Class 1/21: Thinking like an Editor, Types of Feature Articles

In class today, I modeled a Multimedia Publication presentation with one of my favorite dearly departed websites, Grantland.

Then we discussed some basic qualities that editors look for in a good story:

• Timeliness (how recent, have we only just found out?)
• Impact (how many people are affected?)
• Proximity (down the road or the other side of the world?)
• Controversy (are people in disagreement about this?)
• Prominence (anyone famous, prominent or infamous involved?)
• Currency (are people talking about it? This is a great guide to picking up on things we have missed)
• Oddity (how out of the ordinary is it?)

Finally, we spent a long time reviewing some of the most popular types of feature stories that exist in media today. The purpose of this review was not only for you to get a sense of the different genres of storytelling in the publishing industry today, but also to provide some inspiration for the stories that you'll pitch next week.

Away we go:

NEWS FEATURES:

The news feature is just what it sounds like - a feature article that focuses on a topic of interest in the news. They often cover the same subjects as deadline hard-news stories, but tend to focus on individuals more than deadline news stories, which often focus more on numbers and statistics.

Examples:

• Charles Duhigg and Keith Bradsher, “How the US Lost Out on iPhone Work” (5125 words)
• Sarah Stillman, "Taken" (11462 words)

The Spot Feature (example)

Spot features are "sidebar" stories that provide additional context or perspectives for the news story in the "mainbar." So, for example, if the news story was about a blizzard hitting Philadelphia, a spot feature might be the previous blizzards, or a day in the life of a snowplow driver, or a scientific explanation of why the storm was so bad.

The Trend Story

A trend story--often in the realm of fashion, tech, culture, and consumer goods--discusses new and "of the moment" developments. The latest bingewatching sensation, 8 cute new looks for back to school, or the best new smartphones on the market are all common fodder for trendpieces.  But trendpieces can also be about social behaviors, like online dating or male friendships.

Examples:

• NYT Style Hugging
• Wirecutter Piece
• Loofbourow TV

The Profile

A profile offers and in-depth look at an individual subject, normally someone of particular notoriety and importance. This isn't just about the public persona, but their authentic self--this is why profiles spend so much time discussing mannerisms, their way of thinking, their personality, etc.

Profiles almost always rely on extensive interviews, observation, as well as research into the person's colleagues, friends, and even their critics. If you're doing a profile you'll obviously need to interview your subject in person, that in addition to getting quotes you can describe their appearance and mannerisms. You should also watch the person in action, doing what they do, whether it be a mayor, a doctor or a beat cop. Also, talk to people who know the person you're profiling, and if your profile subject is controversial, talk to some of his/her critics. Sometimes, however, the reporter can't get an interview--so instead, the author will rely on public statements, interviews with others, and a reflection on what that public figure *means* in our culture.

Examples

• Susan Burton “Terry Gross and the Art of Opening Up” (4911 words)
• Chuck Klosterman, "Taylor Swift Runs the World" (4624 words)
• Don van Natta, Jr. “Jerry Football” (10875 words)
• Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah, "If He Hollers Let Him Go" (9330 words) ***No Interview**
• Charlie Pierce, “The Cynic and Senator Obama” (6590 words)

The Alarmer-Exposé

Alarmers and Exposes are meant to inform, alert, and move readers to action. These pieces often rely on extensive research and documentation, and argues for a specific series of actions. BE CAREFUL: Lots of fake and misleading political news takes the form of alarmers, because peoples' emotional responses often overshadow their critical faculties. So it is important—extremely important—as a reader for you to be skeptical and conscientious when evaluating them.

Examples:

• Kathryn Schulz, “The Really Big One” (6184 words)
• Shane Bauer, “My Four Months as a Private Prison Guard” (36619 words)
• Matt Taibbi, “Looting Main Street” (4422 words)
• Sarah Maslin Nir, “The Price of Nice Nails” (6594 words)

The Live-In

The live-in is an in-depth, often magazine-length article that paints a picture of a particular place and the people who work or live there. The idea is to give readers a look at a place they probably wouldn't normally encounter. Reporters doing live-ins must spend a fair bit of time in the places they're writing about (thus the name). That's how they get a real sense of the place's rhythm and atmosphere.

Examples:

• Eli Saslow, “’How’s Amanda?’: A Story of Truth, Lies, and American Addiction” (5799 words)
• Nikole Hannah-Jones “Choosing a School for my Daughter in a Segregated City” (10148 words)
• Elspeth Reeve, “The Secret Lives of Tumblr Teens” (9864 words)
• Jordan Ritter Conn, “The End of the Hoop Dream” (7500 words)
• Sarah Schweitzer, “The Life and Times of Strider Wolf” (6649 words)
• Reggie Ugwu, “Inside the Playlist Factory” (5733 words)

“How To” Articles/ Service Journalism

Everything from recipes, make-up tips, "life-hacks" and "one weird trick" articles to more extensive advice/instructional pieces.

Examples

• Molly Lambert, "In Which We Teach You How to Be a Woman in any Boys' Club" (2829 words)
• Nicole Nguyen, "How to Protect Your Privacy in an Era of Government Surveillance"

Human Interest

Stories of ordinary people, in extraordinary circumstances

(Florida Man) (White Flight) ( Unfollow)

Essays

• Make arguments, influenced by evidence, attempt to bring us to a new understanding (you’ve done these before)

 (Broke) (Stop Drinking Bottled Water) (Rebecca Onion)(PC)

Personal Narrative

• Draw on first person experiences to address cultural/social issues, OR tell a human interest story.
• (Disney for the Sad) (This is meant to hurt you)(Lindy West)

Opinion/Analysis Articles. (ZLowe)(Social media like tv)(DINOS)

• Different from criticism—these pieces offer a viewpoint or an understanding, then demonstrate the rationale using evidence.

Humor or Satire Articles (Wishbone)(Dog)(Sedaris)(Rembert)(None Pizza Left Beef)

·         can announce themselves as comedy, can be funny commentary, can be absurdist, or an “in disguise”

Tick tock/running diary (obama bailout) (Caity Weaver Fridays)

• This slang term (referring to the sound of minute or second hands on a clock ticking off time) is used to describe a background story that traces chronologically the development of a major news event, usually from the viewpoint of the principal players.

Fly on the Wall  (AHP Standing Rock) (Blur)

Explainers – (example - vox) (example – slate) (wapo gerrymandering)

•  a statement, article, or video that provides an explanation of a concept, topic, situation, etc.

Oral History (March on Washington) (UHF)

Vox Pops/ Expert roundup /

A selection of views from members of the public or experts.

Roundtable (grantland above the rim)

Conversation of experts, notable voices, or even staff members

Historical Articles (THE VAULT)

Inspirational Magazine Articles (UPWORTHY)

"Restoring your faith in humanity," etc.

Round-Ups

• Gather a collection from many sources
• Focus on one theme
• Offer quotations, opinions, statistics, research studies, anecdotes, recipes, etc.

Research Shorts

• Short responses to events, publications, political statements or programming that appears elsewhere. Think about the pieces you see on social media after Jon Stewart would interview anybody in the world.

Review

- Attend the production of a local concert, play, restaurant or other cultural event and write a review. Or interview the musicians or actors involved and write a story about them.