Читать книгу Feature Writing and Reporting - Jennifer Brannock Cox - Страница 41

Feature storytelling is not exclusive to specialized beat teams or elite magazine contributors; it is a type of journalism used by every reporter to help readers gain a fuller understanding of issues and truly immerse themselves in the experiences of others. A reporter on the crime beat might spend time riding along with police officers on duty and produce a narrative about the experience. A government reporter could research the history of a famed landmark, explaining its background, significance and the various contributions taxpayers make to maintain it. A courts reporter could publish a series of profiles on convicts who have earned degrees or learned trades while in prison.

A feature reporter needs to demonstrate the qualities characteristic of every journalist: tenacity, curiosity, keen eyes and open ears. Beyond that, reporting features requires a thirst for knowledge, pressing you forward toward truth and deeper understanding. You have to be versatile and open-minded, ready to change directions at a moment’s notice to go wherever the story takes you.

Feature storytelling allows you to tell a wide range of stories in ways that are fun and rewarding for you and engaging for your audience. Breaking news brings a rush of adrenaline and excitement, but feature stories help reporters to really shine, demonstrating their storytelling skills and adding value that will serve your readers as they dive deeper into the news.

There are so many story types to choose from, it is hard to get bored writing features. Good feature writers let the story and sources dictate the style rather than trying to fit the news into a premade box that may be efficient but less fulfilling. Feature journalism is both challenging and rewarding, and the techniques discussed here will help you find new ways to approach and write articles that will engage your audience.