Differences between news and features
NEWS FEATURES
Telling Seeing
Brief/Summary Detailed
Aimed at a whole audience Aimed
at a niche market
Length varies (depending on importance) Length fixed by editorial structure/news
agenda
Defined style A
variety of styles
Pictures are useful Pictures
are essential
Published instantly Published according to schedule
Written by staff reporters Written
by production staff/freelancers
Led by the news agenda Led
by production (structure of publication)
Magazines must consist of almost all feature material and
newspapers have some, but mainly news. This is the same as a formatted news TV
or radio programme such as Today or Newsnight. These will have mini features that
are used to pack out a programme.
When people read newspapers and watch TV news programmes or
listen to radio news programmes, they usually come for the news and stay for
the features.
Features can help to define a newspaper as a certain type
for example The Times’ is famous for its education supplement and the quality
of the features in it.
Feature formats
Profile – Stating the facts about someone and their life.
Confessional interview – A first person account of an
experience e.g. with a plane crash survivor
Review – The writer is commenting on something and giving
their opinion e.g. film review.
Documentary – A video documenting an event e.g. World In
Action.
Investigation – Lifting the lid on a story.
Observational – Putting yourself into a situation, so you
can give a first-hand account.
Reader response – Getting the readers involved, usually
competitions.
Fashion – Picture led (photo shoots).
News – An extended news story, but doesn’t have to have a
peg.
Feature interview – An interview with someone, with their
opinions e.g an interview with a football player about the upcoming season.
No comments:
Post a Comment