? A newspaper feature is an article which finds its impact outside or beyond the realm of the straight news story’sbasic and particularly, who-what-where-whenwhy and how. Feature stories can be news stories. Features can be investigative. Features can be for fun. • The justification, strength and very identity of the feature lie in its presentation of the imagination—not however, in departing from or stretching the truth, but in piercing the peculiar and particular truths that strike people’s curiosity, sympathy, skepticism, humor, amazement. • 2. A feature story is a creative, sometimes subjective article designed primarily to entertain and to inform readers of an event, a situation, or an aspect of life. They give causes. They are also supplementing the hard news. Subjectivity: Some feature stories are written in the first person using “I” and “we” thus allowing the reporter to inject his/ her own emotions. backgrounds of events and situations.1. feature writing allows a reporter to create story virtually at his / her own will.Entertainment: feature stories are usually entertaining. 2. The reporter also gives conclusion of the story. opinions. 4. 3. Unlike news stories. . Informative: Feature stories are also informative. Creativity: Unlike news story. features offer a particular point of view or the authors personal perceptions. Eid. Independence day. Ashoora. etc c. Topics—education. the economy. etc d. science. religion. Animals– unusual or ordinary f. features can be about anything you want to write about. Objects– art. etc b.• The subject can be anything: a. products g. Places—a community. Defense day. a business. Calendar—First May. People– well-known or unknown (old—young) e. . a farm. Occupations In short. 2. 4. or advise. they may or may not be timely. instruct. 5. . they usually entertain more than they inform. 6. they may be written in any form and style however. although they may do all four.1. the permit the writer to use all his knowledge to write a story that is original in idea and treatment. they may be of any length. 3. the style or form must be appropriate to the content and to the purpose of the story. they are factual and require reporting. they are well organized. and paragraphs. and emphasis).• 7. unity and coherence. they rarely have a news lead. . avoiding verbosity. they apply all the principles of effective writing (short words. • 9. • 8. sentences. : These features are developed around a timely event. often much features are written as sidebars to straight news stories. These categories are: • 1. (A sidebar is a short. description.) . they are only labels to help us describe a story. It presents additional. there is a finite set of categories of them. and perhaps emotions. more human interest is brought to the story through direct quotes. or late-breaking news. contrasting. often boxed auxiliary news story that is printed alongside the main news story.• Though there is no limit to the number of ideas for features. these categories are not rigid. The news features can be more personal than a straight news story. attitudes and characteristics that make him or her stand out. • Entertainment sections of newspapers and magazines use personality pieces frequently.• These features focus on an individual’s accomplishments. . 14th August. For example your first day in the college or university It is usually in the interview form. . etc. 23 march. Quid-e-Azam Day. (Labor Day.• Holidays are often the occasions for appearance of these features. Many personal–experience features recount the experiences of an individual or group. The purpose of these stories is to provide specific facts: about the weather. historic buildings or sites. etc. Examples. They can be written and rewritten almost every year. festivals.• Descriptive features center on places the public can visit and the events they can take part in or enjoy as spectators. • Such stories are cyclic. . Shandoor mela). and the like (example. costs. recreational areas. buying. growing plants etc in your inside the house. inner decoration of your house.• These features tell about the skills required for certain creative work. etc. . • Subjects: flower arranging. cooking. there are no limits to subjects of the how-to features. In fact. • Travel features. exams. university admission. plays etc. . school/ college. fads and fashion features. • Knowledge of good writing techniques. • A realization that from nearly every news event usually at least one feature story can be written. • Keen interest in life. .• Keen observation • A willingness to probe beneath the surface of everyday events. but it is best used in straight news writing. • 3. this approach might work for some features . and a conclusion. Essay. A rather standard approach to all writing. This follows sequencing of events. inverted pyramid. • 2. analyses. this approach might be best. .• Here are a the main time-tested story structures of newspaper features: • 1. It requires a summary lead. Chronological. a middle. this is found in columns. When a feature recounts events or describe a procedure. The essay format is standardized with an introduction. and other personal opinion or subjective writing. reviews. . • 2. One of two or more vertical sections of typed lines lying side by side on a page and separated by a rule or a blank space. such as a newspaper. Hence by column we mean an opinionated article which appears at regular intervals and almost at the same place in newspapers. • Here we are concerned more with the #2 than the #1.• Column: • 1. An article that appears regularly in a publication. It appears at regular intervals.• • • • • Column always carry the writer’s by-line. Sometimes it also carries photograph of the columnist. Column may be subject oriented. Unlike feature. • Columnists inspire fierce loyalty. columns can be written by newest member of the staff. . • The range of topics for columns are more than features and editorials. • Express private thoughts. Use specific names. Let the readers identify with you as you wander through the community. Share ideas that you picked during your daily routine. Let the public know that you share their concerns. places. • Look at the ordinary from a different vantage point.style • The successful columnist is one who has developed a personal style. No special formula exists for style. but there are some general principles that can be followed. events. pleasures and fears. • Sharpen you vocabulary • Write for others . • Use humor. • Be descriptive • Personalize your column. interesting and humorous event is discussed. This format is based on the directive approach. A feature. • Anecdote.• 1. Hence in this format a single. awards handed out. are discussed. is a common column format. The question comes from the readers and the answers are supplied by the columnist. • Grab Bag. . • Instructive. • Feature. etc. usually a profile. An anecdote is a short account of an interesting or humorous incident. Q & A. generally from his or her own expertise. (grab bag means a container filled with articles). The difference between this and a regular feature is the longer length of the regular feature. As the name suggests in the grab bag format a collection of events coming up. • I think or opinionated columns. In this type of columns the columnists on the basis of their experiences. there are main types of columns: • 1. usually already presented in hard news. training or lack of modesty set themselves as experts and give their opinions on various issues/ events for the general public. • Humorous columns. However. They related current events to the past and to the future as well. and interpretations are given to various happenings. In this type of column background. like news stories may fit into several pigeonholes at the same time. Reporting-in-depth columns. .• Columns. In this type of columns the writer tries to find the humorous aspect of life and write over it for amusement of the readers. perspective. This type of columns educates the readers. • How-to-do or advice columns.• Personal diary columns. Such columns from public figures. .