-ended
questions should be aware of their possible implications. To some
sources, the open-ended questions are the mark of an inadequately
prepared reporter who is fishing for a story (Mencher, ibid., p. 333).
Be a good listener/observer. According to Carl Bernstein of the
Woodward Bernstein reporting team that exposed the Watergate
scandal that led to President Nixon's resignation, cited in Mencher
(ibid., p. 335), great reporters are great listeners. The good listener
hears relevant quotes, revealing slips of the tongue, the dialect and
diction of the source that sets him/her apart.
Summary
This chapter has attempted to define interview. It discussed the kinds of
interview and also dealt with the various types of interview, namely;
sports news interview, telephone, personality, group, exclusive and
vox pop. The place of the interviewee in the interviewing process was
analysed. The chapter looked at the hints on interviewing and the rules
guiding the interviewer. Lastly, it took a holistic look at the principles
of interviewing.
Questions for Review
1. You are scheduled to interview the Minister of Information and
Communication. List ten likely questions that will form the
focus of your interview.
2. List and explain six types of interview familiar to you.
3. State and analyse the various interview principle an
interviewer should take into consideration when conducting an
interview?
4. Discuss the role of research in conducting a successful
interview.
 Where, Why and How).
_ Use of quotes (readers like to hear what others (expert sources)
have to say about the topic (issue) of the story.
_ Accuracy/real facts
_ Use of Attribution.
_ Be fair in your story.
_ Objectivity.
Chapter 8
Writing the News
_
_
Brevity.
Clarity
_ Human interest.

Components of a Good News Story

Introduction
When a reporter has gone out and gathered the raw materials, the next
thing is to write the news story. In doing this, the reporter maps out his
strategy or plan on how to create an interesting and attractive story that
will interest the majority of his readers. The news story must entertain,
inform, inspire anger and educate. The reporter must not follow the
conservative approach, except for important, breaking news or
headline.
The reporter should look for the opportunity to write a more interesting
news story. His main objective is to tell the people what they need to
know and not to show them his literary writing prowess. To start
writing the news story, the most important element of news goes into
the lead. The lead and subsequent two or three paragraphs must answer
the Five 'W's and 'H', i.e. Who,
What, When, Where, Why and How? The reporter in writing a news
story must ask himself: “What questions will the reader have that I
need to answer?” These should be jotted down and
the reporter must ensure that none is left unanswered.
The following is generally expected in a News Story:
_ Arrangement of the story (presenting information from most to
least important).
_ A strong lead containing 5 'W's and 'H' (Who, What, When,
A Strong Lead
A strong and effective lead containing 5 'W's and 'H'. The most relevant
and newest information must form the lead. The lead must also be
focused, short and memorable.
Arrangement
The story must be adequately arranged (presenting information from
most to least important
Use of Quotes
Readers like to read what sources have to say about the topic of the
story. The use of quotation marks should be adopted. The best quotes
are short and bright. The surprise, shock or amuse. Quotes must
correct. Quotes allow experts to give perspective and allow people to
air their views. The news writer must not quote simple statements of
fact.
Accuracy
As a reporter, the pen is mightier than the sword. What you write can
influence decisions, help form public opinions of people and
contribute to the general attitude of your readers toward the medium.
Once you get a fact wrong, misspell a name or omit a vital piece of
information, you do not only distort the truth and misinform the public,
but you also do damage to the credibility of the medium.
Attribution
Attribution simply means crediting information used in a story to the
source of that information. Attribution therefore authenticates as well
as confers automatic credibility to the news story (Nwodu, 2001, p.
57). It is important in news stories to be absolutely clear about where
the information comes from. Attributing the information in your story
makes it more credible and builds trust with your readers. Whenever
possible, use on-the-record attribution. See types of Attribution below:
Clarity
According to Summers (1995, p. 231) clarity is “the quality of
expressing ideas or thoughts in a clear way.” Clarity is the avoidance of
big words and long sentences in our writing. Newspaper readers are
always in a hurry to get the gist of the story. The reporter or writer has to
give the readers the information quickly, concisely and without a lot of
extra words or information they do not need.
Guidelines for the Use of Quotations
The use of quotations should follow the following guidelines.
These are:
_ Avoid the use of both the questions and their answers in the
story. It makes the story dull. Try to omit the questions.
_ Explanations to a quotation should come before the quotation
so that the readers or listeners will be able to understand the
information in the story.
_ When using two quotations for a statement, the first quotation
should appear in double quotation marks, and the second
should be in single quotation marks.
_ Long quotation should be divided into short paragraphs. This
will enable readers to easily understand the source(s) of
remarks.
_ Avoid placing quotation marks around an isolated word or two.
Use of Names/Titles
As a rule, names and titles of people and places must be written in full
the first time they are mentioned. Subsequently only the surname and
probably the title or designation are mentioned. It would amount to
mere conjecture in the part of readers if a person in a story is not fully
identified, especially the first time the name was mentioned. The rule
of news writing states that anybody mentioned in a news story deserves
identification by specifying his/her title (position), address, job, age,
etc. This will help to remove every atom of doubts in the case of double
identity.
Human Interest: The human interest angle takes a story from abstract
reality to that personal element that will help readers understand the
story. Sometimes, reporters and news writers fail to personalize events
that easily lend themselves to human interest.
Types of Attribution
In his book, News Reporting and Writing, Journalism Professor
Melvin Mencher (2000) outlines four distinct types of attribution:
On the record attribution
All statements are directly quotable, by name and title, the person
making the statement. Example: “The U.S. has no plans to invade
Iran,” said White House Press Secretary, Jim Smithe. Reporters
should strive to have their sources speak on the record whenever
possible. A named source gives a story greater credibility.
On Background Attribution
All statements are directly quotable, but can't be attributed by name or
specific title to the person commenting. Example: “The U.S. has no
plan to invade Iran,” a White House Spokesman said.
On Deep Background Attribution
Anything that is said in the interview is usable but not in direct
quotation and not for attribution. The reporter writes it on his or her
own. On-the-record attribution should be used as often as possible.
Example: “The U.S has no plans to invade Iran.”
Off-the-Record Attribution
Information is for the reporter's use only and is not to be printed or
made public in anyway. The information also is not to be taken to
another source in the hope of getting information.

Summary
This chapter introduced you to the components of a good news story. It
focused on the major components, namely, accuracy, use of quotation,
attribution, clarity, and use of names and titles.

Questions for Review

Chapter 9
Broadcast Media Writing
1. With relevant examples, explain the statement that the job of a
reporter is to gather and disseminate information with
accuracy, clarity and speed.
2. Discuss the importance of attribution in news writing. Introduction
3. List and discuss elaborately the components of a good news
story. The broadcast media writing is a specialized type of writing. Broadcast
4. What is the importance of the use of names and titles in writing media writing is different from writing for the print media because of
a hard news story? the special features of the broadcast media. Word possesses immense
power and authority. The spoken word is even more powerful than the
written word because it has the ability to engage the listener in a type of
conversation. According to Robin Tyson, a lecturer of Media Studies,
University of Namibia and Robert Moore, Professor of
Communication, Elizabethtown College, U.S.A., broadcast writing
must concern itself entirely with the spoken word. So it must always
keep in mind that the words are going to be read out loud and must be
familiar and easily understandable to the listener.
The listener does not have the ability of re-reading a certain story in the
broadcast script to comprehend it as he can in a newspaper. He has only
one chance to understand the meaning of what he hears. Even the best
stories lack meaningfulness to the listener if it does not “talk” to
him/her.
Broadcast writing should be convincing to the listener. It is important
that the information does not sound like it is being read to the listeners.
The goal is to engage the listener in a conversation-a story- that is being
related to him by a trusted friend in the media. The broadcaster might
like to visualize a single listener when writing and presenting a story. It
must be remembered that the listener is a single person at a time, not to
thousands of “you out there”. It's a beautiful strength in radio and
television that we can use the direct form of address: “How are you this
morning”? It makes the listener feel as if you are speaking to him and
only to him alone.
Differences between Broadcast and Print News
Immediacy
The broadcast media writer is guided by broadcast writing rule of
immediacy. Electronic or broadcast media news can be sent across to
the different audience as the event is unfolding, while the print media
have the advantage of permanence. Thus, the print news can be
preserved for future reference.
Appeal
The broadcast media (Radio/Television) appeal to audio sense in case
of the radio, while the television news appeals to both the audio and
visual senses.
Level of Literacy
In other to appreciate the print media news, one requires measurable
level of literacy. On the other hand, the electronic medium news uses
easy to understand language and can be produced in any local
language.
Simplicity
Broadcast media news is quite simple, conversational and can be
relatively informal. The electronic news is usually between 60 and 120
seconds. This makes electronic news to be short,
thus, must be catchy and shocking.
Reach
The broadcast news can get to the audiences who have nothing in
common with those who are similar in nature. The Broadcast media
writing 107 electronic media news has the ability to penetrate even the
remotest areas.
Power of Choice
The electronic media news denies one the choice of deciding what
news to be exposed to or the number or unit of such exposure. In other
words, one can listen or watch a given story countless times. Unlike the
print media news, readers are at liberty to choose which item(s) to read.
Brevity versus Depth
In electronic media news, the fewer the words the better. The electronic
news must be very brief, simple and direct. This is so, bearing in mind
that the listener or watcher does not have all the time in the world. So
the broadcast news information has to be brief. On the other hand, the
print media news is more detailed and lengthy. It has the advantage of
permanency.
Writing for Radio
Radio journalists do not need to think in pictures, but they need to be
able to paint pictures with sound. Sound is a very important medium
because its approach is much more direct. Somebody can be driving
and still listen to a radio broadcast.
But the reverse is the case of reading a newspaper, as we cannot
concentrate on reading newspaper and still do other tasks.
Radio writing differs from writing for other mass media of
communication, because the medium is different, so also, broadcasting
is not static, but moves forward in present time.
While the principle of selection and rejection holds for the print media,
in radio, the listener has to take everything as it comes, or not listen at
all, because he has no means to seek immediate clarification. A radio
script writer should Endeavour therefore, to hold the listener's
attention and ensure that the meaning of his talk or story is clear and
understandable, at every stage of delivery Onabanjo (1999, p. 9).
Onabanjo maintains that another distinguishing characteristic of radio
writing is that things heard on radio, appear to the listener to be
happening now, because of radio's quality of immediacy. Radio is a
very immediate medium and is probably the best at alerting the public
to a news story, Frost (2002, p. 7). Broadcasting, according to Richard
Aspinal in his manual “Radio Programme Production”. (1971) “Radio
broadcasting is one of the several means of getting a message to a large
number of people at the same time.” Aspinal sees broadcasting as
“concerning with the transmission and use of knowledge and
information which brings a greater number of the society into the main
stream of national life.”
Writing for Television
Writing for television is different from writing for other media of mass
communication. Therefore, a script writer must understand the
medium's capabilities and limitations and be familiar with basic
techniques of television production. Since television is a visual
medium, the television script writer must be comfortable working with
images and words. Sometimes a script writer deals with very little
spoken copy, because the images may convey the message alone, or in
combination with appropriate sound effects or music. The visual
quality of television notwithstanding, a television script must be
written for the ear and not the eye.This is because the audience never
reads the script, but only listens to its deliver. Sentences should be kept
simple, direct and to the point.
It is advisable to write in informal style, as much as possible,
sometimes using slangs and colloquial expressions, when necessary.
Otherwise a stiff formal style may interfere with the audience
understanding of the message.
General Rules of Broadcast Writing
_ The best way to learn broadcast style is to listen to radio deejays
and television anchors/reporters.
_ Write clearly. Read copy aloud to hear how it sounds
_ Use conventional style-simple and direct.
_ Transitions are necessary, but pay close attention to how
natural they sound in the broadcast.
_ Use active voice.
_ Emphasize the latest news of a continuing story, but give
necessary background early to provide context for the story.
The rule is that every story should stand on its own.
_ Use present tense, but don't belabour it. Not every story must
sound as if it just happened moments before the newscast.
_ Don't cram too much information into the lead. The 5'W's and
H lead (from the print media) will confuse audience. Try for a
softer lead with non-essential facts that get audience's attention
to the story but are not too complex.
_ At the same time, don't underestimate your audience and talk
down to them.
_ Keep sentences short (easier for broadcaster to say and easier
for listener to follow and economical). Give necessary
information in a few words as possible.
_ Avoid highly technical words, professional jargons, clichés
and obfuscation by bureaucrats.
_ Avoid sexism in pronouns.
_ Find the lead and then tell the story chronologically.
_ Answer logical questions, and if you don't know the answer,
say so but do not ignore the question.
Summary
This chapter compared the similarities and differences of the broadcast
and print journalism. It examined the radio and television and
concluded the chapter on the general rules that
guide broadcast writing.
Questions for Review
1. Outline and explain the elements of a good broadcast writing.
2. Applying specific example, use notable elements to
differentiate between the print and broadcast writing.
3. Writing for television is more complex and different from
writing for radio and print. Discuss.
4. What rules guide the broadcast media writing?
 Chapter 10
Definition of Feature

Introduction

You must have heard of the features desk in a newspaper or magazine

house or outfit. If you are familiar with this environment, chances are
that you must have come across the feature article. But if you are not
familiar with the features desk in either the newspaper or magazine
SECTION B house, there is a fifty-fifty chance that you have read a feature article in
either the newspaper or the magazine. If, perhaps, you don't fall within
any of the above two categories, there are chances that you must have a
FEATURE WRITING read a feature article without being aware of it. To this end, the question
now is what is a feature? What are the characteristics of a feature story?
How can you compare a feature story and other news? What are the
various types of features available to us? What qualities must you
possess as a good feature writer? These are what you are expected to
know in this chapter.
Feature is an English word, which means to portray or give
prominence. In journalism feature stands for those light pieces of
composition which are quite interesting contrary to the boring routine
articles and news of newspapers (Farooq, 2017). A feature story known
also as feature article or just feature is a piece of journalistic writing
that covers a selected issue in- depth. As such, a feature need not
address an immediate topical issue that is expected of a news story. It is
usually considered longer. Features generally fall into the category of
news referred to as “soft news” These are stories about people, events
and things that interest people – human interest. The feature story is
usually based on topical events. This is because a feature is usually
based on a news event that is current. Features usually lay much
emphasis on facts than opinion
According to Okoye (1998) feature is an in-depth and factual write up
on a topical issue which seeks to give comprehensive information in a
more captivating and relaxed style than straight news. Harcup (2015)
says that features covers all editorial content apart from news, sport
news, reports of sporting fixtures, letters, users' comments and blogs,
although, he added that blogs are sometimes counted as features too
(especially guest write-ups). Feature articles are highly informative.
They are presented in simple and clear style (Anaeto & Anaeto, 2010).
Duyile (2000) cited in Osinuga and Ogbonna (2010), informs that the
features is a written account of events, or write-up about a personality
approached from personal and conjectural posture, decorated with the
writer's opinions, and some elements of the writer's personality.
In the author's view, features take longer to read than news items and as
a result, their days are sometimes said to be numbered in an age of short
attention spans and fast moving online and social media.
Gidean (2009) defines feature writing as vivid, sensational writing
which appeals to the emotions of the reader. Spencer (n:d) cited in
Farooq (2017) defined feature as “an invention of journalists, which
they have adopted to transform news of lesser interest, into those of
greater interest”. Foxmot (n:d) in Farooq (ibid) in his book: New
Survey in Journalism described feature as “more than just a news, in it
anyone of the human features; hatred, curiosity, terror or humor is
promoted to get attention of the readers and to arouse their interest”.
Feature is a colorful picture in prose, which describes all aspects of an
issue in such an enchanting way that a reader may hold it equivalent to
drama, short story and literature.
Feature stories, according to Fedler, John, Davenport & others (2005)
read more like non-fiction short stories…they inform readers and
viewers, but they also amuse and entertain, inspire or stimulate.
Because of these emphases, they are also called “human interest”
stories. In addition, Fedler, et al (2015) state that features may describe
a person, place, process or idea rather than an event. The authors stated
that feature topics may be less timely, less local and less earthshaking
than those of news stories, but producers and editors find time and
space to run them because they are newsworthy and appeal to audience
members.
Piazza (n:d), states that a feature story is a piece of non- fiction writing
about news. Wikipedia describes a feature story as a type of soft news.
It states that the main sub-types of features are news feature and the
human-interest story. Feature stories are equally described by
Wikipedia as stories with only one feature, but are creative and true.
Garrison (2009) sees feature story as any piece of writing that falls
between the cut-and-dried news on the one hand, and the wholly
fictionalized story or opinionated essay on the other hand. It is the
product of factual reporting, and reporting too are added story
elements of imaginative writing and interpretation. The author added
that the special feature article is similar to news story in that it gives the
readers facts in an interesting form. But that it goes beyond those facts
by multiplying them with study, research, and interviews to instruct,
guide and entertain the readers who know about the subject as well as
those who do not know.
According to Garrison (2009) feature is a creative, sometimes
subjective article designed primarily to entertain and inform readers of
an event, a situation or an aspect of life.
Feature writing is a type of writing about any topical subject or object
in which the writer makes a conscious effort to spotlight the
distinguishing or outstanding attributes of the subject or object being
focused upon (Nwodu, 1996, p. 19). Features are soft news that
accommodates objectivity and subjectivity. It is different from hard
news which is reported objectively as it occurs. Some journalists see
features as the flesh of the hard news bones.
They say that features writing add “flesh to the bare bones of hard news
reporting.” Duyile (2000, p. 54), summarizes the features as a written
account of events, or a write-up about a personality approached from
personal and conjectural posture, decorated with the writer's opinions,
and some elements of the writer's personality.
The feature writer must begin with a plan, and organize his writing
very carefully for quick readership and comprehension. Just like the
standard essay style or format, there must be an introduction body and
conclusion. Bill Crompton cited in Nwodu (2006); put it very clearly
when he said the “a good feature should look like a human being. It
should have a head which gives it a distinct identity, a trunk which
gives it life and dynamism and limbs which enables it to go places, and
more importantly, help it to accomplish its set objectives.”
While a feature may be timely and informative, the story's primary role
is to bring an issue or a person to life. If reconnected to a timely event,
the feature story puts it in a bigger perspective, helping explain how the
events impact through anecdotes and examples.
Feature writing is a type of writing about any topical subject or object
in which the writer makes a conscious effort to spotlight the
distinguishing or outstanding attributes of the subject or being focused
upon (Nwodu, 1996; cited in Using & Ogbonna 2015). Some
journalists see features as the flesh of the hard news bones. They say
that features writing add “flesh to the bare bones of hard news
reporting”.
Duyile (2000), sums it up that features is a written account of events, or
a write-up about a personality approached from personal and
conjectural posture, decorated with the writer's opinions, and some
elements of the writer's personality. Thus, feature known also as
feature article or just feature, is a journalistic piece of writing that
covers a selected issue in an in-depth manner.
Differences between Features and Hard News Story
The major difference between a feature story and a hard news story is
basically one on the approach. The hard news deals with events that are
timely and are covered almost automatically by the media, while the
features are usually not considered immediately important or timely to
a wide audience Feature adopt a more narrative approach while the
hard news story usually follows the five 'W”s and 'H' (Who, What,
Where, When, Why and How) approach. Features are soft news that
accommodates objectivity and subjectivity. It is different from hard
news story which is impersonal, objective not subjective and made up
of straight facts without conjecture and no added opinion of the writer.
Feature differs from hard news which is reported objectively as it
occurs. Some journalists see features as the flesh of the hard news
bones. The opening paragraphs of features use the scene-setting
narrative instead of the delivery of the most important facts familiar
with the hard news story.
In broadcasting, as noted by Andrew Boyds, the term 'feature' often
means a human interest or 'soft news' story, thus:
The hard news formula calls for the meat of the story in the first line
… The feature style, which leads the audience into the story rather than
presenting them with the facts in the first line, is used more freely
where ever greater emphasis is placed on entertainment and a lighter
touch than on straightforward and sometimes impersonal, hard news
(Boyd, 2001).
Feature is longer than a typical hard news story, usually written in a
more detailed background based on extensive research on the subject
matter.
The opening paragraphs of features use the scene-setting narrative
instead of the delivery of the most important facts familiar with the
hard news story.
A feature article is equally different from hard news in that a feature
article is timeless and has a human interest written with a deep insight
of the writer. It is designed to entice the reader eyes and minds forcing
them that this story is worth reading.
In feature writing, Harrighton (1925) emphasized the importance of
intimate relations with both sources and readers for feature writers.
This is often referred to as the “human interest” of the feature
journalism. According to Harrighton, a feature writer reveals emotions
rather than facts, portrays ordinary people rather than officials, and is
not afraid to use own personal experiences in stories. Many feature
articles deal with the personal experience and observations of the
writer (Reddick, 1949).
In the opinion of Williams (1977), the human interest feature is,
perhaps the most common variety of the feature story. Williamson also
emphasizes the “subjective” nature of feature stories. Alexander
(1982) argues that the feature writer gets to “the heart of the reader”
and “puts something of him into the story”. According to Garrison
(2004):
Feature stories are emotional and they involve readers. These articles
tell us much about the human […]. These articles are often less
objective than conventional news writing, offering a particular point
of view or the author's personal impression.
Elements of Feature Writing
Listed immediately below are the elements of a good feature according
to Rolnicki (2007, p. 80).
Precise Writing
Observation and reporting is best when it is precise. Precise writing
means choosing an accurate and specific word. For example; instead of
wring the village was thrown into pandemonium, replace with the
more precise; Ijegun, a village in Ikotun was thrown into
pandemonium.
Details
Details are the small, specific facts that help make a large point or
impression. The reporter must choose details that add to the overall
focus of the story. A feature story on 'a village where everybody goes
naked' for example. The details are important in such a story.
Pace
A reader needs variety. Variety can be achieved through pace. Pace is
the rhythm created by word choice, sentence length and construction
and paragraph lengths. A good pace keeps the reader moving through
the story. Read the story aloud to hear the rhythm and pace. If you have
to take a breath in the middle of a long sentence or the writing slows, it
calls for working on the pace. Good pace can also help the reader feel
the emotion of the movement through varied structures. The use of
details and dialogue can alter pace.
Examples
Examples are specific and typical cases or samples. The basic premise
in feature writing is “Show Don't Tell”. Don't leave the reader guessing
or filling in blanks left by vague words. A beginner writer might tell the
reader that “it's different being home-schooled.”
Dialogue
A device borrowed from fiction. Dialogue is the use of quotes and
conversation. Dialogue is useful if the sentences say more than the
writer can put into his or her own words. The quotes can reveal the
character of the speaker. Quotes must be exact.
Voice
Voice comes from the writer's combination of pace, word choice and
use of examples, dialogue and details. Voice in feature story helps the
reader capture the feel of the subject, place and time.
Summary
This chapter introduced you to feature writing. It examined the
differences between features and hard news story, and the guideline
and the elements of a good feature story.
Questions for Review
1. As a journalist working in a tabloid newspaper, write a feature
on “the problems caused by the long absence of PMB on
medical ground to Nigeria's economy” during his first tenure as
the President.
2. What is feature writing?
3. Differentiate feature writing with straight news reporting.
4. List and discuss the various types of Leads that can be used to
introduce a feature story.

Chapter 11
Characteristics of Feature
Introduction
Feature stories combine facts and opinion, with a focus on the human
interest side of the story. While they can report news, the news
contents are not of primary importance. Feature stories both educate
and entertain. They can include colorful detail as well as humor.
Distinct Features of Feature story
Feature stories are often more wordy and they have a creative structure.
Feature stories can be more than 2000 words. A news story and a
feature story have different types of beginnings and endings. News
stories tell what the news is upfront and then give the most important
details in the first paragraph or two. Spencer's definition noted that
journalists transform news of lesser interest to those of greater interest,
while Foxmot added that a feature is more than just a news that in it,
human features of love, hatred, curiosity, terror or humour is promoted
to get attention of the readers and to arouse their interest. In order to do
this, the newspaper feature usually centers on some single basic
emotion or takes its point of departure from some item of current
interest. The reader is not moved by the importance of the tidings, but
rather his attention is impelled by the human touch which builds the
feature around one of his emotions which may be love, hate, curiosity
or fear
Characteristics of Features
Following from the various definitions of features, it is quite certain
that some stories will not be termed as features. So what then are the
characteristics of features? Some of the most important characteristics
of feature stories (Okoye, 1998) are as follows:
It is Colorful: A piece of writing is said to be colorful when it uses
generously flowery language. This kind of language is a departure
from the business-like formal language of straight news and becomes
more picturesque, more informal, more humorous and in that vein
more attractive to read. Good feature articles are for those who read for
pleasure. One challenge of the feature writer therefore is to make his
piece a pleasure to read.
It is Fleshy: A piece of writing is said to be fleshy when it is not as
straight forward and dry as the straight news story. If we consider
straight news as a piece of meat with little flesh, then more flesh should
be added to become features. Those writing features have to bear this in
mind, that if their piece does not have meat it is nothing more than
straight news.
It is Stylish: Style is a way of doing something which is not only
attractive but also peculiar to the person doing it. By being stylish
therefore, feature allows the writer to add some of his own peculiar
ways of expression, which straight news generally does not allow him.
Feature writers can become informal but not too informal. They can
use figures of speech which the reader can understand and they can use
different points of view to approach their task.
It is More Mundane: By this is meant that some feature topics are
subject matters which ordinarily would have been considered too
trivial to mention in the press. Indeed, time was in the development of
the newspaper press when certain trivial issues as we now see in the
press were never written about. With time however, such trivial issues
became the toast of the feature writers.
For example, if a beautiful female feature writer goes to the rubbish
heap in broad day light to interview a raving madman, what would you
call that? What news can the madman give her? But such is the type of
trivial oddity which some good features are made of. So the choice of
topics of features which includes the serious and the trivial is another
distinguishing factor between straight news and features.
Function of Features
Features are not meant to deliver the news firsthand. They do contain
elements of news, but their main function is to humanize, to add colour,
to educate, to entertain, to illuminate. They often recap major news that
was reported in a previous news cycle. The feature story has its own
unique character which distinguishes it from the news story. Its
timeliness is relative with regard to its content and purpose. It is usually
a longer story than a news story (Des Wilson, 2000).
In the words of Okoye (1998) some of the functions of features
include:
i. Features and straight news play complimentary roles.
Straight news breaks the news of the day while feature helps
the reader to understand better what has happened. In this
regard, the feature writer and the interpretative reporter
perform similar functions. But this is not all that feature does.
ii. Feature summarizes the big news of the week. On Tuesday,
December 9, 1997 the Lagos evening newspapers, notably the
PM News and TNT, broke the news of the tragic death of
Nigeria's former Number Two man, General Shehu Musa
Yar'Adua (Rtd) in prison. The following day, all the morning
papers celebrated the news on their front pages.
iii. Subsequently, there were follow-ups narrating how he was
buried, the reactions of his associates, other Nigerians, pro-
democracy groups and the international community.
iv. These bits and pieces came separately day by day but by the
weekend the features stories came out to piece together the
important bits and pieces connected with the death of the once
powerful general and frontline politician. In this sense, we can
submit that feature serves the purpose of summarizing the
important news break of the week.
v. Thirdly, feature deals with the areas not usually covered by
straight news. Trivialities which make interesting reading are
the subject of good features. Without features, it will be
impossible to know about mundane aspects of life or about the
so-called significant majority whose activities are unreported
or underreported.
vi. Feature is written in a more colourful and stylish manner,
than straight news. In this regard, a variety of materials are
presented to the readers. Those who are bored by the formal
approach of straight news can relax with the soft approach of
features. What is more, since feature is detailed, it provides
enough material for pleasure. It is a known fact that those
addicted to reading novels (reading a novel is a good habit, by
the way) find features very interesting. They can read features
as a substitute to novels. The only difference between novels
and feature, as you are already aware, is that whilst most novels
are fiction, feature is factual.
vii. Features can be written to educate, teach skill, and explain
in detail a process or just to entertain. We can therefore say
that features can perform similar functions with instructors,
teachers, informants and entertainers.
viii. Features facilitate make-up and enrich the publication. On
a dry Newsday, ready-made features can be used to fill the
pages and speed up the production process. Also, features make
use of readily available illustrations, pictures, maps, charts and
diagrams which beautify the newspaper and magazine pages.
Techniques of Writing Feature Story
An online sources on Mass Communication Talk (n:d) examined
Characteristics and Techniques of Writing Feature Story lists some
additional characteristics of features as:
i. They may inform, instruct and advise, but their primary
purpose is to entertain the readers. They are usually read after
the news and in leisure moments.
ii. They are factual, and require reporting.
iii. They may or may not be timely. If they are timely and related to
a current news event, they are likely to appeal more to readers.
iv. They may be written in any form and style. The only criterion is
that the form and style be appropriate to the contents and
purpose of the story.
v. They permit the reporter to use his/her knowledge and
ingenuity to write a story original in ideas and treatment.
vi. They rarely have news leads. Instead, they more often have
novelty leads.
vii. They usually strike the keynote in the opening sentences,
which permit the readers to come into quick contact with the
story and become interested.
viii. They usually are not cut in make-up. Thus, the reporter may use
any devices of the fiction writer: suspense, dialogue,
description, narration, climax, and the like. The inverted Chapter 12
Types of Feature
pyramid does fit the purpose of a feature story.
ix. They require the writer to apply his/her imaginations to the
facts, yet they are not fiction.
x. Tilley apply all principles of effective writing to achieve unity, Introduction
coherence, and emphasis.
xi. They usually can be improved by rewriting to eliminate all Feature is an umbrella term for a number of soft news stories that
writing faults. For example, stodginess, verbosity-, profile, humanize, add colour, educate, entertain or illuminate (Itule &
abstractness, monotony and absence of rhythm, etc. Anderson, 2008). Itule & Anderson are of the view that feature
xii. They bring readers as close as possible to the experience or is not meant to deliver news firsthand. It usually recaps major news that
idea of the story. The reader feels himself as a part of the story was reported in a previous news cycle, adding that feature can stand
(Mass Communication Talk; nd). alone, or it can be a sidebar to the main story, that is, the main bar. A
sidebar runs next to the main story or elsewhere in the same edition,
Summary providing an audience with additional information on the same topic.
In this unit, we examined the characteristics and function of feature
writing. The chapter equally dealt with the important techniques of Types of Features
feature writing. From every indication, types and kinds of features are used
synonymously without a clear divide between them. Thus many
Questions for Review feature stories have earned their names from the nature and character
1. As a journalist working in a tabloid newspaper, write a feature of their content (Wilson, 2000). According to Itule & Anderson (2008),
on “the problems caused by the long absence of PMB on the following are the types of feature:
medical ground to Nigeria's economy” during his first tenure as § Personality Profiles
the President. § Human Interest Stories
2. What is feature writing? § Trend Stories
3. Differentiate feature writing with straight news reporting. § In-depth Stories
4. List and discuss the various types of Leads that can be used to § Backgrounders
introduce a feature story.
Personality Profiles: In the view of Hawthorne (n: d), personality
profile develops a total picture of the person by getting its facts from
the person directly. This type of feature attempts to reveal the
personality behind the profile through anecdotes. A personality profile
is written to bring audience closer to a person in or out of the news.
Interviews and observations, as well as creative writing, are used to
paint a vivid picture of the person (Itule & Anderson, 2008).
Personality profile is regarded as one of the most popular features in
today's media. An example may be an interview with the Supreme
Court judge at the centre of the Imo State governorship judgment that
removed the former as governor.
A profile is an article about an individual, such as a politician, celebrity,
athlete, or CEO. Profiles seek to give readers behind-the-scenes looks
at what a person is like, and all behind the public persona. Profile
articles provide background about the individual: education, life
experiences, and challenges faced in getting where he or she is now, as
well as basic information such as age, marital status, and family
details, including the number of siblings and children.
Fedler, et al, say that profile describes interesting people. According to
them, these people may have overcome a disability, had an interesting
hobby, pursued an unusual career or become famous because of their
colourful personalities. In addition, the authors stated that to be
effective, profiles must do more than list an individual's achievements
or important dates in the individual's life. They must reveal the person's
character.
Personality profiles according to the popular authors of 'News Writing
and Reporting for Today's Media' contain multiple sources, just like
any feature story. That means the reporter can't simply interview the
personality and then write the story. If you are writing personality
profile, here are some facts readers will want to know:
§ Name
§ Personality
§ Background
§ Physical Appearance
§ Environment
§ Hobbies
§ His Influence on Others (Hawthorne, n:d).
§ Anecdotes/ Observation.
A Profile Feature
Mothering Nigeria's Conscience
Motherhood nurtures, moulds and builds. That aptly describes the
world of Dora Akunyili, the NAFDAC boss. She is one woman that has
been nurturing and building the conscience of Nigerians all over the
country with her good deeds. And for erring citizens it has the cane
approach, all in the process to bring about a change in our psyche. The
achievements of this woman is not complete until you go down
memory lane taking her childhood, the kind of parenting she got and
how it made her a good mother to her siblings and Nigerians.
About fifty years ago, a little girl was born in Makurdi, Benue State. It
was far away from home, her roots in Anambra State, South East
Nigeria. Her parents especially her sweet mother showed her love and
today that girl is indeed one of the greatest women of our time moving
like a colossus in an industry where some men are afraid to tread.
Right from childhood, the trait to get to the top had always been with
her. Akunyili passed her first school leaving certificate with distinction
in 1966 and the West African School Certificate with Grade I
distinction in 1973. That automatically earned her the Eastern
Government Post Primary Scholarship and the Federal Government
undergraduate scholarship respectively.
Akunyili bagged her first degree in Pharmacy in 1978 and got her
Ph.D, seven years after from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Just
before she came into public life she was a Senior Lecturer and
Consultant Pharmacologist in the College of Medicine University of
Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu campus. In the Ivory Tower she made
a steady progress from Lecturer I in 1986 until she was made a Senior
Lecturer in 1990. In addition she was a post doctorate Fellow of the
University of London and a fellow of the West African Post Graduate
College of Pharmacists. Dr. Nkem Akunyili assumed office on 12th
April 2001 as the director general of the National Agency for Food and
Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). She is an
internationally renowned Pharmacist, and a visionary leader. Her duty
was to wipe out counterfeit drugs, which had flooded the Nigerian
market. There was also an urgent need to sanitize the food and drug
sector.
A sad experience that affected her sister who was diabetic was another
source of inspiration. The poor woman died as a result of injecting fake
insulin in 1988. But her detractor did not allow her to prove herself
initially. “I was told I was inexperienced, old and without capapcity”,
she recalls. From that point she strode confidently into battle and since
then her story has been forward ever backward never.
NAFDAC was in such a bad state that I was under intense pressure to
perform. I transformed this into a sense of urgency in addressing
counterfeit drugs and I brought this to my right from the first day I
assumed office. “Together they developed effective strategies to track
down bad eggs. The organization has destroyed counterfeit drugs
worth over US $16 million. Many have been forced to confessions
while warehouses in Lagos and Onitsha have been raided. In addition,
Akunyili mounted several campaigns on the hazards of substandard
drugs. Some administrative changes were carried out and surveillance
was beefed up at all the ports of entry.
Things changed miraculously and within such a short time, the impacts
of her multi prong strategy was felt all over the country.
Congratulations, a new breed of Nigerian had indeed arrived at our
shores and encomiums poured in but for some others it were a different
song, they started to crucify her.
Assassins tracked her down, while other detractors gave people
mouth-watering gratification to hound her down, but this woman who
knows her onions refused to budge. On Boxing Day, 2003, she
narrowly escaped the assassins' bullet when her convoy was attacked
in her husband's village in Aniocha Local government area in Anambra
State.
One of the bullets fired shattered the windscreen of the car while
another pierced through her headgear by sheer providence. For her
consistency and triumph it has been kudos all the way. Nigerians from
all walks of life have also voiced their outrage at this attempt on the life
of a woman of substance.
Investigations are on and some tried to say it was an accidental
discharge but that story has already been debunked. As if that was not
enough, they touched her Lagos office located at Ikoyi Secretariat.
NAFDAC's biggest laboratory in Oshodi, Lagos was also vandalized
last year. Her office and home were also burgled several times with
threats and all kinds of harassments.
In spite of the odds, it is kudos to a great woman. A woman who has
more than 90 awards and recognitions from government and
international organizations in her kitty. A woman who has waged a
relentless war against fake, adulterated and expired drugs and food
dealers. As we mark this year's International Women's Day, you just
cannot imagine the widespread accolades and good will that put
Akunyili many miles ahead of others.
Culled From: The Sun of Sunday March 21, 2004 in Aderibigbe,
A. A. (n:d).
Human Interest Stories: A human interest story is written to show a
subject's oddity or its practical, emotional, or entertainment value
(Itule & Anderson, 1994). In the words of National Geographic senior
editor, Carol Schwalbe, cited in the above, travel writing fits into the
category of human interest stories. According to the authors, “good
travel writing displays curiosity and a genuine sense of discovery”.
Schwalbe in Itule & Anderson (2007) said writers of features should
feel surges in their stomachs when they confront details that might be
of interest to their readers.
Port Harcourt: A New Potent
Port Harcourt, once known as garden city, a euphemism perhaps for its
rather peaceful and verdant ambience of the fifties and sixties, has in
recent times acquired the image of a rambunctious and convulsive city.
It is perhaps not for nothing that the city has driven many of its poor to
its outskirts and shanty towns. It is the city of Shell, ELF, Agip, NNPC,
NAFCON, NPA, FAA, LNG and many other PLCs and government
corporations. If you speak to the average Rivers man he will confess to
you that the oil business has a become a messy thing for him. He cannot
survive in his environment. Rivers, being a one-city state, has brought
out the best and worst in Port Harcourt, not with the perennial squabble
between the upland and riverine Rivers people.
But what seem to have drastically changed the garden-city image of
Port Harcourt are the recent upheavals in that city. First, there was this
needles face-off between the University of Port Harcourt Council and
the Vice-Chancellor. The Council, in its self-righteous umbrage
pronounced Professor Harrison a leper over the usually messy
business of 'contractocracy' and unauthorized expenditure. The
council went beyond its power in suspending the Vice-Chancellor
because it was not at the time of the conflict the employer of the Vice-
Chancellor. It was theoretically a board of directors of the Uniport PLC
but divested of the power to employ its chief executive. So, technically,
and in law, it did not possess the powers to exercise such disciplinary
measures. Even so observers have pointed to the hand of the political
influence of external factors in the crisis perhaps not too remote from
the usual minority –majority conflict considering the composition of
the present council.
In the first place, the problem would have been a fait accompli if as
recently negotiated by ASUU, the Council played a more than ordinary
administrative role in the appointment of the Vice Chancellor. The
issues of University autonomy and ethnic partisanship then arise in the
present conflict where there are 'two' vice chancellors-one an
appointee of President Ibrahim Babangida and the other of the
University Council. If only academics could remain academics such a
problem as this would never arise. But unfortunately when they take
academic decisions they sometimes think of where they come from
before the interest of the university is taken into account. How I wish to
God that the messy problem of the University of Port Harcourt would
be resolved amicably so that the disease that has plagued the university
this session can be treated and cured once and for all.
But Port Harcourt did not just suffer from an academic viral disease.
Towards the end of August, members of the Bar Association,
assembled in their own conclave which eventually looked like a
confraternity of Sea Dogs, Keggites and miracle-seekers. One would
not have bothered if they were only identified with the business of
gulping down Bacchus' own elixir of life. But here were a people in
whose hands we always place the decision of life and death. The
Nigerian Boxing Board of Control would possibly have been done
proud by these 'learned' gentlemen if the contest of Port Harcourt had
come before our Olympic selection exercise. Be that as it may, Port
Harcourt provided the slough of dependency into which all members
of the Bar Association sank.
Some said Government had a hand in the affray. So what?
Governments will always be interested in who is at the leadership of
professional organisations they consider to be repositories of
knowledge and power. The NUJ, ASUU, and NLC have all had their
share of such meddling. But that is no excuse for members of a
respected and respectable profession to go into fist cuffs. Or is that part
of the new potent of Port Harcourt?
As if that was not enough, a short while later, some 'honourable' men
who gave a dishonorable name to their calling-moving from law
making to law breaking –proved that there is more than one way to
resolve an argument. When all else fails, fight. And this was what the
honorable men (and women?) of the Rivers State House of Assembly
did when they turned their legislative house into mayhem. Of course,
the Speaker and His Rivers men were merely borrowing a leaf from the
Cross River and Osun Sates House of Assembly which had earlier
proved that mace-breaking comes as easily as law making.
So one may just pause to ask: What is Port Harcourt turning into- the
Garden of temptation or a battleground? I would like Rivers people to
answer this question before the trend stretches too far.
(Culled from: Wilson, 2000: 92)
Trend Stories: A trend story as stated by Itule & Anderson (2008)
examines people, things or organizations that have an impact on
society. Further, trend stories are popular because people are excited to
read or hear about latest fads.
In-Depth Stories: Is a story that, through extensive research and
interviews, provides a detailed account well beyond a basic news story
or feature. It can be a lengthy news feature that examines one topic
extensively; an investigative story that reveals wrongdoing by a
person, agency or institution; or a first person article in which the
person relives a happy or painful experience (Itule & Anderson, 2007).
Background: In the words of Wilson (2000), this type of feature exists
sometimes as a sidebar story to a straight news story and equally exists
as an independent story. By its nature it usually provides information
hitherto unknown about its subject especially of historical and
biographical nature. It is also called an analysis piece that adds
meaning to current issues in the news by explaining those (Itule &
Anderson, 2008). Examples include an analysis of the transport
situation shortly after the Okada and Kike Marwa are banned from
operating in certain areas in Lagos State or a story explaining how the
new minimum wage will impact on civil servants in Nigeria.
Qualities of Feature Writer
Okoye (2004:15) captures four essential qualities of a good feature
writer but he cautions that first a good feature writer must be a good
news writer. He must possess the traditional qualifications for basic
journalistic practice, plus an analytical and creative mind slightly
higher than that required for writing straight news. The qualities are:
a) A nose for news- A good journalist must have nose for news.
Having nose for news has many dimensions to it. This range
from the ability to recognize that particular information can be
made of interest to readers, viewers or listeners. It is also the
ability to recognize clues in the environment or a beat which
may be very casual but which may lead to the discovery of
important news. Also, it is ability to recognize the possibility of
several other news related to the particular information at hand.
b) Resourcefulness: A good feature writer is resourceful. By
resourcefulness, I mean he is good at finding ways of
improving himself and improving the quality of his writing. A
resourceful feature writer consistently solves problems arising
or that may arise from the beat.
c) Sound Educational and Professional background: A good
feature writer must have good education up to university or
polytechnic level. Over the years, graduates of English,
Philosophy, Education, Theatre Arts e.g. have shown
incredible penchant for the journalism practice.
d) Love for Writing: A good feature writer must unavoidably love
the art of writing. A feature writer must be such a person that
enjoys the pains that go with the process of writing from
planning to the final draft. Also, he must be someone who is not
satisfied with even the final draft until it is taking to the press.
Summary
This chapter examined types of feature that exists; and looked at the
personality, human interest, trend and in-depth stories and
backgrounders. Lastly, it discussed the qualities a feature writer must
have.
Questions for Review
1. According to Wilson (2002) many feature stories have earned
their names from the nature and character of their content.
Discuss.
2. Write a feature on the issue of 'End SARS, 2020 in Nigeria.
3. List and discuss the various qualities of a feature writer.

Chapter 13
Source of Feature Ideas
Introduction
The most common question people usually ask is: 'where do good
feature story ideas come from'? The answer is to use a variety of
sources to find interesting story ideas for feature articles. To source for
feature ideas, a feature writer can sometimes play the role of the
Internet rabbit of following one article after another – but on the other
hand, some great ideas may come from research studies for future
articles.
Feature writers find ideas by being curious and observant. News
stories may provide spin-off topics for features as stated above in
sourcing for story ideas. An earthquake, plane crash, international
accident, health issue like the Corona virus pandemic or other news
event can spark human interest-interest stories about reactions of
victims, heroism in crises and other “people” angles that bring events
into sharper focus (Fedler, et al, 2005: 369).
Ideas for features are not difficult to find if the features writer is a good
journalist; Duyile (2005:54), stated that the feature writer can pick up
ideas by merely discussing some issues with friends who are not even
journalists. The journalists can discover ideas for features from news
already reported on the radio or newspapers. Many events are full of
numerous feature ideas
Searching for Topics in Feature
Fedler, et al. listed the various ways a feature writer should search and
get his/her topics for feature story:
Localized Feature events: Features about major events or social
problems can be localized through personal interviews and
background research on the event or issue. For example people are not
aware the type of life displaced Nigerians live in the IDPs camps. In
most of the stories written about those living in the IDPs camps, most
have not quoted them to give us a picture of activities in the camps.
First-Hand Experience: Successful feature writers experience their
story first-hand, instead of just relying on the interviews of others.
Some feature stories are inspired by the personal experiences of
reporters or their friends. Feature writers have written about unwed
fathers, suicide which is becoming rampant in our society today, the
Fulani/herders clash and the various 'anti-people' bills being
advocated in the Parliaments.
Sources of Feature Ideas
According to Oyero (2006:115), one responsibility of the feature desk
is to generate feature ideas to write on. In his view, the idea of
generating feature ideas is no simple task, adding that the task involved
a lot of deep thinking and brain cracking. However, he averred that
ideas for feature can come from a number of sources which include the
following among others:
§ Striking news of the day
§ Topical news which may not be in the day's new
§ Special seasons and festival occasions
§ National days, remembrance days and May days
§ United Nations special days
§ Serious issues in the societies
§ Birthdays and deaths of national heroes
§ Unsung heroes
§ National institutes and monuments
§ Historical places
According to an online source, interesting feature article topics may
come from the following:
Ideas may be everywhere but you still have to find them.
According to Fedler, et al (2005:368), almost everything one sees or
does has a story behind it-journalists (feature writers inclusive)
have to open their eyes and ears. The following, is therefore, the
source of feature ideas:
From Reading Magazine or Newspaper:
As a feature writer you can read a magazine or newspaper cover to
cover, sometimes twice or thrice. By reading the magazine or
newspaper, you can come across ideas from the articles, because while
you are reading it, your brain is likely thinking of other ideas. You can
brainstorm angles from these articles. So, if for instance, there's a story
on why wall-nuts are not good for you in one issue, you can write a
feature story on why wall nuts are the new super food and refer back to
the first article.
Conversations with friends and family
When you chat with friends and family, something they say may
trigger a great idea for a feature story. A friend who told you her six year
old daughter kept lying to her and then denied it even when she was
found out led to 'when your child won't stop lying' for essential kids.
Websites that publish press releases
As a feature writer, if you are at a loss for ideas, browsing through
websites that publish news and press releases can be a valuable source
of ideas or to find interesting people with a good back story. These
websites can have good story ideas for feature stories.
Upcoming events
Upcoming events like trade fairs, red-carpet events, celebrity visits
and movie launches are a good way to hook an editor's interest
especially if it is high profile. You can pitch a profile of an actor (in an
upcoming movie) to the local or national newspaper which could be
read by many. It is sometimes better to thinking local and come out
with a national story. All you have to do is to be creative and don't
ignore niche publications and your local area newspapers.
Blog Posts by Other Writers
You can get good ideas from reading posts by other bloggers. Often,
they have their finger on the pulse of what's happening and can be a
great interviewee/case study especially if they are also writing on a
similar topic you want to write. This may give you a different angle
from where the other writer took the story from. You can equally
interview the blogger as an expert since he/she had a business is an
expert in the area you are writing on.
Community festivals
We live in a multicultural and diverse society, so we have various
cultural festivals throughout the year. By attending an Afri-cultural
festival you can get an idea to write an article on group drumming after
taking part in it. This may lead to feature article for newspaper or
magazine. You can also interview experts in this area – interview the
instructor who supervises the group drumming during such a festival.
Niche websites
Niche websites are a fantastic source of statistics and research because
they publish the latest research and data. If for example you are writing
feature on a subject like Psychology you have the opportunity to log
into websites that have trove of articles from which you can quote
research and support your features with. If you can find and bookmark
a few niche websites on health or fitness or whatever subject you're
interested in writing about, then you will never run out of timely ideas
to write your feature story.
Summary
Feature writers find ideas by being curious and observant. This chapter
thus examined the source of feature ideas in writing features. It equally
dealt with the basics from searching for feature ideas to the feature
topics.
Questions for Review
1. The most common question people usually ask is: 'where do
good feature story ideas come from'? What is your response
to this question?
2. List and discuss the various places you are likely to source
information for topics in writing a feature story?

Chapter 14
Information Gathering in Feature
Introduction
To write a feature story, you must have to gather the information for
your feature. Thus, this stage is the early stages in the process of
writing a feature. It is the process whereby you as a feature writer
covers, observes, experience or interviews a source and use the
information or facts generated in writing a feature story. It is also the
act of collecting raw materials for the feature story. You can equally
gather your information simply by asking questions, cross checking
reference books and talking to experts and professional.
Information Gathering
There cannot be feature writing or any kind of reporting without
adequate information gathering-both qualitative and substantive facts
that will answer the reader's questions on any subject he confronts
(Ukonu, n:d: 35). According to Webb and Salancik (1966:15):
Reporters have four main techniques in gathering information: direct
observation of an event; search of secondary and primary documents
such as morgue clippings, police blotters and reference works; the
receipt of unsolicited information via tips from government or press
agents, handouts, and direct interviewing of people who are involved
in, concerned, or informed about a news event.
Sources of information
Library Sources: The library contains large volumes of information
useful for writing a good feature story. Reference materials like
encyclopedia, yearbook, atlas, almanac, who is who, etc will be of
tremendous help to a feature writer. Articles that have been published
in the past, which are related to the current topic can also be harnessed.
Personal Observation: This is the most reliable form of information
gathering. The feature writer, by personally observing a situation will
give attraction to important details which an ordinary person may
overlook. Besides, it also makes the story and the paper credible
because the writer was there to see things himself. Also, the feature
writer will be able to demonstrate his creative and literary capability in
describing things that he has seen himself. However, the writer must
ensure emotional detachment so that he would be able to write
unbiased, balanced and undistorted story.
Interviewing: Interviewing here involves eliciting information from
human sources for the purpose of writing feature stories. Interview can
be carried out through various ways:
§ Face-to-face: Here, the interviewer must prepare adequately
to ensure the success of the interview. This will include getting
background information about the interviewee and preparing a
list of questions that will be asked. The interviewer must
display self-confidence and sound articulation. He must master
the facts of questioning and how to probe into interviewee's
mind. His physical appearance must look smart and he must be
punctual at the interview venue. He also needs to learn how to
ask question intelligently, objectively and politely. You must
need a tape recorder and a notebook to complement each other
to capture the details of the interview.
§ Mail Interview: You can get information by mailing the
questions to the respondent and receiving the answers also by
mail. However, you need to enclose a self-addressed envelope
by which respondent will make his reply. Though this method
is cost effective and allows respondents convenience, the poor
 delivery system makes it unreliable and ineffective. Besides,
experience has shown that people in this part of world
generally have poor attitude in responding to this method.
§ Electronic Mail: The emergence of e-mail through the internet
has also made interview easier. This is actually not different
from mailing system in operation except that it is done
electronically. However, it is bedeviled by people's lack of
computer knowledge and operation of internet, as well as low
access to internet.
§ Telephone Interview: This happens to the easiest and fastest
means of obtaining information for feature stories; it saves
feature writer the traveling pains, since contact can be made
through phone. It can also be used to establish preliminary
contact in preparation to face-to-face meeting or interview. The
interviewer needs to introduce himself properly and announce
the purpose of his call. Ask question directly and allow the
interviewee to respond and do most of the talking. A tape
recorder and note may be needed to get details of the interview.
§ Internet: The advent of Internet and Global System for Mobile
Communication has shaped the process of information
gathering. These two have greatly facilitated information
gathering for print and electronic media. Take for instance, a
feature writer who sits in a newsroom in Lagos, Nigeria and
monitors death tolls on the Corona virus in various parts of the
world, writes a feature story on the global impact of the virus.
Research in Feature
Just like in every field of human endeavor, for a beginner, writing a
feature article may be as daunting as a singer making his debut. An
aspect that a feature writer may yet find tasking is in gathering
information for the feature article. Journalists are now turning greater
attention in the use of computer for research purpose. Computer
Assisted Research (CAR) involves much more than data analysis and
social science techniques. The development of the internet, and
particularly the invention of the World Wide Web in 1989, has led to an
incredible profusion of research resources now widely used by
journalist (feature writers). A survey of newsrooms in 2001 by
Professor Steve Ross of Columbia University found that at least four
out of every five reporters were using the Internet and commercial data
sources for online research every day (Itule & Anderson: 1994: 167).
It is impossible to “give meaning, depth and perspective to your feature
story without a good research effort” (Okoro & Agbo, 2003:99).
According to the authors, feature writers should operate from the
point of knowledge and that's the essence of research. The research
orientation assumes a broader horizon in the face of increasing
complexities of modern society. Okoro & Agbo (2003:99) argue
further that:
To explain phenomena and occurrences in today's world you must
fall back on research. Research tells you what has happened before,
what is happening now, and what will happen in the future. Books,
newspapers, magazines, indeed, all written records are very important
sources of facts with which you can build an informative/
interpretative writing.
This research aspect in feature writing to be effective should follow
these basic rules according to Okoro & Agbo (2003:99) as follows:
§ Curious i.e. knowing everything about something, and
something about everything;
§ Analytical i.e. reading meaning into phenomena,
developments etc and understanding their perspective
relationships;
§ Observant i.e. developing a sharp sense of noting striking and
specific details about things, people and places etc.
§ Objective i.e. giving an unattached view on issues etc;
§ Adventurous i.e. going places;
§ Humorous i.e. seeing the funny side of life and expressing
things in the lighter mood;
§ Properly educated i.e. having deep knowledge of things,
people, places, issues etc, and vital linkages about them;
§ A wordsmith i.e. having a broad knowledge of words and their
meanings;
§ Omnivorous i.e. reading up everything. No boundary;
§ A good reporter i.e. being able to say actually what happened
in a straight-forward manner; and
§ A good listener i.e. having the patience of the job; listening
with utmost accuracy. Listening well is understanding and
understanding well is putting facts and phenomena in
perspectives.
Summary
A feature writer cannot do this without adequate information and
research. This chapter thus emphasized the importance of gathering
information and research in feature writing. However, the
development of the internet, and particularly the invention of the
World Wide Web in 1989, has led to an incredible profusion of research
resources now widely used by journalists and feature writers.
Questions for Review
1. There cannot be feature writing or any kind of reporting
without adequate information gathering. Discuss?
2. List and discuss the various places you are likely to source
information for topics in writing a feature story?
Chapter 15
Style in Feature Writing
Introduction
The way one writes differentiates one feature writer from the others
and this is known as style. In other words, style makes you unique or
different. Okoro & Agbo (2003: 69) put it this way:
Style is a feature that gets mature and becomes distinct over time
…some think that style is something you could buy at a style shop.
…There is no style shop. Style is organic to the person doing the
writing. It is as much a part of the person as his hair or, if he is bald, his
lack of it.
They added that the fundamental rule therefore is “be yourself”; that
style is ultimately tied to the psyche, and writing has deep
psychological roots. Nwodu (2006:105) argued simply that style of
writing differ according to individuals. According to the author, this
means that if two individuals are to write an essay each on a given topic
or subject matter, lots of differences will be noticed in their thought
process, diction, choice of words, sentence construction to mention but
a few. A good style is one that communicates one's thought in a simple,
unambiguous manner, and that a bad style is one that fails to
communicate one's thought in a simple, unambiguous manner Okoro
& Agbo (2003: 104-105). W. Skunk cited in Okoro & Agbo (2003:
105) advises that:
Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary
words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentence, for the same reason that a
drawing should contain no unnecessary parts. This requires, not that
the writer makes all sentences short, or that he avoids all details and
treats his subject only in outline, but that every word tells”.
According to Duyile (2005: 56) though the feature writer occasionally
makes use of subjectivity and a high degree of personal opinion; he
must avoid the temptation of any degree of fiction except it is rhetorical
and is not to be misunderstood by readers. Like straight news, the same
element of accuracy also applies to feature writing.
Elements of Style
There's an old journalistic maxim which says: “Show, don't tell”. In
other words, as a feature writer, use description to express what you
see, and let readers make up their own minds what to think about it.
David Randall cited in Harcup (2009:165), description brings the story
alive. The style element is central to the art and science of good writing.
Making a case for clarity and simplicity of style, the Nobel Prize-
winning writer and accomplished journalist, Ernest Hemmingway
cited in Okoro & Agbo (2003: 105) noted:
The best rules I ever learned for the business of writing were the rules
of the Kansas City Star Newspaper house style which urges writers to:
'Use short sentences. Use short paragraphs. Use vigorous English,
not forgetting to strive for smoothness. Be positive, not negative”
Furthermore, Okoro & Agbo (2003: 106) argued that: “If something is
amusing or sensational there is no need to tell the reader. The facts that
amused or shocked should be described and the writer can apply his
own adjectives.” So, to achieve clarity and simplicity of style in
writing feature, the authors argued that writers should think like the
wise man but communicate in the language of the people; adding that
any style, no matter how aesthetic or modern, that does not serve as an
effective communication vehicle should be cast into the dustbin
(Okoro&Agbo, 2003: 106)
Forms of Style
Nwodu (2006: 105), categorized styles of writing features into five
distinct types or approaches which are examined below:
1. Complex Style: A complex style of writing requires the use of
ambiguous words/ vocabularies, winding, sentences and
confounding imageries. Beginning and even established
writers are often discouraged from the use of complex writing
style. The reason being that complex style has a number of
pitfalls, Nwodu (2006: 106) include:
§ It is easily prone to grammatical errors like wrong use of
tenses, verbs, and rules of concord.
§ It creates room for poor understanding or outright
misunderstanding of message of communication because of
the use of ambiguous words and imageries.
§ It is often dull and uninteresting occasioned by frequent use of
very long winding sentences.
However, a complex style of writing could be useful when
writing for a specific rather than general interest audience.
2. The Simple Style: Simple style of writing quickens readership
and enhances easy comprehension of a piece of writing.
Feature writers are often encouraged to employ this style of
writing to put their ideas across to the audience members. This
is because this style of writing does not task the audience
members to do strenuous mental exercise before they can
understand the message of the feature story.
Simple style of writing is therefore considered to be the best
form or style or method of writing feature because of its
overriding advantages over other styles of writing. Some of the
advantages of simple style feature writing Nwodu (2006: 107)
are:
§ It makes room for smooth, convenient and pleasurable reading;
§ It emphasizes the use of easy –to-understand (simple)
vocabularies, which help to carry greater percent of the
audience members along regardless of their differential
educational levels;
§ It creates room for brevity in feature writing by ensuring that
 every vocabulary, diction, syntax, phrase, imagery and
sentence length is not only simple and short but also plays
significant function in the overall sentence structure;
§ It creates room for clarity in writing by ensuring that the feature
message is properly conceptualized, articulated and
communicated to the audience members in a manner that will
enhance easy understanding of the message idea.
§ It encourages precision in feature writing by ensuring that the
intended message idea is precisely in tune with the message
idea communicated and understood by the audience.
However, the snag with simple style of feature writing is that at times,
some feature writers tend to lower their language level beyond
appreciable level in pretext that journalism encourages simplicity in
writing. It is germane to note therefore that simplicity does not entail
pedestrian language.
Another snag with this style of feature writing is that often times,
readers (especially in developing nations) tend to take writers that
employ simple style of writing as underdogs or armature. Aligwe
(1999: 186-187) cited in Nwodu (2006:108) summarizes it this way:
The only problem with the simple style in Nigeria is that it is usually
regarded with disdain. It is inelegant for the Nigerians to speak or write
simply. If his diction is commonplace and his sentences not breath-
taking, he is thought not to be educated enough. But if his vocabulary
is far breaking and his entire language high-flown, he is held in awe.
Regardless of the odds against simple style of writing, it still remains
the best and should be encouraged.
3. Conversational Style: Conversational style in feature writing
is related to simple style in that both use simple words, and
short sentences to make meaning on the surface. The difference
between the two however, lies on the fact that conversational
style as the name implies is written in conversational
manner. In the words of Nwabueze (2005: 17) cited in Nwodu
(2006: 109), “The simple and familiar everyday conversational
language adopted in writing a feature story keeps the reader's
interest for as long as the story runs…”.
4. Humorous Style: With the use of humour, fun, amusement and
such other entertainment devices, the humourist satirizes a
serious issue, ridicules bloodthirsty oppressors and trivializes
grave situations. Any writer wishing to adopt this style of
writing must be naturally endowed with high sense of humour
to be effective. Commenting on humorous style, Aligwe
(1999:188) cited in Nwodu (2006: 105) observes:
The objective of the humorist is to achieve relaxation and
amusement in his readers. He helps his readers relax frayed
nerves. He leads them to the rich treasures of fun and
amusement concealed in so called subjects. There can be fun in
war. There can be amusement in oppression. There can be
laughter in suffering. The humorous stylist is skilled in
makingthe heavy loads of life light on his readers.
Determinants of Writer's Writing Style
There is no hard and fast rule as to the style of writing required of a
feature writer in any given write up. Hence, one style of writing can
easily flow into another in a particular write up Nwodu (2006: 111).
Nwodu (ibid) has identified a number of factors that determine a
feature writer's choice of style as follows:
§ The Writer's Personality: This is the primary determinant of
a feature writer's style of writing. This is so because one's
personality encapsulates one's habit, behavior, attitude, belief
and the totality one's orientation. Most times a writer's
personality easily flows into his feature writings and defines
the writing style and tone. Aligwe (1999:90) cited in Nwodu
(2006: 111) sums it up:
The traditional miser is usually stingy with words and details
when he writes. The humble usually reflects his humility in his
writings with simple and decorous language. The gay guy is
more likely to take to humorous style than to any other
 style…The careless is not detailed in his writing style, just as
the meticulous is bound to be painstakingly detailed. The
proud and the arrogant may not condescend to the simple style
but will be at home with complex style.
Nwabueze (2005: 118) cited in Nwodu (2006: 111) reinforced
this view where he observed that:
“the joviality of a person, his sense of humour, his authoritative
or boastful nature, his depressed nature, his moodiness, his
complex (superiority or inferiority), his sarcastic or cynical
disposition, among other variables, are portrayed in his style of
writing”. The bottom line is that the writer's personality
influences to a larger extent, his or her writing style.
§ The Writer's Educational Background: Educational
background is conceptualized here in two broad perspectives.
One is the level of education, which has to do with primary,
secondary and tertiary educational attendance. The other is
one's chosen profession like journalism, sociology, etc.
Regardless of the way one perceives educational background,
the fact is that the nature, quality and quantity of education one
receives always impact on one's writing style.
In terms of choice of writing style, most well educated writers
are easily attracted to simple style of writing except when they
are writing for professional colleagues or special audience.
Ironically, the less educated writers are easily carried away by
complex style which in their thinking is a way of enhancing
their status and a demonstration or proof of their make belief
knowledge of communication.
The very nature of one's profession as we pointed out earlier
can also influence one's style of writing. While experts in
journalism, linguistic, and literary studies usually employ
simple style of writing due largely to the nature of their
trainings, experts in law, medicine, political science and
natural sciences may be easily attracted to complex style of
writing. This however, is not to say we cannot find few people
who can write in simple style of writing among these
professionals.
§ The Theme/Subject of The Write Up: Writing has no limit in
terms of subject matter. Lots of subjects demand feature
writer's attention on daily basis. Thus, the nature of subject
matter of any writing influences the choice of words and
language register, the sentence structure, the diction and
imageries to be used and the overall style of writing. Themes or
subjects like love, war, science, politics, religion etcetera
would certainly demand different approaches or style of
writing. For instance, while subjects like love and marriage
may require flowery style, others like science and technology
may require simple style for easy understanding. On the other
hand, subjects, like law, sociology and politics, which thrives
in ambiguity might demand complex style.
§ The Writer's Reading Habit: “What we read” as Aligwe
(1999:92) cited in Nwodu (2006: 113) notes, “To a varying
degree; shapes our personality”. This is true given that most
people acquired behaviours, attitudes and convictions are
influenced by what they read. And when what was read
dominates the readers' attitudes and behavior it will certainly
influence the style of writing which is also a function of
attitude and behavior. Thus, the frequency with which a writer
exposes his/herself to other people's work and the nature of
materials he/her writing style. Reading works written in
complex, simple, flowery or any other style will therefore
influence or entice a feature writer to write in similar manner.
§ Nature/Knowledge of Audience: A good feature writer
always ponders over who the target of his writing is. Is the
writing meant for females or males or both? Is it meant for
teenagers or youths or adults? Is it targeted at the elites or semi-
literates? Is it meant for the super-rich or urban –cum-rural
poor?
Fore knowledge of the audience helps a lot to determine
 writer's style preference and overall success of any piece of
writing. For instance a piece of writing designed to reach out to
graduates, can hardly assume same style particularly in terms
of language level with that meant for primary pupils.

Summary
Style makes you unique or different and differentiates one writer from
the other. This chapter thus examined the element of style in the art and Chapter 16
Language in Feature Writing
science of good writing; forms and determinants of style in feature
writing.

Questions for Review

1. Style makes you unique or different and differentiates one Introduction
writer from the other. Discuss? Language with which the feature writer communicates plays important
2. List and discuss the various elements of style in feature roles in the effectiveness of features writing. Duyile (2005: 56) warned
writing? the feature writer against lack of understanding or misunderstanding
3. Nwodu (2006) has identified a number of factors that that could arise from his ideas and communication of that idea to the
determine a feature writer's choice of style; state and explain readers. As a feature writer, it is not only to think about what you say,
them? but how you say it. Thus, to communicate effectively, the feature writer
must also think about the style, tone and clarity of his/her writing, and
adapt these elements to the reading audience. In order to choose the
most effective language, the writer must consider the objective of the
feature story, the context it is being written, and who will be reading it.

Characteristics of Effective Language

There are six main characteristics of effective language
(https://faculty.washington.edu.) These are:
1) Concrete and specific, not vague and abstract
2) Concise, not verbose
3) Familiar, not obscure
4) Precise and clear, not inaccurate or ambiguous
5) Constructive, not destructive; and
6) Appropriately formal.

1. Concrete and Specific Language: Concrete language

includes descriptions which create tangible images with details
 the reader can visualize. Abstract language is vague and
obscure, and does not bring to mind specific visual images. For
example:
First Sentences
ü He is a bad roommate
ü He is lazy and discourteous
ü He is untidy and unclean
ü He doesn't clean up his own messes
ü He leaves his dirty dishes on the kitchen counter
Second Sentences
ü Your relationship with John is unacceptable
ü You do not get along well with John
ü You and John have a lot of arguments
ü You and John insult each other too much
ü You and John call each other derogatory names
Statement become more effective as the language becomes
more specific, more concrete and less open to multiple
interpretations; see first sentences; while the second sentences
are more abstract as they can be interpreted in many possible
ways, and leave many questions unanswered.
2. Concise Language: A hallmark of effective feature writers is
the ability to express thedesired message in as few words as
possible. Good feature writers, in other words, use
language which is straightforward and to-the-point. For
examples:
ü It is widely discussed by employees that many of them
will be forced to change jobs and take on new
responsibilities when the merger takes place between
the two companies.
ü Before making a decision about whether the person on
trial is guilty or innocent in this case, the members of
the jury should be sure to carefully think about, ponder
and reflect on all of the important and relevant
testimony in the case.
The sentences above are long-winded- and they could be
shortened and simplified. An important part of revising and
editing involves re-phrasing sentences to eliminate excessive
wordiness. One way to reduce wordiness is to eliminate
redundant words or phrases. Consider example one above. The
phrases “to change jobs” and “take on new responsibilities” are
redundant, and could be combined into one short phrase to be
expressed more concisely. Consider example two above. The
phrases “…should be sure to carefully think about, ponder and
reflect on…” contains three ways of saying the same thing.
This sentence could be improved by using only one of the key
phrases: “to reflect on…”
A second way to reduce wordiness is to eliminate “filler” words
which serve no purpose in the sentence. Consider example one
above. Replace the phrase “…when the merger takes place
between the two companies” with “…when the two companies
merge.” Consider example two above. Notice the excessive
wordiness in the following phrases: “Before making decision
about whether the person on trial is guilty or innocent in this
case…” This sentence could simply read: “Before determining
the defendant's guilt or innocence…”
3. Familiar Language: Familiar language is that which the
readers easily recognize and understand because they use it
on a regular basis. One of the most important functions of
language is to build “homophily” or a sense of commonality
with one's readers. Language which is foreign and unfamiliar to
the reader tends to emphasize the differences between t h e
feature writer and reader, and makes the message difficult to
understand. By using language that is familiar to the reader,
the message is likely to have impact. For example:
ü A letter sent to high school students warning them of
the risks of an unhealthy diet: “Individuals who
maintain a diet of high fat content are exposed to an
increased risk of developing atherosclerosis, which is a
buildup of fat deposits on the inner walls of the arteries.
This condition can reduce or cut off the flow of blood in the
 arteries serving the major organs of the body. This can lead to
poor health.
In the above sentence, the language used is unfamiliar to the
readers. As a result, the message loses its impact.
4. Precise and Clear Language: The use of appropriate
language is a tricky matter because the meaning of words is
relative and situational. In other words, words can be
interpreted in different ways by different people in
different situations. For this reason, it is important t o
choose language which is as precise and clear as possible. The
more precise and clear the feature writer's use of language
becomes, the fewer the number of possible interpretations
for a message. For example, consider the following words:
What numerical value would you assign to each of them? If
something is “probable what percentage of the time does it
occur?
ü Probable
ü Doubtful
ü Certainly
ü Unlikely
ü Perhaps
Would others assign the same value to these words as you did?
In actuality, the range of values varies greatly because these
terms are relative: they can mean different things to different
people in different situations. How could one be more precise
in his/her use of these terms?
Consider the examples below; notice that these terms can vary
widely in the meaning to different people. The best way to use
such relative terms, then, is to compare them to
something concrete and “known” to the reader. For example:
“Is that Acura an expensive car?” is best answered with a
comparison: Compared to that Honda, the Acura is expensive.
Compared to that Lexus, it is inexpensive”.
ü Expensive
ü Hot
ü Intelligent
ü Good
ü Spicy
It is wise to think carefully about your choice of words and their
potential interpretations. To communicate effectively, precise
and clear language is essential.
5. Constructive Language: Constructive language phrases send
a potentially negative message in a positive way, whereas
destructive language directs blame and criticism toward
the reader, creating defensiveness. Readers are likely to
become defensive when the feature writer's language
expresses any or all of the following:
ü Superiority over the reader
ü Indifference or apathy about an issue of importance to
the reader
ü Negative evaluation or judgment of the reader (as
opposed to neutral descriptions or observations)
ü Command or control over the reader
ü Skepticism or doubt about the reader's credibility or the
legitimacy of their claims
Feature writers are to adopt the language that will ensure that
their stories are more constructive.
Summary
Language with which the feature writer communicates plays important
roles in the effectiveness of feature writing. This chapter thus
examined the characteristics of effective language in feature writing.
Questions for Review
1. What do understand as effective language in feature writing?
3. List and explain the characteristics of effective language in
feature writing?

Chapter 17
Step on How to Write a Feature
Introduction
Crompton (1970) cited in Okoro & Agbo (2003:77) noted that a
good feature should look like a human being. “It should have a head
which gives it a distinct identity, a trunk which gives it life and
dynamism, and limbs which enable it to go places, and more
importantly, help it to accomplish it set objectives.
Outline of The Feature
§ Title: In feature writing, the first thing that the writer does is to
think of an appropriate title for the feature story. Without a
fitting title, a feature is bound to confuse instead of clarifying.
In most cases, the organic relationship between a title and a
write-up is portrayed even in the lead.
§ The body: The body is the main portion where ideas and facts
are examined and projected. According to Okoro and Agbo
(2006:87) “there is need for unity so that there is a common
thread linking the various parts of the feature. The lead must
grow naturally into the subsequent paragraphs which must in
turn, relate, organically with the ending or conclusion. When
there is a perfect transition from one paragraph to another, the
theme is automatically made clear.
§ The Ending or Conclusion: A feature story that has a
beginning must have an end. Sometimes, it is not that easy to
effect a perfect ending. There are many ways the feature writer
should conclude his/her story. You can approach it from the
summary or from the striking statement perspective etc.
However, before you conclude your feature story, be sure that
all the necessary facts and ideas are in place, then end it neatly.
Organising and Writing the Feature
In the view of the Itule & Anderson (1994: 136), the feature stories are
held together by a thread, and they often end where the lead started,
with a single paragraph. Itule & Anderson (ibid) provide further the
guidelines in organizing a feature story:
a. Find the Theme and Develop the Story: Before a feature is
written it should have a theme or a purpose. Writers do not
simply sit down and write features. They determine the
purpose of a feature – to profile someone who is unique, to
teach something, to reveal something, to illuminate something-
and then they do their research and organize the story to help
them achieve this purpose. Each section of the feature story-the
beginning, the body and the end- should revolve around the
theme.
Feature writers also narrow their themes as much as possible.
No feature writer writes a feature on cancer. That would take
volumes. Instead, the feature would be on the latest medicine,
how certain foods reduce the risk or one person's valiant fight.
Once the theme is determined, all research, interviewing and
writing should support it. Of course, something may come up
during the research or interviewing process that alters the focus
of the story, but feature writers try to stick to the original theme
as much as possible.
b. Write the Lead: A summary may not be the best lead for a
feature. Feature writers generally write narrative, contrast,
staccato, direct address or “none of the above” leads. They
usually avoid summary leads because it is not necessary or
practical to summarize an entire feature story in a single
opening paragraph. A lead blockof two or more paragraphs
 often begins a feature. Rather than put the news elements of the
story in the lead, the feature writer uses the first two or three
paragraphs to set a mood, to arouse readers, to invite them
inside. Then the news peg or the significance of the story is
provided in the third or fourth paragraph, the nut graph.
Because it explains the reason the story is being written, the nut
graph-also called the “so what” graph- is a vital paragraph in
every feature.
c. Write the Body: Between the lead and the ending, the story
must be organized so that it is easy to follow and understand.
The body provides vital information while it educates,
entertains and emotionally ties an audience to the subject.
Then, the ending will wrap up the story and come back to the
lead, often with a quotation or a surprising climax.
According to Gillespie cited in Itule & Anderson (1994: 138)
the story's body should not jar the reader. “The middle should
flesh out the provocative statement in the lead. It should
analyse and dig deeper. It should illuminate the lead.”
Important components of the body of a feature story are
background information, the thread of the story, transition,
dialogue and voice.
d. Provide Background Information: It is essential for feature
writers to provide background information. Thus a paragraph
or more of background should appear high in the story to bring
the readers up to date.
e. Use a Thread: In a feature story, as in a news story, transitions,
paraphrases and quotations are used to connect paragraphs and
move from one area to another. Because a feature generally
runs longer than a news story, it is also effective to weave a
thread throughout the story, which connects the lead to the
body and to the conclusion. This thread can be a single person,
an event or a thing, and it usually highlights the theme of the
story.
A feature on how people fight heart disease could begin with a
13-year-old child in a hospital bed, waiting for a heart
transplant and facing the deadline of death. The body of the
story would explore heat disease, how many people it affects
and what is being done to help those who have it. Throughout
the body of the feature story, the writer would keep coming
back to the 13-year-old, the thread. The feature should also
conclude with the child waiting.
f. Use Transition: Connect paragraphs with transitional words,
paraphrases and direct quotations. Transition hold paragraphs
together and allows them to flow into each other. Transition is
particularly important in a long feature examining several
people or events because it is the tool writers use to move
subtly from one person or area to the next. Transition keeps
readers from being jarred by the writing. It guides them
through the story and keeps them comfortable until the end.
Like the thread, it helps connect the beginning, the middle and
the end of a story.
Words commonly used as transitions include: meanwhile,
therefore, sometimes, also, but, meantime, nevertheless and
however. Phrases include: at 8 p.m., in other action, despite the
promises or in the time that followed. Sentences include: Police
gave the following account of the accident and The witness
described how the crime occurred.
g. Use Dialogue: Dialogue is an important component of feature
writing because it keeps readers attached to a story's key
players. It helps move readers through the writing. With
dialogue, the reader –like the writer-can listen in on important
conversation between two or more people.
Dialogue can be sprinkled throughout a story to introduce
sources or to give depth to sources who already have been
introduced. The dialogue should be part of the story's flow, and
it should add important information. It should not be stuck into
 the story merely to illustrate the reporter's skills.
h. Use of Voice: Another key element that holds a feature together
is voice, the “signature” or personal style of each feature writer.
There is a byline on the top of the story to tell readers who the
writer is, but voice inside the story allows writers to put their
individual stamps on their writing. It reveals a writer's
personality and the subtly tells readers that this story is not by
any writer; it is by this writer.
i. Write the Ending: A feature can trail off, like a news story, or it
can end with a climax. Some features are written in the block
style.
Summary
A good feature story must have a beginning and an end. This chapter
thus examined the outline of a feature story and how the feature writer
can organize his story.
Questions for Review
1. A good feature should look like a human being. Discuss?
2. The features are held together by a thread, and they often end
where the lead started, with a single paragraph.
Chapter 18
Legal and Ethical Issues
in Features Writing
Introduction
As a student, you should understand the fact that it is a standard
practice for media everywhere to be hinged on the consideration that
should conform to an acceptable standard of good behavior, in spite of
the fact that the country's constitution provides for a freedom of speech
and expression (Wilson, 2000:90-91).Article 19 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, and Article 9 of the African Charter on
Human and Peoples' Rights, the right to this freedom is inalienable.
The International Convention on Civil and Political Rights Article 19
(2) which took effect in 1976 Osinuga and Ogbonna (2010: 18)
maintains that:
Everyone shall have the rights to freedom of expression. This
right shall include freedom to seek, receive, and impart information
and ideas of all kinds regardless of frontiers, either orally. In writing
or in print, in the form of art, or through any other medium of his
choice.
Wilson (2000:91) said there are constitutional provisions or sanctions
against the violation of ethical and legal rights of the individual citizen
or groups. According to Wilson (ibid) the American constitutional
scholar, Thomas Cooley referred to this freedom in the American
st
Constitution (1 Amendment) as 'the right to publish whatever one may
please and to be protected against any responsibility for doing so' in so
far as such a publication is not blasphemous, obscene, scandalous or
false, malicious or injuriously affects the standing, reputation or
pecuniary interests of the individual. Thus, some of those laws that the
feature writer may encounter are laws of Defamation, Official Secrets
Acts, Contempt of Court, Sedition, Obscenity and Copyright.
Legal Issues in Feature Writing
Defamation as explained in Section 373 of the Nigerian Criminal
Code is: “is matter likely to injure the reputation of any person by
exposing him to hatred, contemptor ridicule or likely to damage any
person in his profession or trade by an injury to his reputation.”
According to Fatoba 2006, p. 86), the law of defamation is meant to
protect a man's reputation from unnecessary attack and injury. This is
because a man's pride in life lies in his reputation which goes a long
way to influence his achievement in life and also determine the level of
respect and honour accorded him by his family, friends, peers and his
community at large. The law, thus, protects it through the
instrumentality of the law of defamation. Unlike most other laws, the
law of defamation has nothing to do with physical injury or the
suffering of a kind of loss in a tangible property of the plaintiff. Thus
the law protects intangible interest of the plaintiff (Fatoba, 2006:86).
Defamation is concerned with injury done to a man's reputation which
is a resultant effect of words, (spoken or written) which:
1. Lower the reputation of the person in the estimation of right-
thinking members of the society, or
2. Expose him to ridicule, hatred or contempt or
3. Discredit him in his office, trade or profession, or
4. Make others shun or avoid him, or
5. Injure his financial credit.
The Official Secrets Act is a law that restrains anyone working for the
government to disclose, “Either by words of mouth or by writing
information acquired as a result of his or her job.”
Contempt of Court is the offense of being disobedient to or
disrespectful towards a court of law and its officers in form of behavior
that opposes or defies authority, justice, and dignity of the court
(Oxford Dictionary) cited in Ogbonna & Aladipupo, 2006: 37). J.
Foswald in Ogbonna & Oladipupo (ibid) defined Contempt as:
“Any conduct that tends to bring the authority and administration
of the law into disrespect or disregard or to interfere with or
prejudice parties or litigant or their witness during litigation.”
Sedition: Section 50 of the Criminal Code of Nigeria, states that a
seditious publication is a publication that has a seditious intention.
Professor Elias cited in Ogbonna & Oladipupo (2016:420 explained
that:
“Sedition is any publication that is aimed at causing incitement or
hatred or contempt against the government as by law established,
or any of its principal arms or any incitement of the subjects to
procure an alteration of the government”
Copyright: This is the exclusive right of an author of any literary work
to multiply copies of such work without allowing others to do so. It
involves the exclusive right given to an author to publish (Ogunsiji,
1989:155).
Obscenity: Is defined by the Encarta Dictionary cited in Ogbonna &
Aladipupo, 2006: 51) as indecent, offensive to conventional standards
of decency, by being sexually explicit: especially through an apparent
total disregard for others' right to natural justice.
Ethical Issues in Feature Writing
The social responsibility of the press stresses the need to reconcile the
independence of the press, with the obligation to society. Based on
public trust and confidence bestowed on journalists, they have come to
be regarded as social engineers and molders of public opinion. Thus, it
is necessary for feature writers to carry their professional code of
conduct constantly in their minds, and not in their pockets or anywhere
else. Duyile (2005:79) admonishes feature writers that ethics belongs
to the minds and your conscience is the judge. Onabajo (2002:5) argues
that the aim of ethics or moral philosophy in journalism is
fundamental to journalism practice because mass media practice is
based on a set ofessentially ethical concepts: trust, objectivity, honesty,
privacy, freedom etc.

Summary
This chapter examined the issue of journalists legal and ethical codes
of conduct, it delved into the various laws and journalism principles
and ethical considerations of journalists in their professional practice

Questions for Review

1. What do you understand by legal and ethical issue in feature
writing?
2. List and discuss four legal and two ethical issues a feature
writer should be familiar with?

SECTION C
EDITORIAL WRITING

Chapter 19
Definitions of Editorial
Introduction
The editorial is a more professionalized form of journalism that allows
journalist to exhibit creativity than the news side of the media will
permit them. Editorial is considered as the opinion of a newspaper
reflected by its owner, as represented by the publisher or editor.
Naveed (2011) states that an editorial is a journalistic essay which
either attempts (1) to inform or explain, (2) to persuade or convince, or
(3) to stimulate insight on an entertaining or humorous manner.
Generally speaking, an editorial is an expression of opinion based
upon selection of facts which present a truth in a new light-something
that everyone knows which no one before ever thought of (William
Allen White, n:d).
Naveed (2011) notes the following points as being common in most
definitions:
§ Editorial is the official opinion of the newspaper;
§ Though, editorial is the opinion of the newspaper but it is based
on facts;
§ Editorial explains an event in such a way that a general reader is
able to understand the facts easily;
§ Editorial is written to influence the opinion of the reader. It
persuades the reader for or against an issue; and
§ Some editorials give humorous touch to the events or facts and
figures to entertain the reader.
§ Editorial is an essay written in some urgent matter whose aim is
to bring conformity between the opinion of the reader and that
of the editor- (Carl Miller, n:d)- The author of Modern
Journalism
§ An article that is carefully constructed, an analytical essay in
which the writer explains and interpret an event or public issue
(G.M. Naqqash, n:d)
§ The old orthodox definition on which most of the scholars
agree is, “it is a comment by the newspaper or magazine”.
§ Editorial is a comment on those trends which lie at the core of
daily occurrences (Max Learner, n: d).
In the book, Editorial Writing: An Academic and Professional
Approach, Ate (2007) gives the definition of various authors as
follows:
§ “An expression of opinion based on factors which present truth
in a new light; something that everyone knows which no one
ever thought of” (William Allen White, n:d)
§ “An expression of the editor” (Lion Flint-The Editorial, n: d).
§ “ A presentation of facts and opinion in concise, logical,
pleasing order for the sake of the entertaining or interpreting
significant news in such a way that its importance to the
average reader will be clear” (M. Spencer; n:d).
§ “A journalist essay which attempts to: (a) inform or explain (b)
persuade or convince; (c) stimulate insight in an entertaining or
humorous manner” (Iyorkya, 1996).
§ “A critical evaluation, interpretation and presentation of
significant, contemporary events in such a way as to inform,
educate, entertain and influence the reader”. According to
them, an editorial affords a publication the opportunity to be
more than just a “word factory”, something more than a
common information carrier (Okoro, N & Agbo, B.; 2003).
In the author's years of working in the newspaper house, editorial page
is revered which informs the quality and experience of the writers. The
public advocacy role of the newspaper ensures editorials hold
leadership accountable. Thus, newspaper editorials are written on
topical issues that affect the society at large. The editorial does not only
express its opinion or views on a particular issue, but makes it a point to exposes public debate, the good and bad ideas in circulation.
take a definite stand on such. In most newspaper houses, editorial d. That the editorial can fight battles for the newspaper reader.
meetings are held to determine issues of interest to be tackled, the angle e. That the editorial page should give readers the opportunity to
and position of the paper. Much discourse is involved from point of air their views by providing space for letters to the editor.
choosing an issue to be editorialized upon, to the position or stand of f. That the editorial makes it possible for the editor to express his
the newspaper house. The modern editorial page has developed its own views, and
technique. It came more in touch with social sciences, began to be g. That the editorial serves as a source of personality to the
based on survey reports, analysis of public finances and reference newspaper.
material and began to provide intelligent, comprehensive analysis of
puzzling situations (Study Lecture Notes, n: d). Summary
This chapter examined the various definitions of editorial, and in
Characteristics of an Editorial conclusion discussed the characteristics of the editorial.
Folarin (1998) states that editorial are characterized by the following
features: Questions for Review
ü An editorial, more than any other item in a publication 1. Explain the various definitions of editorial as discussed in this
performs the correlation, opinion, editorial interpretation or chapter?
even 'propaganda' function in a newspaper. It helps the paper's 2. State and discuss the characteristics of editorial that you are
readers to put specific issues or occurrences in perspective. familiar with?
ü It selects a specific topic and sticks to it throughout, examining
the topic from various angles.
ü It is usually linked to a news peg, and has an introductory
statement linking the news event or issue and the editorial.
ü The specific style of each editorial will vary slightly according
to the type of –whether it be persuasion, advocacy,
clarification, information/illumination, tribute/
commendation, special occasion or entertainment. Each
editorial should have a thesis, a development of the thesis, and
a conclusion.
Capturing the characteristics of editorial in harmony with the
aforementioned functions, Idemili (undated) in Ate (2007) observes:
a. That the editorial helps the reader to bring order out of chaos of
news.
b. That on the editorial page, special reporters or columnists has
places for explaining behind-the-scene events and that
freedom of style and deep back grounding is permitted.
c. That the editorial plays agenda setting functions or role;

Chapter 20
Types and Function of Editorial
Introduction
The editorials of credible newspapers are always interesting. They are
full of life and attract attention. The leading editorial articles should be
thought –provoking, filled with independent thoughts and full of
inspiration for all the readers. In fact, quality editorials are read with
the same interest as any other part of a newspaper. Editorials serve
various purposes depending on their types and functions.
Types of Editorial
Editorials fall into broad categories. Study Lecture Notes (n: d), an
online source, states four types of editorial in newspapers and
magazines as follows:
Interpretative Editorials
These kinds of editorials are written primarily to explain issues at stake
by placing facts and figures at the door post of readers for proper
illumination of the day's intelligence (Ate, 2007: 14). It explains the
significance or meaning of a news event or a current idea condition or
situation. Its purpose is to inform. It defines terms and issues, identifies
persons and factor, and provides historical and geographical
background. It may examine the motive of persons or suggest the
consequence of various courses of action.
It involves little if any impression of opinion, except as interpretation
or explanation of facts, maybe considered opinion. However, the
difference between interpretation and opinion is that normally anyone
having access to the same facts and having the expertise to explain
them would arrive at about the same interpretation. Most editorials in
the daily newspapers are mostly those of interpretation or criticism.
Editorial of Criticism or Persuasion
This points out the good or the bad features of a problem or some
situation mentioned in the news that concerns and interests readers. Its
purpose is to influence. The writer usually uses the scientific method
by defining a problem, examining all evidence available, and then
perhaps tentatively suggesting a solution. An example of this type of
editorial is the editorial in The Nation newspaper captioned: 'Kukah's
Wake-up Call: The Cleric Made a Few more Telling Points than
Generated the Uproar' When Bishop Mathew Kukah of the Catholic
Diocese in Sokoto wrote his Christmas message for 2020, it generated
quite a flak, and not always for the reason. The only portion of the
address that raised hubbub tended to down-play the more salient things
he said - It was the minister of information who referred to the text in
which Bishop Kukah railed at the lack of fairness in the Buhari
administration. He noted: “Every honest Nigerian knows that there is
no way any non-Northern Muslim president could have done a fraction
of what President Buhari has done by his nepotism and gotten away
with it. There would have been a military coup a long time ago or we
would have been at war.”But that was not all the cleric said. He did
what any observer would agree is a rigorous dissection of the state of
the nation. He was right about hunger in the land. The average Nigerian
did not enjoy the last Christmas as they did in the past. This plight did
not just begin in the year just ended. But many would agree that the
market turned inflation into a horror, and those who served rice were
fortunate, and those who served that same rice know how unfortunate
they were because it cost them a leg and an arm to serve a leg and an
arm of chicken.
It referred to a visit to the president by a team of Catholic priests when
President Buhari lamented the decay he inherited and wondered if the
government officials before him were just eating and going to toilet.
Now, noted the Bishop, it is a luxury now to make a trip to the toilet.
H also looked at the issue of insecurity, and how the North that hailed
the Buhari administration is at the short end of the stick, which is
properly a touch of death. We are witnesses as a people how the North
that this administration met was a seething cauldron. We seemed to
have a respite within a few months that inspired Minister Lai
Mohammed to declare that Boko Haram had been technically
defeated. It was an optimistic effusion, naïve and without an
immersion in the facts on the ground. Today, the facts are staring us like
blood spills in the face.
He referred with potent rage to the fiery episodes of militant outbursts
across the north. Of note is the matter of the Kankara boys. Militants
like defiant fireflies buzzed into town and corralled hundreds of pre-
teen and teenage boys to their camps. They undertook long treks. They
did not have good meals, and they gorged on unknown vegetables and
slurped dirty water, and they were not guaranteed any life. The world
wailed, and the federal Government demonstrated helplessness until
the Katsina government waded in and the militants, probably for what
of what to do with the human largesse, gave up. The bishop did not
gloat. He expressed gratitude, while understanding that the underlying
problem still haunted the north. He referred to the Emir of Katsina and
the Sultan of Sokoto who decried the vulnerability of the north and its
elite to stymie.
It is when he entered the region of geopolitics that the Bishop jarred not
a few nerves. He wrote that, “It is curious that President Buhari's
partisanship and commitment to reinforcing the foundations of
northern hegemony have had the opposite consequences.” The north
that the president sought to privilege has become a cauldron of pain
and a valley of dry bones,” he said. - It is out of the indignation of these
observations that the reference to military coup and war can be located.
The Bishop has said he did not call for a military coup as Mohammed
and a few commentators have excoriated.“It is unfair that a journalist
or news medium to report that I called for a coup while expressing my
personal view about Nigeria,” he fired back. The Bishop had written a
fortnight Christmas message, and if he had not called directly for a
coup, he should have admitted that he implied it. It is what lawyers call
innuendo. If you say a military coup might have happened long ago or a
war could have resulted were another leader in the saddle, it implied
that Buhari's privileged ethnicity and region had sheltered him from
dislodgment. He should take responsibility for the implication of his
language.
He wrote as a northern minority who feels the ache of the hegemonic
shadow of the Fulani. He was born and raised in the north, and hi cry
comes from the heart of a sufferer. His jeremiad must therefore be
appreciated.
In all, the Bishop's writing was a wake-up call, using his ecclesiastical
platform to twit power and hold the state to the mirror.
Culled from: The Nation, Editorial- Sunday January 3, 2021; p. 13
Editorial of Appreciation, Commendation, or Tribute
It praises, commends, or pays tributes to a person or organization that
has performed well. Topics for this type may include the retirement of a
teacher or a well-known custodian, the outstanding performance of the
cast in a play or a musical show. An example of this type of editorial is
the editorial in The Nation newspaper captioned: 'Warrior at Law:
Professor Itse Sagay Has Deployed to Fight for a Fair Society. At 80,
his Strength is not Abated”
Professor Itse Sagay has given his country a substance of himself, and a
worthy one at that. At 80, which he turned on December 20, 2020, he is
still in the trenches for law and justice. He is one of the rare breeds of
lawyers who has straddled theory and practice, action and thinking,
and he has managed to also become authority among those who know.
He also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The story is told that he wanted to be a medical doctor, and that
ambition was alive when he was in his teenage years after he
completed his secondary school education at the prestigious
Government College, Ughelli. But a visit to the parliament in Lagos
deprived him of the dream of a stethoscope. It was his witness of the
doings of the leader of the opposition in the First Republic in Lagos,
Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Awolowo, ever the systematic thinker
whose material often blazed with rigour and research, with elocution
of grace and aplomb, made a deep and external impression on the
young Sagay.
Awolowo was a lawyer, and Sagay thought that if law made this man
such a genius of presentation, he was going to abandon the fantasy of a
hospital ward for the peroration of a courtroom. And that he did. He
decided to study law, and became one of the pioneer law students of the
then University of Ife- now for irony, named Obafemi Awolowo
University. He was the first Nigerian to graduate with a second class
upper degree in a Nigerian university. At the Nigerian Law School, he
won the prize for the best overall performance at the Bar Examinations
The influence of Awolowo did not only make him a lawyer but also
sowed the seed of political animal. He formed the Action Group youth
wing on the campus, and he worked, and he worked with some of his
avid fellow students to turn it into success. The main party entrusted
them with campaign funds and infrastructure. Sagay,an Itsekiri, larned
a smattering of Yoruba during those brainstorming in the First
Republic.
But he did not delve into politics after his sojourn as a student. He
proceeded to to King's College, Cambridge, where he obtained his
master's degree and doctorate. He returned to Ife, he traipsed up in a
tranquil career that made him even head the law faculty until he was
asked to create a new law faculty at the University of Benin. That was
when the quiet of his career wove into a storm.
There, under the Vice-Chancellor, Grace Alele-Williams, he suffered
persecution as a chieftain of the Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU) at Benin. He was bullied out of campus by the then military
president, General Ibrahim Babangida, his belongings and family left
in the rain. He challenged this in court and had his day. He returned to
campus after the storm and victory twice until he decided he wanted to
focus on private practice.
Today, while he runs a law office in Lagos, his books are being read
both at the universities as well as in chambers across the country. He is
an authority in the law of torts. His book has become a metaphor for his
name. Students now say, “I want my Sagay. Can I borrow your Sagay?”
Some of the prominent Nigerian lawyers and public servants went
through him, one of whom is the Minister of Works and Housing,
Babajide Raji Fashola (SAN). He is today engaged in a war of
corruption, and says he is going to spend the next phase of his life
battling corruption in the judiciary, especially among judges. He is
still criticized today for not excoriating the Buhari government
for tales of corruption. He insists the President is above board and his
performance in that regard is understated.
Editorial of Entertainment
It takes for its subject a topic of student interest outside school and
develops it lightly. This type is very similar to the light feature story.
Functions of Editorials
A popular journalism maxim is that ownership of newspaper or
magazine determines control, that is, editorial control. However,
irrespective of what kind or type of editorials, 'editor's biases,
ownership and readers influence, economic factors as well as
competition among newspapers and magazines play a great role in
editorial decisions. The place of editorial functions cannot thus be
underestimated, and they are as follows:
Ate (2007:21) stated these functions of editorials as follows:
i. Criticize or attack socio-political, economic and moral
dilemmas of the society: An editorialist sometimes performs
the job of a human rights activist, raising alarm on blatant
abuse or annihilation of certain norms and acceptable social
order in the society. Exploitative and autocratic policies can
also be attacked by editorials. On the side of the governed,
when a particular section of the society decides, for instance, to
 take laws into its hand, editorials are abound to criticize such an corporate bodies or government to accept a particular course of
anomaly. action for the interest of the society. Such editorials are
ii. Illuminate the day's intelligence: Editorials perform this sandwiched with concrete facts and spiced-up with tantalizing
function by throwing more light on complex issues of the day. persuasive techniques which create indelible marks on the
Editorials often try to look at the two sides of an issue. They psyche of readers.
highlight and analysis the strengths and weaknesses of public
institutions while proffering solutions to complex issues of Summary
public concern. This chapter examined the various definitions of editorial, and in
iii. Bring to fore debatable issues and provide an intellectual conclusion discussed the characteristics of the editorial.
compass for society to discuss and resolve burning issues.
iv. Defend the underdogs in the society: In every given society, Questions for Review
there exists different dimensions of natural and artificial 1. Explain the various definitions of editorial as discussed in this
economic gaps between the rich and the poor, the powerful and chapter?
the powerless, the educated and the uneducated, etc. When the 2. State and discuss the characteristics of editorial that you are
rich for instance, tends to unjustly exploit and manipulate the familiar with?
poor, editorials rise up in defense of the later. The relationship
among different members of the society is often monitored by
the media and an advocacy role is been played by editorials to
defend the cause of the wretched of the earth.
v. Endorse or support an issue of public significance: Editorialists
are not dogmatic set of barking and biting professionals, whose
stock in trade I only to attack, they also support noble causes of
public concern. For instance, any time policy formulators and
executors are on the right track, some editorials acknowledge
and applaud their efforts. In supporting or endorsing a policy,
there might be some grey areas where the “supportive”
editorials may call for fine-tuning. The Nigerian government
owned media establishments are fond of supporting the
policies of their proprietors through their opinion columns for
public acceptability.
vi. To influence policy formulation or decision making on certain
issues: Editorials galvanise policy makers to set proactive
agenda for good governance of the society.
vii. Appeal or persuade: Editorials appeal or persuade the readers
to accept the rightness or wrongness of an issue. Some
editorials often woo individual members of the society,
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NEWSPAPERS
Daily Sun, Strange: Herbalist Pastor Says 'I received both calling from
God', August 13, 2009
The Nation, 'At 12 Years, Nigeria's First IVF Baby Comes of Age'
March 7, 2009
The Guardian, 'Restructuring the Federation' August 20, 2009
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The Guardian 'Tension Reigns in Jos, Offices, Shops shut', March 9,
2010
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Sunday Sun, ' Me, Lady D, Women and Sex' August 2009
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