10.1 Identifying and Developing Feature Story Ideas
2 min read•august 9, 2024
Feature writing is all about finding compelling angles that resonate with readers. From emotional human interest stories to timely trend pieces, journalists must tap into what makes a story unique and engaging.
Developing strong feature ideas requires a mix of creativity and news sense. Writers need to assess newsworthiness factors like and while also crafting narratives that connect on a personal level through vivid storytelling techniques.
Story Angles
Emotional and Human Interest Elements
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Top images from around the web for Emotional and Human Interest Elements
Storytelling across social divides - Research Outreach View original
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What It’s Like Falling In Love in Prison — Prison Journalism Project View original
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Narrative | Investigating Illness Narratives View original
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Storytelling across social divides - Research Outreach View original
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What It’s Like Falling In Love in Prison — Prison Journalism Project View original
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Human interest stories focus on personal experiences and struggles of individuals or groups
engages readers by evoking feelings (empathy, joy, sadness)
highlights uncommon or extraordinary aspects of a situation or person
often combine multiple angles to create a well-rounded story
Writers use and vivid details to bring stories to life
Techniques for Developing Story Angles
Conduct to uncover and perspectives
Research to add depth to current events
Explore of traditions or practices
Analyze of individual actions or decisions
Identify that resonate with a broad audience
Newsworthiness Factors
Timeliness and Relevance
Timeliness refers to the immediacy or currency of a story
Recent events or developments often have higher news value
Relevance connects the story to readers' interests, concerns, or daily lives
link feature stories to current events or trending topics
can make stories timely (holiday traditions, back-to-school)
Assessing and Enhancing Newsworthiness
Monitor current events and social media trends for potential story ideas
Identify of significant historical events as news pegs
Analyze local impacts of national or global issues to increase relevance
Consider the 's demographics and interests
Look for on popular topics to stand out from other coverage
Types of Feature Stories
Trend and Seasonal Stories
examine emerging patterns or shifts in society, culture, or technology
Writers research statistics, expert opinions, and real-life examples to support trend analysis
focus on recurring events or themes tied to specific times of year
Holiday traditions, annual festivals, and sports seasons often inspire seasonal features
Both trend and seasonal stories require thorough research and multiple sources
Evergreen Content and Long-Form Features
remains relevant and interesting over extended periods
Topics include timeless human experiences, historical events, or enduring cultural phenomena
provide in-depth exploration of complex subjects
Writers often combine multiple storytelling techniques in long-form pieces
, interviews, and are crucial for comprehensive features