JOURNALIST AKO

FEATURE WRITING

Journalism history is the story of humanity's struggle to communicate with

each other ... to dig out and interpret news and to offer intelligent opinions and
entertaining thoughts in the market place of ideas.

Feature writing is strictly a journalistic type not related to any form of literary
writing. It is modern in the sense that its greatest development both in newspapers
and magazine have come since 1900.

Feature writing is a relief from serious news writing- to give entertaining

relaxation to the reader. Hence it might be considered the apple pie, the salad or
the dessert of the journalistic diet. It might also be a little extra chunk to balance
the heavier part of the meal so that the reader can finish his intellectual intake with
a pleasant taste in his mouth without fear of indigestion.

Today, the universe needs the gracefulness of the feature writer to translate
the world into a language having meaning to the mass of readers- the simpler the
language, the better.

A feature article is a news story based on the face but contains explanations,
background, color, life, and impressions of the writer.

Its identity lies in the presentation of facts piercing the unusual and
particular truth that strikes people's curiosity, sympathy, humor, anger, surprise,
and skepticism.

I. OBJECTIVES

Feature articles may inform, instruct and advise but their primary purpose is
to entertain.

II. CHARACTERISTICS

1. More freedom is allowed in the construction of a feature article.

2. Timeless
3. They are written to be read in their entirely (whole) so the highest point of
interest may be at the end.
4. The sentence may be longer than those of the news stories because of the
use of colorful phrases, but not too long as to confuse readers.
5. Features may end with an ironic, humorous, sad or summarizing
statement to impact the total effect.

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mechanical including photocopying – without written permission from the admins of the page Journalist Ako. First Edition, 2019.
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III. KINDS OF FEATURES

1. Personalities - This feature article, sometimes called character sketch is usually

short.
2. Descriptives - are feature article that describes significant events and special
activities.
3. Adventures/Travelogue- Factual accounts of outdoor life and experiences.
4. Backgrounders - Explain the history and interpret the behind-the-scene of news
events to make it clear and easily understood.
5. Narratives - There are interesting stories to relate especially historical ones. Not
all personal stories are on adventures and experiences.

IV. THREE-PART OF FEATURES

1. LEAD - emphasizes the unusual aspect, presents an overall picture of the topic
or strikes the keynote of the article.

2. BODY - Body is developed in the same way as any good piece of composition. It
observes unity, coherence, and emphasis.

a. It must hold the interest captured in the land,

b. A central theme is carried throughout the article, eliminating materials not
closely connected with it.
c. It presents all necessary details and the ideas for it makes use of colorful
descriptions, quotations, figures of speech, statistics, analogies and
appropriate humor.

3. CONCLUSION - ends the action similar to the conclusion of any composition

writing.

a. End your feature article imaginatively with a summarizing statement of a

wrapping up the highlights of the story.
b. A punch line or the highest point of interest.
c. Restatement of the lead.

V. HOW TO INTRODUCE THE FEATURE ARTICLE

Unlike a straight news story, feature articles may begin in form and any
style. This depends on the topic or purpose of the writer. Most features, however,
may be introduced by any of the following:

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mechanical including photocopying – without written permission from the admins of the page Journalist Ako. First Edition, 2019.
 JOURNALIST AKO
1. Rhetorical Question

Who says that age is an obstacle to education?

Take it from Anna Aganon of Anda, Pangasinan who stopped going to

school six years ago after finishing the elementary grades. This year, at 22, she
enrolled as a first year evening student at Anda National High School.

2. Startling Statement

"Hindi pa kami laos!"

Thus exclaimed the young once: teachers, administrators, parents,

community and barangay members as they set aside one special day during
school's celebration of Community Week to have a share of the festivities, and of
course to display their hidden talents.

3. Narrative Opening

Mrs. Benica Benitez, a fourth year evening student, send herself and
her five children to school, acting as mother and father at the same time.

Everyday, Mrs. Benitez makes her tentative place between the half-
time tindera tending her sari-sari store during the day and half-time student
studying at night.

4. Quoted Remarks

"I learned while I earn". She smiled at me as the interview reeled off.
"How can you work, have a part time job, and at the same time go to school?" I
asked.

"Well, it is easy", she explained, I don't do all of these at the same

time."

5. An old maxim, an aphorism or a "salawikain"

"Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink."

This quotation from the "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel

Coleridge does not hold true anymore. Today, even flood water can quench the
thirst. How?

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mechanical including photocopying – without written permission from the admins of the page Journalist Ako. First Edition, 2019.
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VI. ENDING THE FEATURE ARTICLE

Again, as important as the lead, is the ending. The last word or words
impress the reader as strongly as the opening sentences.

1. A summary of the whole article

Take it from the experts: Smoking is definitely harmful to health.

Smoking may make you feel manly, but you may not live long enough to be one.

2. An announcement of the main point for the first time effort should be directed at
strengthening the character of the people at developing in them moral values,
particularly by self-discipline, self-reliance, the strength of character and fortitude.

3. A question left in the reader's mind

The hands of the new Filipino toil for the love of creation. They turn the
wheel of progress and hold high the torch of freedom from want and hunger.

Do you have these kinds of hands?

4. Suggested results or significance

Let us conserve our forest now if we want to save the future of our
country and of our children.

5. A forecast of the introduction

In six and a half centuries from now, if population explosion would not be
checked, there would be one person standing on every square foot of land on earth.
By that time, people would be devouring one another for there would be no more
space for plants to grow.

VII. QUALITIES OF A GOOD FEATURE WRITER

1. He/She knows how to look for features from beneath the surface of every day
events.
2. He/She investigates every angle before starting to write in order to get the story
behind the story.
3. He/She is a keen observer.

All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic or
mechanical including photocopying – without written permission from the admins of the page Journalist Ako. First Edition, 2019.