book

Writing Feature Articles, 4th Edition

by Brendan Hennessy

May 2013

Beginner

416 pages

11h

English

Routledge

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The basic skills and resourcesGathering experience and networkingAssignments
Books and equipmentRunning a businessAssignments
The feature definedThe stages in productionAssignments
Staff writers’ ideasFreelance writers’ ideasDevelopment techniquesThe place of specialismChecklistAssignments
The world of featuresAiming at versatilityAssignments
Likely targetsCelebritiesChildrenCrimeEducationHealth and medicineOld age or retirementTravelAssignments
The editor’s point of viewPreparing to pitchHow to pitchUsing your networkOrganizing the assignmentWhen to send specsDealing with editorsAssignments
Reliable sourcesAn interviewing strategyVerification skillsAssignments
Internet basicsResearching onlineA writer’s experienceCreating your own websiteWriting onlineAssignments
Checking for the right ingredientsPutting your file in orderDiscovering what to sayMatching order to contentAssignments
Examples of teamworkTitlesThe introThe endingLinksAppendagesAssignment
Choose the precise wordBe simple and concisePrefer the familiar word to the unfamiliarUse the concrete rather than the abstractAvoid clichésBe positive and honestWrite as you speakVary your pace and rhythmAssignments
Describing memorablyNarrating compellinglyExplaining fullyArguing convincinglyFinding your own styleAssignments
Entering the marketRelevance or art?Subjects for your picturesChoosing your equipmentWorking with a photographerPictures from other sourcesGraphicsCaptionsThe business aspectsA nomadic careerAssignments
Advertising and PR definedAdvertising copywritingFrom PR into journalismObtaining publicity workTechniques for publicity writingAssignments
Choice of intervieweeGetting commissionedSetting up the interviewChoosing the methodPreparing the questionsInterviewing techniquesEditing the transcriptFormats for writing upFollowing upAssignments
Learning from the bestGetting a slotAll kinds of discoveriesMany working methodsAssignments
How to become a reviewerThe reviewer’s tasksThe writing-up processBooksMusicArtTheatreFilmsTelevisionAssignments
Opportunities galoreA marketing strategyProducing specialist featuresSamples publishedSpecialist columnsResearch and fact checkingAssignments
Guides to the marketChoosing your countriesSome likely opportunitiesSyndicationAssignment
CopyrightLibelThe question of attributionEthical concerns

Content preview from Writing Feature Articles, 4th Edition

Appendix 2 National Union of Journalists – Professional Code of Conduct

THE PUBLIC INTEREST

The NUJ’s Code of Conduct has set out the main principles of British and Irish journalism since 1936. It is part of the rules and all journalists joining the union must sign that they will strive to adhere to it.

1 A journalist has a duty to maintain the highest professional and ethical standards.

2 A journalist shall at all times defend the principle of the freedom of the press and other media in relation to the collection of information and the expression of comment and criticism. He/she shall strive to eliminate distortion, news suppression and censorship.

3 A journalist shall strive to ensure that the information he/she disseminates is fair and ...