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Journalistic writing is, as you might expect, the style of writing used by journalists. It is therefore a term for the broad style of writing used by news media outlets to put together stories.

Every news media outlet has its own ‘house’ style, which is usually set out in guidelines. This describes grammar and style points to be used in that publication or website. However, there are some common factors and characteristics to all journalistic writing.

This page describes the five different types of journalistic writing. It also provides some tips for writing in journalistic style to help you develop your skills in this area.

The Purpose of Journalistic Writing

Journalistic writing has a very clear purpose: to attract readers to a website, broadcaster or print media. This allows the owners to make money, usually by selling advertising space.

Newspapers traditionally did not make most of their money by selling newspapers. Instead, their main income was actually from advertising. If you look back at an early copy of the London Times , for example (from the early 1900s), the whole front page was actually advertisements, not news.

The news and stories are only a ‘hook’ to bring in readers and keep advertisers happy.

Journalists therefore want to attract readers to their stories—and then keep them.

They are therefore very good at identifying good stories, but also telling the story in a way that hooks and keeps readers interested.

Types of Journalistic Writing

There are five main types of journalistic writing:

Investigative journalism aims to discover the truth about a topic, person, group or event . It may require detailed and in-depth exploration through interviews, research and analysis. The purpose of investigative journalism is to answer questions.

News journalism reports facts, as they emerge . It aims to provide people with objective information about current events, in straightforward terms.

Feature writing provides a deeper look at events, people or topics , and offer a new perspective. Like investigative journalism, it may seek to uncover new information, but is less about answering questions, and more about simply providing more information.

Columns are the personal opinions of the writer . They are designed to entertain and persuade readers, and sometimes to be controversial and generate discussion.

Reviews describe a subject in a factual way, and then provide a personal opinion on it . They are often about books or television programmes when published in news media.

The importance of objectivity

It should be clear from the list of types of journalistic writing that journalists are not forbidden from expressing their opinions.

However, it is important that any journalist is absolutely clear when they are expressing their opinion, and when they are reporting on facts.

Readers are generally seeking objective writing and reporting when they are reading news or investigative journalism, or features. The place for opinions is columns or reviews.

The Journalistic Writing Process

Journalists tend to follow a clear process in writing any article. This allows them to put together a compelling story, with all the necessary elements.

This process is:

1. Gather all necessary information

The first step is to gather all the information that you need to write the story.

You want to know all the facts, from as many angles as possible. Journalists often spend time ‘on site’ as part of this process, interviewing people to find out what has happened, and how events have affected them.

Ideally, you want to use primary sources: people who were actually there, and witnessed the events. Secondary sources (those who were told by others what happened) are very much second-best in journalism.

2. Verify all your sources

It is crucial to establish the value of your information—that is, whether it is true or not.

A question of individual ‘truth’

It has become common in internet writing to talk about ‘your truth’, or ‘his truth’.

There is a place for this in journalism. It recognises that the same events may be experienced and interpreted in different ways by different people.

However, journalists also need to recognise that there are always some objective facts associated with any story. They must take time to separate these objective facts from opinions or perceptions and interpretations of events.

3. Establish your angle

You then need to establish your story ‘angle’ or focus: the aspect that makes it newsworthy.

This will vary with different types of journalism, and for different news outlets. It may also need some thought to establish why people should care about your story.

4. Write a strong opening paragraph

Your opening paragraph tells readers why they should bother to read on.

It needs to summarise the five Ws of the story: who, what, why, when, and where.

5. Consider the headline

Journalists are not necessarily expected to come up with their own headlines. However, it helps to consider how a piece might be headlined.

Being able to summarise the piece in a few words is a very good way to ensure that you are clear about your story and angle.

6. Use the ‘inverted pyramid’ structure

Journalists use a very clear structure for their stories. They start with the most important information (the opening paragraph, above), then expand on that with more detail. Finally, the last section of the article provides more information for anyone who is interested.

This means that you can therefore glean the main elements of any news story from the first paragraph—and decide if you want to read on.

Why the Inverted Pyramid?

The inverted pyramid structure actually stems from print journalism.

If typesetters could not fit the whole story into the space available, they would simply cut off the last few sentences until the article fitted.

Journalists therefore started to write in a way that ensured that the important information would not be removed during this process!

7. Edit your work carefully

The final step in the journalistic writing process is to edit your work yourself before submitting it.

Newsrooms and media outlets generally employ professional editors to check all copy before submitting it. However, journalists also have a responsibility to check their work over before submission to make sure it makes sense.

Read your work over to check that you have written in plain English , and that your meaning is as clear as possible. This will save the sub-editors and editors from having to waste time contacting you for clarifications.

Journalistic Writing Style

As well as a very clear process, journalists also share a common style.

This is NOT the same as the style guidelines used for certain publications (see box), but describes common features of all journalistic writing.

The features of journalistic writing include:

Short sentences . Short sentences are much easier to read and understand than longer ones. Journalists therefore tend to keep their sentences to a line of print or less.

Active voice . The active voice (‘he did x’, rather than ‘x was done by him’) is action-focused, and shorter. It therefore keeps readers’ interest, and makes stories more direct and personal.

Quotes. Most news stories and journalistic writing will include quotes from individuals. This makes the story much more people-focused—which is more likely to keep readers interested. This is why many press releases try to provide quotes (and there is more about this in our page How to Write a Press Release ).

Style guidelines

Most news media have style guidelines. They may share these with other outlets (for example, by using the Associated Press guidelines), or they may have their own (such as the London Times style guide).

These guidelines explain the ‘house style’. This may include, for example, whether the outlet commonly uses an ‘Oxford comma’ or comma placed after the penultimate item in a list, and describe the use of capitals or italics for certain words or phrases.

It is important to be aware of these style guidelines if you are writing for a particular publication.

Journalistic writing is the style used by news outlets to tell factual stories. It uses some established conventions, many of which are driven by the constraints of printing. However, these also work well in internet writing as they grab and hold readers’ attention very effectively.

Continue to: Writing for the Internet Cliches to Avoid

See also: Creative Writing Technical Writing Coherence in Writing

The Art of Journalistic Writing: A Comprehensive Guide ✍️

Journalistic writing aims to provide accurate and objective news coverage to the audience. Learn how to write like journalists in this comprehensive guide.

In the fast-paced realm of freelance writing, captivating and informative articles are the key to setting yourself apart from the competition. That's where the art of journalistic writing becomes your secret weapon. 

Below, we'll delve into the significance of journalistic writing for Independents, demystify its definition and various types, explore its essential features, and provide you with invaluable tips to sharpen your skills. Get ready to unlock the power of journalistic writing and take your freelance career to new heights . Let's dive in and discover the magic behind compelling stories that captivate readers worldwide.

What is journalistic writing? 📝 

Journalistic writing, as the name implies, is the style of writing used by journalists and news media organizations to share news and information about local, national, and global events, issues, and developments with the public.

The main goal of journalistic writing is to provide accurate and objective news coverage. Journalists gather facts, conduct research, and interview sources to present a fair and unbiased account of events. They strive to deliver information clearly, concisely, and interestingly that grabs readers’ attention and helps them understand the subject.

Journalistic writing also encourages public discussion, critical thinking, and informed decision-making. Since journalists present diverse perspectives, analyze complex issues, and investigate misconduct, they empower readers to form opinions and actively engage with the news. Journalistic writing acts as a watchdog, holding institutions and individuals accountable and promoting transparency in society.

Types of journalistic writing 🔥

Different types of journalism writing styles serve unique purposes, from exposing truths to keeping us informed, sparking conversations, and providing meaningful insights into the world around us. 

Here are five types of journalistic writing you should know about:

Investigative journalism 🕵️

Investigative journalists are like detectives in the news world. They dive deep into topics, dedicating their time and resources to uncover hidden information, expose corruption, and bring wrongdoing to the surface.

News journalism 🗞️

News journalists are frontline reporters who inform people about the latest happenings. They cover a wide range of topics, from politics and the economy to science and entertainment. They gather facts, interview sources, and present unbiased information objectively and concisely.

Column journalism 📰

In column journalism, writers share their personal opinions and perspectives on various subjects. They offer analysis, commentary, and insights on social, cultural, or political issues. Whether they are experts in their fields or well-known figures with unique voices, their columns provide readers with different standpoints and spark thought-provoking discussions.

Feature writing 🙇 

Feature writers take us beyond the basic facts and immerse us in storytelling. They explore human-interest stories, profiles, and in-depth features on specific topics. They also delve into the personal lives, experiences, or achievements of individuals or communities, providing a deeper understanding of the subject matter by using narrative techniques.

Reviews journalism 📖

Reviewers are the guides helping us make informed decisions about the arts. They evaluate and critique films, books, music, theater shows, and more. Through their opinions and assessments, they analyze the quality, impact, and significance of creative works. Review journalism not only helps us choose what to watch, read, or listen to, but it also contributes to cultural conversations and discussions.

Key features of journalistic writing 🔑

Journalistic writing distinguishes itself from other forms of writing through several essential characteristics. And here are a few: 

• Accuracy and objectivity: These are of utmost importance. Journalists go to great lengths to gather reliable information, verify sources, and present a balanced perspective. They strive to separate facts from opinions, ensuring readers receive an accurate account of events.
• Timeliness and relevance: Journalists focus on current events and issues that are of interest to the public. They aim to provide up-to-date information, sharing the latest developments and their implications.
• Clarity and conciseness: Journalists use clear and simple language, avoiding complex jargon that might confuse the audience. They use short sentences and paragraphs that enhance readability.
• Inverted pyramid structure: Commonly employed in journalistic writing, this structure places the most important information at the beginning of the article –– in the headline and the first paragraph. Subsequent paragraphs contain supporting details arranged in descending order of significance. By adopting this approach, journalists enable readers to grasp the main points quickly and decide whether to delve deeper into the topic.
• Engagement and impact: Journalists leverage various storytelling techniques, such as vivid descriptions and compelling narratives, to captivate their audience. They incorporate quotes, anecdotes, and human-interest elements to evoke emotions among readers and make the story relatable.

How to write like a journalist: 7 tips 💯

Now that you know the ins and outs of journalistic style and storytelling, let’s explore the best practices to follow during news writing: 

1. Use the inverted pyramid structure 🔻

If you’re wondering how to structure and write a news story or article, the answer is simple: Go from the most important to the least important. Start your articles with vital facts, and arrange supporting details in descending order of significance. This structure ensures readers receive essential information even if they don’t read the entire piece.

2. Establish your angle 📐

 Before you begin writing , determine the angle or perspective you want to take on the story. Although you should share a neutral opinion, choosing an angle helps you stay focused and deliver a clear message. Consider what makes your story unique or newsworthy, and shape your narrative accordingly.

3. Stick to the facts 🩹

Journalistic writing values accuracy and objectivity. Present information verifiable and supported by credible sources, and avoid personal opinions and biases –– allowing the facts to speak for themselves. Fact-checking is essential to maintain the integrity of your writing.

4. Use quotations to generate credibility 💭

Including quotes from reliable sources adds credibility and depth to your writing. Interview relevant individuals, experts, or eyewitnesses to gather their perspectives and insights. Incorporate their direct quotes to support your narrative and provide first-hand accounts.

5. Write clear and concise sentences 💎

Use straightforward language to effectively communicate your message. Journalism articles typically only include one-to-three sentences per paragraph and should not exceed 20 words per sentence. 

6. Edit and revise 💻

Thorough editing is crucial to produce polished and professional journalistic pieces. So once you finish your first draft, invest time on editing and revising your work. Look for grammatical errors, clarity issues, and redundancies. And ensure your writing flows smoothly and maintains a consistent tone. 

7. Maintain ethical standards 🏅

You want repeat readers who’ll come back for more from you. And for that, you must keep in mind journalistic principles and share fair, trusting, and accountable pieces. Attribute information to appropriate sources, respect privacy when necessary, and conduct thorough fact-checking.

Write like a pro with Contra 🌟

Mastering the art of journalistic writing is the key to becoming a skilled and impactful freelance writer . By understanding the criticality of thorough research, engaging storytelling, and holding the powerful accountable, you can create compelling news stories that resonate with readers. 

And with Contra as your trusted companion, you'll have the tools and resources to refine your journalistic writing skills and take your freelance career to new heights. So don't miss out on the opportunity to write like a pro. Sign up with Contra today, promote your services commission-free, and connect with fellow writers. 

Check out Contra for Independents , and join our Slack community to interact with a supportive network of writers, sharing knowledge and learning from each other.

How to Write an Op-Ed: A Guide to Effective Opinion Writing 🖋️

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What Is Content Writing? Tips to Craft Engaging Content 👀

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9.2: Different Styles and Models of Journalism

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Learning Objectives

• Explain how objective journalism differs from story-driven journalism.
• Describe the effect of objectivity on modern journalism.
• Describe the unique nature of literary journalism.

Location, readership, political climate, and competition all contribute to rapid transformations in journalistic models and writing styles. Over time, however, certain styles—such as sensationalism—have faded or become linked with less serious publications, like tabloids, while others have developed to become prevalent in modern-day reporting. This section explores the nuanced differences among the most commonly used models of journalism.

Objective versus Story-Driven Journalism

In the late 1800s, a majority of publishers believed that they would sell more papers by reaching out to specific groups. As such, most major newspapers employed a partisan approach to writing, churning out political stories and using news to sway popular opinion. This all changed in 1896 when a then-failing paper, The New York Times , took a radical new approach to reporting: employing objectivity, or impartiality, to satisfy a wide range of readers.

The Rise of Objective Journalism

At the end of the 19th century, The New York Times found itself competing with the papers of Pulitzer and Hearst. The paper’s publishers discovered that it was nearly impossible to stay afloat without using the sensationalist headlines popularized by its competitors. Although The New York Times publishers raised prices to pay the bills, the higher charge led to declining readership, and soon the paper went bankrupt. Adolph Ochs, owner of the once-failing Chattanooga Times , took a gamble and bought The New York Times in 1896. On August 18 of that year, Ochs made a bold move and announced that the paper would no longer follow the sensationalist style that made Pulitzer and Hearst famous, but instead would be “clean, dignified, trustworthy and impartial.”“Adolph S. Ochs Dead at 77; Publisher of Times Since 1896,” New York Times , April 9, 1935, http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0312.html .

This drastic change proved to be a success. T he New York Times became the first of many papers to demonstrate that the press could be “economically as well as ethically successful.”“Adolph S. Ochs Dead at 77; Publisher of Times Since 1896,” New York Times , April 9, 1935, http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0312.html . With the help of managing editor Carr Van Anda, the new motto “All the News That’s Fit to Print,” and lowered prices, The New York Times quickly turned into one of the most profitable impartial papers of all time. Since the newspaper’s successful turnaround, publications around the world have followed The New York Times ’ objective journalistic style, demanding that reporters maintain a neutral voice in their writing.

The Inverted Pyramid Style

One commonly employed technique in modern journalism is the inverted pyramid style. This style requires objectivity and involves structuring a story so that the most important details are listed first for ease of reading. In the inverted pyramid format, the most fundamental facts of a story—typically the who, what, when, where, and why—appear at the top in the lead paragraph, with nonessential information in subsequent paragraphs. The style arose as a product of the telegraph. The inverted pyramid proved useful when telegraph connections failed in the middle of transmission; the editor still had the most important information at the beginning. Similarly, editors could quickly delete content from the bottom up to meet time and space requirements.Chip Scanlan, “Writing from the Top Down: Pros and Cons of the Inverted Pyramid,” Poynter, June 20, 2003, www.poynter.org/how-tos/newsg...erted-pyramid/.

The reason for such writing is threefold. First, the style is helpful for writers, as this type of reporting is somewhat easier to complete in the short deadlines imposed on journalists, particularly in today’s fast-paced news business. Second, the style benefits editors who can, if necessary, quickly cut the story from the bottom without losing vital information. Finally, the style keeps in mind traditional readers, most of who skim articles or only read a few paragraphs, but they can still learn most of the important information from this quick read.

Interpretive Journalism

During the 1920s, objective journalism fell under critique as the world became more complex. Even though The New York Times continued to thrive, readers craved more than dry, objective stories. In 1923, Time magazine launched as the first major publication to step away from simple objectivity to try to provide readers with a more analytical interpretation of the news. As Time grew, people at some other publications took notice, and slowly editors began rethinking how they might reach out to readers in an increasingly interrelated world.

During the 1930s, two major events increased the desire for a new style of journalism: the Great Depression and the Nazi threat to global stability. Readers were no longer content with the who, what, where, when, and why of objective journalism. Instead, they craved analysis and a deeper explanation of the chaos surrounding them. Many papers responded with a new type of reporting that became known as interpretive journalism.

Interpretive journalism, following Time ’s example, has grown in popularity since its inception in the 1920s and 1930s, and journalists use it to explain issues and to provide readers with a broader context for the stories that they encounter. According to Brant Houston, the executive director of Investigative Reporters and Editors Inc., an interpretive journalist “goes beyond the basic facts of an event or topic to provide context, analysis, and possible consequences.”Brant Houston, “Interpretive Journalism,” The International Encyclopedia of Communication , 2008, www.blackwellreference.com/pu...3199514_ss82-1. When this new style was first used, readers responded with great interest to the new editorial perspectives that newspapers were offering on events. But interpretive journalism posed a new problem for editors: the need to separate straight objective news from opinions and analysis. In response, many papers in the 1930s and 1940s “introduced weekend interpretations of the past week’s events … and interpretive columnists with bylines.”Stephen J. A. Ward, “Journalism Ethics,” in The Handbook of Journalism Studies , ed. Karin Wahl-Jorgensen and Thomas Hanitzsch (New York: Routledge, 2008): 298. As explained by Stephen J. A. Ward in his article, “Journalism Ethics,” the goal of these weekend features was to “supplement objective reporting with an informed interpretation of world events.”Stephen J. A. Ward, “Journalism Ethics,” in The Handbook of Journalism Studies , ed. Karin Wahl-Jorgensen and Thomas Hanitzsch (New York: Routledge, 2008): 298.

Competition From Broadcasting

The 1930s also saw the rise of broadcasting as radios became common in most U.S. households and as sound–picture recordings for newsreels became increasingly common. This broadcasting revolution introduced new dimensions to journalism. Scholar Michael Schudson has noted that broadcast news “reflect[ed] … a new journalistic reality. The journalist, no longer merely the relayer of documents and messages, ha[d] become the interpreter of the news.”Michael Schudson, “The Politics of Narrative Form: The Emergence of News Conventions in Print and Television,” in “Print Culture and Video Culture,” Daedalus 111, no. 4 (1982): 104. However, just as radio furthered the interpretive journalistic style, it also created a new problem for print journalism, particularly newspapers.

Suddenly, free news from the radio offered competition to the pay news of newspapers. Scholar Robert W. McChesney has observed that, in the 1930s, “many elements of the newspaper industry opposed commercial broadcasting, often out of fear of losing ad revenues and circulation to the broadcasters.”Robert W. McChesney, “Media and Democracy: The Emergence of Commercial Broadcasting in the United States, 1927–1935,” in “Communication in History: The Key to Understanding” OAH Magazine of History 6, no. 4 (1992): 37. This fear led to a media war as papers claimed that radio was stealing their print stories. Radio outlets, however, believed they had equal right to news stories. According to Robert W. McChesney, “commercial broadcasters located their industry next to the newspaper industry as an icon of American freedom and culture.”Robert W. McChesney, “Media and Democracy: The Emergence of Commercial Broadcasting in the United States, 1927–1935,” in “Communication in History: The Key to Understanding” OAH Magazine of History 6, no. 4 (1992): 38. The debate had a major effect on interpretive journalism as radio and newspapers had to make decisions about whether to use an objective or interpretive format to remain competitive with each other.

The emergence of television during the 1950s created even more competition for newspapers. In response, paper publishers increased opinion-based articles, and many added what became known as op-ed pages. An op-ed page—short for opposite the editorial page —features opinion-based columns typically produced by a writer or writers unaffiliated with the paper’s editorial board. As op-ed pages grew, so did interpretive journalism. Distinct from news stories, editors and columnists presented opinions on a regularly basis. By the 1960s, the interpretive style of reporting had begun to replace the older descriptive style.Thomas Patterson, “Why Is News So Negative These Days?” History News Network , 2002, http://hnn.us/articles/1134.html .

Literary Journalism

Stemming from the development of interpretive journalism, literary journalism began to emerge during the 1960s. This style, made popular by journalists Tom Wolfe (formerly a strictly nonfiction writer) and Truman Capote, is often referred to as New Journalism and combines factual reporting with sometimes fictional narration. Literary journalism follows neither the formulaic style of reporting of objective journalism nor the opinion-based analytical style of interpretive journalism. Instead, this art form—as it is often termed—brings voice and character to historical events, focusing on the construction of the scene rather than on the retelling of the facts.

Important Literary Journalists

The works of Tom Wolfe are some of the best examples of literary journalism of the 1960s.

Tom Wolfe was the first reporter to write in the literary journalistic style. In 1963, while his newspaper, New York’s Herald Tribune , was on strike, Esquire magazine hired Wolfe to write an article on customized cars. Wolfe gathered the facts but struggled to turn his collected information into a written piece. His managing editor, Byron Dobell, suggested that he type up his notes so that Esquire could hire another writer to complete the article. Wolfe typed up a 49-page document that described his research and what he wanted to include in the story and sent it to Dobell. Dobell was so impressed by this piece that he simply deleted the “Dear Byron” at the top of the letter and published the rest of Wolfe’s letter in its entirety under the headline “There Goes (Varoom! Varoom!) That Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby.” The article was a great success, and Wolfe, in time, became known as the father of new journalism. When he later returned to work at the Herald Tribune , Wolfe brought with him this new style, “fusing the stylistic features of fiction and the reportorial obligations of journalism.”Richard A. Kallan, “Tom Wolfe,” in A Sourcebook of American Literary Journalism: Representative Writers in an Emerging Genre , ed. Thomas B. Connery (Santa Barbara: Greenwood Press, 1992).

Truman Capote responded to Wolfe’s new style by writing In Cold Blood , which Capote termed a “nonfiction novel,” in 1966.George Plimpton, “The Story Behind a Nonfiction Novel,” New York Times , January 16, 1966, http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/12/28/home/capote-interview.html . The tale of an actual murder that had taken place on a Kansas farm some years earlier, the novel was based on numerous interviews and painstaking research. Capote claimed that he wrote the book because he wanted to exchange his “self-creative world … for the everyday objective world we all inhabit.”George Plimpton, “The Story Behind a Nonfiction Novel,” New York Times , January 16, 1966, http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/12/28/home/capote-interview.html . The book was praised for its straightforward, journalistic style. New York Times writer George Plimpton claimed that the book “is remarkable for its objectivity—nowhere, despite his involvement, does the author intrude.”George Plimpton, “The Story Behind a Nonfiction Novel,” New York Times , January 16, 1966, http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/12/28/home/capote-interview.html . After In Cold Blood was finished, Capote criticized Wolfe’s style in an interview, commenting that Wolfe “[has] nothing to do with creative journalism,” by claiming that Wolfe did not have the appropriate fiction-writing expertise.George Plimpton, “The Story Behind a Nonfiction Novel,” New York Times , January 16, 1966, http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/12/28/home/capote-interview.html . Despite the tension between these two writers, today they are remembered for giving rise to a similar style in varying genres.

The Effects of Literary Journalism

Although literary journalism certainly affected newspaper reporting styles, it had a much greater impact on the magazine industry. Because they were bound by fewer restrictions on length and deadlines, magazines were more likely to publish this new writing style than were newspapers. Indeed, during the 1960s and 1970s, authors simulating the styles of both Wolfe and Capote flooded magazines such as Esquire and The New Yorker with articles.

Literary journalism also significantly influenced objective journalism. Many literary journalists believed that objectivity limited their ability to critique a story or a writer. Some claimed that objectivity in writing is impossible, as all journalists are somehow swayed by their own personal histories. Still others, including Wolfe, argued that objective journalism conveyed a “limited conception of the ‘facts,’” which “often effected an inaccurate, incomplete story that precluded readers from exercising informed judgment.”Richard A. Kallan, “Tom Wolfe,” in A Sourcebook of American Literary Journalism: Representative Writers in an Emerging Genre , ed. Thomas B. Connery (Santa Barbara: Greenwood Press, 1992).

Advocacy Journalism and Precision Journalism

The reactions of literary journalists to objective journalism encouraged the growth of two more types of journalism: advocacy journalism and precision journalism. Advocacy journalists promote a particular cause and intentionally adopt a biased, nonobjective viewpoint to do so effectively. However, serious advocate journalists adhere to strict guidelines, as “an advocate journalist is not the same as being an activist” according to journalist Sue Careless.Sue Careless, “Advocacy Journalism,” Interim , May 2000, www.theinterim.com/2000/may/10advocacy.html. In an article discussing advocacy journalism, Careless contrasted the role of an advocate journalist with the role of an activist. She encourages future advocate journalists by saying the following:

A journalist writing for the advocacy press should practice the same skills as any journalist. You don’t fabricate or falsify. If you do you will destroy the credibility of both yourself as a working journalist and the cause you care so much about. News should never be propaganda. You don’t fudge or suppress vital facts or present half-truths.Sue Careless, “Advocacy Journalism,” Interim , May 2000, www.theinterim.com/2000/may/10advocacy.html.

Despite the challenges and potential pitfalls inherent to advocacy journalism, this type of journalism has increased in popularity over the past several years. In 2007, USA Today reporter Peter Johnson stated, “[i]ncreasingly, journalists and talk-show hosts want to ‘own’ a niche issue or problem, find ways to solve it, and be associated with making this world a better place.”Peter Johnson, “More Reporters Embrace an Advocacy Role,” USA Today , March 5, 2007, http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2007-03-05-social-journalism_N.htm . In this manner, journalists across the world are employing the advocacy style to highlight issues they care about.

Oprah Winfrey: Advocacy Journalist

Television talk-show host and owner of production company Harpo Inc., Oprah Winfrey is one of the most successful, recognizable entrepreneurs of the late-20th and early-21st centuries. Winfrey has long been a news reporter, beginning in the late 1970s as a coanchor of an evening television program. She began hosting her own show in 1984, and as of 2010, the Oprah Winfrey Show is one of the most popular television programs on the air. Winfrey has long used her show as a platform for issues and concerns, making her one of today’s most famous advocacy journalists. While many praise Winfrey for using her celebrity to draw attention to causes she cares about, others criticize her techniques, claiming that she uses the advocacy style for self-promotion. As one critic writes, “I’m not sure how Oprah’s endless self-promotion of how she spent millions on a school in South Africa suddenly makes her ‘own’ the ‘education niche.’ She does own the trumpet-my-own-horn niche. But that’s not ‘journalism.’”Debbie Schlussel, “USA Today Heralds ‘Oprah Journalism,’” Debbie Schlussel (blog), March 6, 2007, http://www.debbieschlussel.com/497/usa-today-heralds-oprah-journalism/ .

Yet despite this somewhat harsh critique, many view Winfrey as the leading example of positive advocacy journalism. Sara Grumbles claims in her blog “Breaking and Fitting the Mold”: “Oprah Winfrey obviously practices advocacy journalism…. Winfrey does not fit the mold of a ‘typical’ journalist by today’s standards. She has an agenda and she voices her opinions. She has her own op-ed page in the form of a million dollar television studio. Objectivity is not her strong point. Still, in my opinion she is a journalist.”Sara Grumbles, “Breaking and Fitting the Mold,” Media Chatter (blog), October 3, 2007, www.commajor.com/?p=1244.

Regardless of the arguments about the value and reasoning underlying her technique, Winfrey unquestionably practices a form of advocacy journalism. In fact, thanks to her vast popularity, she may be the most compelling example of an advocacy journalist working today.

Precision journalism emerged in the 1970s. In this form, journalists turn to polls and studies to strengthen the accuracy of their articles. Philip Meyer, commonly acknowledged as the father of precision journalism, says that his intent is to “encourage my colleagues in journalism to apply the principles of scientific method to their tasks of gathering and presenting the news.”Philip Meyer, Precision Journalism: A Reporter’s Introduction to Social Science Methods , 4th ed. (Oxford: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2002), vii. This type of journalism adds a new layer to objectivity in reporting, as articles no longer need to rely solely on anecdotal evidence; journalists can employ hard facts and figures to support their assertions. An example of precision journalism would be an article on voting patterns in a presidential election that cites data from exit polls. Precision journalism has become more popular as computers have become more prevalent. Many journalists currently use this type of writing.

Consensus versus Conflict Newspapers

Another important distinction within the field of journalism must be made between consensus journalism and conflict journalism. Consensus journalism typically takes place in smaller communities, where local newspapers generally serve as a forum for many different voices. Newspapers that use consensus-style journalism provide community calendars and meeting notices and run articles on local schools, events, government, property crimes, and zoning. These newspapers can help build civic awareness and a sense of shared experience and responsibility among readers in a community. Often, business or political leaders in the community own consensus papers.

Conversely, conflict journalism, like that which is presented in national and international news articles in The New York Times , typically occurs in national or metropolitan dailies. Conflict journalists define news in terms of societal discord, covering events and issues that contravene perceived social norms. In this style of journalism, reporters act as watchdogs who monitor the government and its activities. Conflict journalists often present both sides of a story and pit ideas against one another to generate conflict and, therefore, attract a larger readership. Both conflict and consensus papers are widespread. However, because they serve different purposes and reach out to differing audiences, they largely do not compete with each other.

Niche Newspapers

Niche newspapers represent one more model of newspapers. These publications, which reach out to a specific target group, are rising in popularity in the era of Internet. As Robert Courtemanche, a certified journalism educator, writes, “[i]n the past, newspapers tried to be everything to every reader to gain circulation. That outdated concept does not work on the Internet where readers expect expert, niche content.”Robert Courtemanche, “Newspapers Must Find Their Niche to Survive,” Suite101.com, December 20, 2008, http://newspaperindustry.suite101.co...che_to_survive . Ethnic and minority papers are some of the most common forms of niche newspapers. In the United States—particularly in large cities such as New York—niche papers for numerous ethnic communities flourish. Some common types of U.S. niche papers are papers that cater to a specific ethnic or cultural group or to a group that speaks a particular language. Papers that cover issues affecting lesbians, gay men, and bisexual individuals—like the Advocate —and religion-oriented publications—like The Christian Science Monitor —are also niche papers.

The Underground Press

Some niche papers are part of the underground press. Popularized in the 1960s and 1970s as individuals sought to publish articles documenting their perception of social tensions and inequalities, the underground press typically caters to alternative and countercultural groups. Most of these papers are published on small budgets. Perhaps the most famous underground paper is New York’s Pulitzer Prize–winning Village Voice . This newspaper was founded in 1955 and declares its role in the publishing industry by saying:

The Village Voice introduced free-form, high-spirited and passionate journalism into the public discourse. As the nation’s first and largest alternative newsweekly, the Voice maintains the same tradition of no-holds-barred reporting and criticism it first embraced when it began publishing fifty years ago. Village Voice , “About Us,” www.villagevoice.com/about/index.

Despite their at-times shoestring budgets, underground papers serve an important role in the media. By offering an alternative perspective to stories and by reaching out to niche groups through their writing, underground-press newspapers fill a unique need within the larger media marketplace. As journalism has evolved over the years, newspapers have adapted to serve the changing demands of readers.

Key Takeaways

• Objective journalism began as a response to sensationalism and has continued in some form to this day. However, some media observers have argued that it is nearly impossible to remain entirely objective while reporting a story. One argument against objectivity is that journalists are human and are, therefore, biased to some degree. Many newspapers that promote objectivity put in place systems to help their journalists remain as objective as possible.
• Literary journalism combines the research and reporting of typical newspaper journalism with the writing style of fiction. While most newspaper journalists focus on facts, literary journalists tend to focus on the scene by evoking voices and characters inhabiting historical events. Famous early literary journalists include Tom Wolfe and Truman Capote.
• Other journalistic styles allow reporters and publications to narrow their editorial voice. Advocacy journalists encourage readers to support a particular cause. Consensus journalism encourages social and economic harmony, while conflict journalists present information in a way that focuses on views outside of the social norm.
• Niche newspapers—such as members of the underground press and those serving specific ethnic groups, racial groups, or speakers of a specific language—serve as important media outlets for distinct voices. The rise of the Internet and online journalism has brought niche newspapers more into the mainstream.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Please respond to the following writing prompts. Each response should be a minimum of one paragraph.

• Find an objective newspaper article that includes several factual details. Rewrite the story in a literary journalistic style. How does the story differ from one genre to the other?
• Was it difficult to transform an objective story into a piece of literary journalism? Explain.
• Do you prefer reading an objective journalism piece or a literary journalism piece? Explain.

• Share full article

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TIMES INSIDER

A Reporter Explains His Approach to Writing News and Features

Brooks Barnes, a correspondent who covers Hollywood for The Times, explains how his writing process changes depending on the type of article he is working on.

By Sarah Bahr

Times Insider explains who we are and what we do, and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together.

Brooks Barnes’s head is constantly on a swivel.

As a domestic correspondent covering Hollywood’s leading celebrities, companies and executives for The New York Times, he writes both daily news articles about media companies and long-lead features about subjects such as Walt Disney World’s animatronic robot crew and the Polo Lounge , a Hollywood hot spot that attracts the who’s who of the film industry.

Those two types of articles — news and features — are the yin and yang of journalism. As the name suggests, news articles provide readers with new information about important events, often as they unfold. They can cover nearly any topic, are generally 500 to 1,000 words long and are packed with the need-to-know facts of a given situation. Features, which need not be tied to a specific event, dive deep into a particular topic or person, are usually longer than news articles and often offer more comprehensive context about their subjects.

Every day, The Times publishes both. While many journalists specialize in writing news or feature articles, Mr. Barnes flips between the two.

“I have eight to 10 features on the assembly line at any given time,” Mr. Barnes said, adding that he often has to drop what he’s working on to chase the news and that he focuses on writing features when the news is slow. Generally, he can finish a news article in a couple of hours or less; a major feature can take upward of six months.

For Mr. Barnes, the main difference between a news article and a feature isn’t the word count, the number of interviews involved or how long he spends drafting it: “The writing process changes,” he says.

Interviewing Sources

A news article is all about gathering the essential information and publishing quickly.

He begins working on a news article by making calls to sources, often contacts he has built up over more than 20 years of reporting. He says he jots down his most important questions before he calls a source, even if he’s on a deadline and knows the conversation will only last a few minutes.

For a feature, Mr. Barnes said he will do around 10 interviews, not all of which may appear in the final article. If he’s writing a profile, he aims to spend a few hours with his subject on a Friday or Saturday, when the person is more relaxed and available.

As with news articles, he writes out his interview questions in advance, though he tries not to do too much research before meeting a profile subject for the first time so that he won’t come into the interview with a preconceived idea of what the subject might say.

“You want to report, not interview your thumb,” he said.

Getting Down to Writing

Mr. Barnes never outlines his news or feature articles, but instead works off his notes, which he’ll consult as he’s writing.

He gathers all of his notes from his interviews and research, both typed and handwritten, and inputs the best quotes, facts and figures into a Microsoft Word document. Unlike a news article, a feature may involve several attempts at a compelling first few sentences — known as the lede — and lots of rewriting. “I’ve been known to fixate on a lede for much longer than I should,” he said.

Structurally, a news article is much more straightforward than a feature: In a news article, the most important and timely information appears in the first few sentences, with the remaining facts generally provided in descending order of importance. In a feature, by contrast, the writer often delays the revelation of certain details in order to build suspense.

Landing on the Voice

Another difference, Mr. Barnes said, is the voice that he interjects — or doesn’t — into an article. A news article is usually devoid of personal flavor, while a feature can be saturated with it. He says he sometimes tries to “self-censor” his voice in a news article. In a feature, there is room for more lyrical description; Mr. Barnes is able to dwell on how a subject dresses, talks and reacts to his questions.

Working on Edits

The editing process also differs. With features, it can involve lots of fine-tuning: Ledes may be thrown out and paragraphs rewritten. With a news article, an editor acts more like a safety net than a pruner or a polisher, ensuring that reporters on deadline aren’t overlooking important information or relevant questions, and that they aren’t committing any obvious factual errors.

Enjoying Both Forms

The greatest challenge in writing a news article, in Mr. Barnes’s opinion, is achieving both speed and accuracy on deadline. Features present a different conundrum: A writer must carefully condense hours of interviews and research into a gripping-yet-accurate narrative that doesn’t get bogged down with superfluous information.

Though Mr. Barnes says he enjoys both forms, he’s always had a clear preference.

“I’m a feature writer who’s somehow managed not to get fired as a business reporter for 20 years,” he said.

He added: “I like luxuriating over words and trying different stuff. I could tinker with a story forever.”

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Journalistic Writing

The inverted pyramid.

• Common AP Style Tips

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Example Articles: http://www.nytimes.com/

Common AP Style Tips:  http://research.ewu.edu/c.php?g=403887&p=2749023

Many organizations use the Associated Press Style (AP Style) in their communication within their company and to the public. AP Style is important to know and understand for work in many different sectors, not just in newspaper and media organizations.

Journalism writing is simply writing well and adhering to AP Style. The real trick is to learn how to write concisely. Most readers don’t finish reading an entire article from beginning to end, so journalists must adjust to quickly conveying important information. There are two ways journalists combat this: concise sentences and the inverted pyramid.

The inverted pyramid is a traditional and often the most-used organizing structure for journalistic writing. The inverted pyramid places the more newsworthy information — the information people really need to know — at the very beginning of the article. The middle of the pyramid, and the middle of the article, is filled with other important information necessary to telling the story. The very bottom of the story is the least important information of the story.

When journalism content was strictly print based, journalists used the inverted pyramid for writing. Page designers would hand place the layout of each newspaper page. If the story was too long to fit in the allotted space of the page design, they would simply cut off the bottom of the article. By placing the least important information at the bottom of the story, journalists ensured the least important information was the part that was cut while the more important remained.

The beginning one to two sentences are referred to as the “lead” of the article. In the lead, most of the 5 W’s are answered: who, what, when, where and why. Because the lead needs to be kept short (one to two short sentences), some of that information may be forced to be included further down in the article.

The middle of the article, and the middle piece of the inverted pyramid, is referred to as the body. The body of the article is the bulk of information that tells the rest of the story that wouldn’t fit in the lead. It contains information pertinent to the story.

The very end of an article is referred to as the tail, which is the bottom segment of the inverted pyramid. The tail is the least important information that pertains to the article. For example, the tail may contain information for an upcoming event related to the article or contact information for the reader to ask more questions.

By Inverted_pyramid.jpg: The Air Force Departmental Publishing Office ( AFDPO )derivative work:  Makeemlighter  (Inverted_pyramid.jpg) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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• Last Updated: Apr 25, 2024 2:50 PM
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How to Write a Journalism Article: A Step-by-Step Guide

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If you're looking to write a journalism article but aren't sure where to start, this guide has got you covered. In this step-by-step guide, we'll take you through the essentials of journalism, from identifying a newsworthy topic to crafting a strong headline and structuring your article. By the end, you'll have the tools you need to write a compelling journalism piece.

Understanding the Basics of Journalism

Journalism is a crucial part of our society, providing us with the information we need to make informed decisions and stay up-to-date on current events. Whether you're a seasoned journalist or just starting out, it's important to have a solid understanding of the basics of journalism.

The Role of a Journalist

As a journalist, your primary responsibility is to gather and report news. This can involve conducting interviews, researching information, and writing articles that inform the public about important issues. Journalists are often called the "watchdogs of society," as they play a crucial role in holding those in power accountable and shining a light on injustices.

However, with great power comes great responsibility. It's essential that journalists approach their work with a sense of fairness, accuracy, and impartiality. This means avoiding biases and reporting the facts as objectively as possible.

Types of Journalism Articles

There are many different types of journalism articles, each with its own unique structure and purpose. Some common types include:

• News articles: These articles are typically short and to the point, reporting on breaking news or current events.
• Feature stories: Feature stories are longer, more in-depth articles that explore a particular topic or issue in detail.
• Opinion pieces: Opinion pieces are articles that express the author's personal views on a particular topic.
• Investigative reports: Investigative reports are in-depth pieces of journalism that require extensive research and often involve uncovering hidden or sensitive information.

When deciding what type of article to write, it's important to consider the topic and your own writing style. Some topics may lend themselves better to a news article, while others may require a more in-depth feature story or investigative report.

Ethical Considerations in Journalism

Journalists must adhere to a strict code of ethics to ensure their work is fair, accurate, and unbiased. Some key ethical considerations include:

• Avoiding conflicts of interest: Journalists should avoid situations where their personal interests may conflict with their reporting.
• Protecting sources: It's important for journalists to protect their sources, as this allows them to gather information that may otherwise remain hidden.
• Fact-checking: Before publishing any information, journalists should always fact-check to ensure its accuracy.

As a journalist, it's your responsibility to maintain the integrity of your work. By following these ethical considerations, you can ensure that your reporting is fair, accurate, and trustworthy.

Choosing a Compelling Story Idea

Journalism is an art that requires skill, creativity, and a nose for newsworthy topics. As a journalist, the first step in writing a great article is identifying a topic that will capture your readers' attention and keep them engaged. Here are some tips to help you choose a compelling story idea:

Identifying Newsworthy Topics

The world is constantly changing, and there is always something happening that could be of interest to your readers. When choosing a topic, consider what is happening in your community, your country, and the world. Look for current events, human interest stories, and issues that are important to your readers. Ask yourself, "What will interest my readers?" and "What is important to them?"

For example, if you are writing for a local newspaper, you might focus on issues that affect your community, such as local politics, crime, or events. If you are writing for a national or international audience, you might focus on broader topics, such as world events, social issues, or scientific breakthroughs.

Finding Unique Angles

Once you have identified a topic, it's important to find a unique angle that will make your article stand out. This could be an innovative perspective, a human interest angle, or an in-depth analysis of a complex issue. The key is to find an angle that is both interesting and relevant to your readers.

For example, if you are writing about a political issue, you might focus on the impact of the issue on a particular demographic, such as young people or seniors. If you are writing about a scientific breakthrough, you might focus on the implications of the breakthrough for society as a whole.

Conducting Preliminary Research

Before you start writing, it's important to conduct some preliminary research on your topic. This could involve reading news articles, consulting experts, or conducting interviews with sources. The more you know about your topic, the more informed and compelling your writing will be.

For example, if you are writing about a local crime, you might consult with law enforcement officials, witnesses, and victims to get a better understanding of the situation. If you are writing about a scientific breakthrough, you might consult with researchers and experts in the field to get a better understanding of the implications of the breakthrough.

Remember, the key to writing a great journalism article is to choose a compelling story idea, find a unique angle, and conduct thorough research. By following these steps, you can create articles that inform, engage, and inspire your readers.

Conducting Thorough Research

Interviewing sources.

One of the most important aspects of journalism is interviewing sources. When conducting interviews, it's important to ask open-ended questions and to listen actively to the responses. Don't be afraid to follow up with additional questions if you need clarification.

Fact-Checking and Verification

Once you've conducted your research, it's important to fact-check all information before publishing. This involves verifying the accuracy of your sources and conducting additional research if necessary. Always double-check quotes, statistics, and other important information.

Organizing Your Research

Once you've completed your research, it's important to organize your notes and sources into a logical structure. This could involve creating an outline, a mind map, or a series of notes. The key is to have a clear and organized structure that will guide your writing process.

Writing the Journalism Article

Crafting a strong headline.

Your headline is one of the most important parts of your article, as it is what will draw readers in. A strong headline should be clear, concise, and attention-grabbing. Consider using action verbs, numbers, and intriguing adjectives to make your headline stand out.

Structuring Your Article

Once you've crafted a strong headline, it's important to structure your article in a clear and logical way. This could involve starting with a strong lead, breaking your article down into subheadings, and using quotes and statistics to support your claims.

Writing an Engaging Lead

Your lead is what will hook your readers and encourage them to continue reading. A strong lead should be concise, interesting, and informative. Consider using a startling statistic, a provocative quote, or a compelling anecdote to grab your readers' attention.

Developing the Body of the Article

The body of your article should provide detailed information on your topic, supported by sources and statistics. It's important to use clear and concise language, avoiding jargon or overly complex wording. Break your article down into several subheadings to make it easier to follow.

Concluding Your Article

Finally, it's important to wrap up your article with a strong conclusion that ties everything together. Your conclusion should summarize your main points and offer some final thoughts or recommendations. Avoid introducing new information in your conclusion and aim to leave your readers with something to think about.

By following these steps, you can write a compelling journalism article that informs and engages your readers. Remember to stick to ethical guidelines, conduct thorough research, and write in a clear and engaging style. With practice, you'll be on your way to becoming a skilled and respected journalist.

ChatGPT Prompt for Writing a Journalism Article

Use the following prompt in an AI chatbot . Below each prompt, be sure to provide additional details about your situation. These could be scratch notes, what you'd like to say or anything else that guides the AI model to write a certain way.

Produce a comprehensive and high-quality piece of writing that follows the conventions of journalism, with the aim of informing and engaging readers on a particular topic or issue. Your article should be well-researched, balanced, and objective, and should adhere to the principles of accuracy, fairness, and impartiality. Consider the target audience and the publication or platform for which you are writing, and ensure that your article is structured, compelling, and thought-provoking.

[ADD ADDITIONAL CONTEXT. CAN USE BULLET POINTS.]

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4.3 Different Styles and Models of Journalism

Learning objectives.

• Explain how objective journalism differs from story-driven journalism.
• Describe the effect of objectivity on modern journalism.
• Describe the unique nature of literary journalism.

Location, readership, political climate, and competition all contribute to rapid transformations in journalistic models and writing styles. Over time, however, certain styles—such as sensationalism—have faded or become linked with less serious publications, like tabloids, while others have developed to become prevalent in modern-day reporting. This section explores the nuanced differences among the most commonly used models of journalism.

Objective versus Story-Driven Journalism

In the late 1800s, a majority of publishers believed that they would sell more papers by reaching out to specific groups. As such, most major newspapers employed a partisan approach to writing, churning out political stories and using news to sway popular opinion. This all changed in 1896 when a then-failing paper, The New York Times , took a radical new approach to reporting: employing objectivity , or impartiality, to satisfy a wide range of readers.

The Rise of Objective Journalism

At the end of the 19th century, The New York Times found itself competing with the papers of Pulitzer and Hearst. The paper’s publishers discovered that it was nearly impossible to stay afloat without using the sensationalist headlines popularized by its competitors. Although The New York Times publishers raised prices to pay the bills, the higher charge led to declining readership, and soon the paper went bankrupt. Adolph Ochs, owner of the once-failing Chattanooga Times , took a gamble and bought The New York Times in 1896. On August 18 of that year, Ochs made a bold move and announced that the paper would no longer follow the sensationalist style that made Pulitzer and Hearst famous, but instead would be “clean, dignified, trustworthy and impartial (New York Times, 1935).”

This drastic change proved to be a success. The New York Times became the first of many papers to demonstrate that the press could be “economically as well as ethically successful (New York Times, 1935).” With the help of managing editor Carr Van Anda, the new motto “All the News That’s Fit to Print,” and lowered prices, The New York Times quickly turned into one of the most profitable impartial papers of all time. Since the newspaper’s successful turnaround, publications around the world have followed The New York Times ’ objective journalistic style, demanding that reporters maintain a neutral voice in their writing.

The Inverted Pyramid Style

One commonly employed technique in modern journalism is the inverted pyramid style . This style requires objectivity and involves structuring a story so that the most important details are listed first for ease of reading. In the inverted pyramid format, the most fundamental facts of a story—typically the who, what, when, where, and why—appear at the top in the lead paragraph, with nonessential information in subsequent paragraphs. The style arose as a product of the telegraph. The inverted pyramid proved useful when telegraph connections failed in the middle of transmission; the editor still had the most important information at the beginning. Similarly, editors could quickly delete content from the bottom up to meet time and space requirements (Scanlan, 2003).

The reason for such writing is threefold. First, the style is helpful for writers, as this type of reporting is somewhat easier to complete in the short deadlines imposed on journalists, particularly in today’s fast-paced news business. Second, the style benefits editors who can, if necessary, quickly cut the story from the bottom without losing vital information. Finally, the style keeps in mind traditional readers, most of who skim articles or only read a few paragraphs, but they can still learn most of the important information from this quick read.

Interpretive Journalism

During the 1920s, objective journalism fell under critique as the world became more complex. Even though The New York Times continued to thrive, readers craved more than dry, objective stories. In 1923, Time magazine launched as the first major publication to step away from simple objectivity to try to provide readers with a more analytical interpretation of the news. As Time grew, people at some other publications took notice, and slowly editors began rethinking how they might reach out to readers in an increasingly interrelated world.

During the 1930s, two major events increased the desire for a new style of journalism: the Great Depression and the Nazi threat to global stability. Readers were no longer content with the who, what, where, when, and why of objective journalism. Instead, they craved analysis and a deeper explanation of the chaos surrounding them. Many papers responded with a new type of reporting that became known as interpretive journalism .

Interpretive journalism, following Time ’s example, has grown in popularity since its inception in the 1920s and 1930s, and journalists use it to explain issues and to provide readers with a broader context for the stories that they encounter. According to Brant Houston, the executive director of Investigative Reporters and Editors Inc., an interpretive journalist “goes beyond the basic facts of an event or topic to provide context, analysis, and possible consequences (Houston, 2008).” When this new style was first used, readers responded with great interest to the new editorial perspectives that newspapers were offering on events. But interpretive journalism posed a new problem for editors: the need to separate straight objective news from opinions and analysis. In response, many papers in the 1930s and 1940s “introduced weekend interpretations of the past week’s events…and interpretive columnists with bylines (Ward, 2008).” As explained by Stephen J. A. Ward in his article, “Journalism Ethics,” the goal of these weekend features was to “supplement objective reporting with an informed interpretation of world events (Ward, 2008).”

Competition From Broadcasting

The 1930s also saw the rise of broadcasting as radios became common in most U.S. households and as sound–picture recordings for newsreels became increasingly common. This broadcasting revolution introduced new dimensions to journalism. Scholar Michael Schudson has noted that broadcast news “reflect[ed]…a new journalistic reality. The journalist, no longer merely the relayer of documents and messages, ha[d] become the interpreter of the news (Schudson, 1982).” However, just as radio furthered the interpretive journalistic style, it also created a new problem for print journalism, particularly newspapers.

Suddenly, free news from the radio offered competition to the pay news of newspapers. Scholar Robert W. McChesney has observed that, in the 1930s, “many elements of the newspaper industry opposed commercial broadcasting, often out of fear of losing ad revenues and circulation to the broadcasters (McChesney, 1992).” This fear led to a media war as papers claimed that radio was stealing their print stories. Radio outlets, however, believed they had equal right to news stories. According to Robert W. McChesney, “commercial broadcasters located their industry next to the newspaper industry as an icon of American freedom and culture (McChesney, 1992).” The debate had a major effect on interpretive journalism as radio and newspapers had to make decisions about whether to use an objective or interpretive format to remain competitive with each other.

The emergence of television during the 1950s created even more competition for newspapers. In response, paper publishers increased opinion-based articles, and many added what became known as op-ed pages. An op-ed page—short for opposite the editorial page —features opinion-based columns typically produced by a writer or writers unaffiliated with the paper’s editorial board. As op-ed pages grew, so did interpretive journalism. Distinct from news stories, editors and columnists presented opinions on a regular basis. By the 1960s, the interpretive style of reporting had begun to replace the older descriptive style (Patterson, 2002).

Literary Journalism

Stemming from the development of interpretive journalism, literary journalism began to emerge during the 1960s. This style, made popular by journalists Tom Wolfe (formerly a strictly nonfiction writer) and Truman Capote, is often referred to as new journalism and combines factual reporting with sometimes fictional narration. Literary journalism follows neither the formulaic style of reporting of objective journalism nor the opinion-based analytical style of interpretive journalism. Instead, this art form—as it is often termed—brings voice and character to historical events, focusing on the construction of the scene rather than on the retelling of the facts.

Important Literary Journalists

The works of Tom Wolfe are some of the best examples of literary journalism of the 1960s.

erin williamson – tom wolfe – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Tom Wolfe was the first reporter to write in the literary journalistic style. In 1963, while his newspaper, New York’s Herald Tribune , was on strike, Esquire magazine hired Wolfe to write an article on customized cars. Wolfe gathered the facts but struggled to turn his collected information into a written piece. His managing editor, Byron Dobell, suggested that he type up his notes so that Esquire could hire another writer to complete the article. Wolfe typed up a 49-page document that described his research and what he wanted to include in the story and sent it to Dobell. Dobell was so impressed by this piece that he simply deleted the “Dear Byron” at the top of the letter and published the rest of Wolfe’s letter in its entirety under the headline “There Goes (Varoom! Varoom!) That Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby.” The article was a great success, and Wolfe, in time, became known as the father of new journalism. When he later returned to work at the Herald Tribune , Wolfe brought with him this new style, “fusing the stylistic features of fiction and the reportorial obligations of journalism (Kallan, 1992).”

Truman Capote responded to Wolfe’s new style by writing In Cold Blood , which Capote termed a “nonfiction novel,” in 1966 (Plimpton, 1966). The tale of an actual murder that had taken place on a Kansas farm some years earlier, the novel was based on numerous interviews and painstaking research. Capote claimed that he wrote the book because he wanted to exchange his “self-creative world…for the everyday objective world we all inhabit (Plimpton, 1966).” The book was praised for its straightforward, journalistic style. New York Times writer George Plimpton claimed that the book “is remarkable for its objectivity—nowhere, despite his involvement, does the author intrude (Plimpton, 1966).” After In Cold Blood was finished, Capote criticized Wolfe’s style in an interview, commenting that Wolfe “[has] nothing to do with creative journalism,” by claiming that Wolfe did not have the appropriate fiction-writing expertise (Plimpton, 1966). Despite the tension between these two writers, today they are remembered for giving rise to a similar style in varying genres.

The Effects of Literary Journalism

Although literary journalism certainly affected newspaper reporting styles, it had a much greater impact on the magazine industry. Because they were bound by fewer restrictions on length and deadlines, magazines were more likely to publish this new writing style than were newspapers. Indeed, during the 1960s and 1970s, authors simulating the styles of both Wolfe and Capote flooded magazines such as Esquire and The New Yorker with articles.

Literary journalism also significantly influenced objective journalism. Many literary journalists believed that objectivity limited their ability to critique a story or a writer. Some claimed that objectivity in writing is impossible, as all journalists are somehow swayed by their own personal histories. Still others, including Wolfe, argued that objective journalism conveyed a “limited conception of the ‘facts,’” which “often effected an inaccurate, incomplete story that precluded readers from exercising informed judgment (Kallan).”

Advocacy Journalism and Precision Journalism

The reactions of literary journalists to objective journalism encouraged the growth of two more types of journalism: advocacy journalism and precision journalism . Advocacy journalists promote a particular cause and intentionally adopt a biased, nonobjective viewpoint to do so effectively. However, serious advocate journalists adhere to strict guidelines, as “an advocate journalist is not the same as being an activist” according to journalist Sue Careless (Careless, 2000). In an article discussing advocacy journalism, Careless contrasted the role of an advocate journalist with the role of an activist. She encourages future advocate journalists by saying the following:

A journalist writing for the advocacy press should practice the same skills as any journalist. You don’t fabricate or falsify. If you do you will destroy the credibility of both yourself as a working journalist and the cause you care so much about. News should never be propaganda. You don’t fudge or suppress vital facts or present half-truths (Careless, 2000).

Despite the challenges and potential pitfalls inherent to advocacy journalism, this type of journalism has increased in popularity over the past several years. In 2007, USA Today reporter Peter Johnson stated, “Increasingly, journalists and talk-show hosts want to ‘own’ a niche issue or problem, find ways to solve it, and be associated with making this world a better place (Johnson, 2007).” In this manner, journalists across the world are employing the advocacy style to highlight issues they care about.

Oprah Winfrey: Advocacy Journalist

Television talk-show host and owner of production company Harpo Inc., Oprah Winfrey is one of the most successful, recognizable entrepreneurs of the late-20th and early-21st centuries. Winfrey has long been a news reporter, beginning in the late 1970s as a coanchor of an evening television program. She began hosting her own show in 1984, and in 2010, the Oprah Winfrey Show was one of the most popular TV programs on the air. Winfrey had long used her show as a platform for issues and concerns, making her one of the most famous advocacy journalists. While many praise Winfrey for using her celebrity to draw attention to causes she cares about, others criticize her techniques, claiming that she uses the advocacy style for self-promotion. As one critic writes, “I’m not sure how Oprah’s endless self-promotion of how she spent millions on a school in South Africa suddenly makes her ‘own’ the ‘education niche.’ She does own the trumpet-my-own-horn niche. But that’s not ‘journalism (Schlussel, 2007).’”

Yet despite this somewhat harsh critique, many view Winfrey as the leading example of positive advocacy journalism. Sara Grumbles claims in her blog “Breaking and Fitting the Mold”: “Oprah Winfrey obviously practices advocacy journalism…. Winfrey does not fit the mold of a ‘typical’ journalist by today’s standards. She has an agenda and she voices her opinions. She ha[d] her own op-ed page in the form of a million dollar television studio. Objectivity is not her strong point. Still, in my opinion she is a journalist (Grumbles, 2007).”

Regardless of the arguments about the value and reasoning underlying her technique, Winfrey unquestionably practices a form of advocacy journalism. In fact, thanks to her vast popularity, she may be the most compelling example of an advocacy journalist working today.

Precision journalism emerged in the 1970s. In this form, journalists turn to polls and studies to strengthen the accuracy of their articles. Philip Meyer, commonly acknowledged as the father of precision journalism, says that his intent is to “encourage my colleagues in journalism to apply the principles of scientific method to their tasks of gathering and presenting the news (Meyer, 2002).” This type of journalism adds a new layer to objectivity in reporting, as articles no longer need to rely solely on anecdotal evidence; journalists can employ hard facts and figures to support their assertions. An example of precision journalism would be an article on voting patterns in a presidential election that cites data from exit polls. Precision journalism has become more popular as computers have become more prevalent. Many journalists currently use this type of writing.

Consensus versus Conflict Newspapers

Another important distinction within the field of journalism must be made between consensus journalism and conflict journalism . Consensus journalism typically takes place in smaller communities, where local newspapers generally serve as a forum for many different voices. Newspapers that use consensus-style journalism provide community calendars and meeting notices and run articles on local schools, events, government, property crimes, and zoning. These newspapers can help build civic awareness and a sense of shared experience and responsibility among readers in a community. Often, business or political leaders in the community own consensus papers.

Conversely, conflict journalism, like that which is presented in national and international news articles in The New York Times , typically occurs in national or metropolitan dailies. Conflict journalists define news in terms of societal discord, covering events and issues that contravene perceived social norms. In this style of journalism, reporters act as watchdogs who monitor the government and its activities. Conflict journalists often present both sides of a story and pit ideas against one another to generate conflict and, therefore, attract a larger readership. Both conflict and consensus papers are widespread. However, because they serve different purposes and reach out to differing audiences, they largely do not compete with each other.

Niche Newspapers

Niche newspapers represent one more model of newspapers. These publications, which reach out to a specific target group, are rising in popularity in the era of Internet. As Robert Courtemanche, a certified journalism educator, writes, “In the past, newspapers tried to be everything to every reader to gain circulation. That outdated concept does not work on the Internet where readers expect expert, niche content (Courtemanche, 2008).” Ethnic and minority papers are some of the most common forms of niche newspapers. In the United States—particularly in large cities such as New York—niche papers for numerous ethnic communities flourish. Some common types of U.S. niche papers are papers that cater to a specific ethnic or cultural group or to a group that speaks a particular language. Papers that cover issues affecting lesbians, gay men, and bisexual individuals—like the Advocate —and religion-oriented publications—like The Christian Science Monitor —are also niche papers.

The Underground Press

Some niche papers are part of the underground press . Popularized in the 1960s and 1970s as individuals sought to publish articles documenting their perception of social tensions and inequalities, the underground press typically caters to alternative and countercultural groups. Most of these papers are published on small budgets. Perhaps the most famous underground paper is New York’s Pulitzer Prize–winning Village Voice . This newspaper was founded in 1955 and declares its role in the publishing industry by saying:

The Village Voice introduced free-form, high-spirited and passionate journalism into the public discourse. As the nation’s first and largest alternative newsweekly, the Voice maintains the same tradition of no-holds-barred reporting and criticism it first embraced when it began publishing fifty years ago (Village Voice).

Despite their at-times shoestring budgets, underground papers serve an important role in the media. By offering an alternative perspective to stories and by reaching out to niche groups through their writing, underground-press newspapers fill a unique need within the larger media marketplace. As journalism has evolved over the years, newspapers have adapted to serve the changing demands of readers.

Key Takeaways

• Objective journalism began as a response to sensationalism and has continued in some form to this day. However, some media observers have argued that it is nearly impossible to remain entirely objective while reporting a story. One argument against objectivity is that journalists are human and are, therefore, biased to some degree. Many newspapers that promote objectivity put in place systems to help their journalists remain as objective as possible.
• Literary journalism combines the research and reporting of typical newspaper journalism with the writing style of fiction. While most newspaper journalists focus on facts, literary journalists tend to focus on the scene by evoking voices and characters inhabiting historical events. Famous early literary journalists include Tom Wolfe and Truman Capote.
• Other journalistic styles allow reporters and publications to narrow their editorial voice. Advocacy journalists encourage readers to support a particular cause. Consensus journalism encourages social and economic harmony, while conflict journalists present information in a way that focuses on views outside of the social norm.
• Niche newspapers—such as members of the underground press and those serving specific ethnic groups, racial groups, or speakers of a specific language—serve as important media outlets for distinct voices. The rise of the Internet and online journalism has brought niche newspapers more into the mainstream.

Please respond to the following writing prompts. Each response should be a minimum of one paragraph.

• Find an objective newspaper article that includes several factual details. Rewrite the story in a literary journalistic style. How does the story differ from one genre to the other?
• Was it difficult to transform an objective story into a piece of literary journalism? Explain.
• Do you prefer reading an objective journalism piece or a literary journalism piece? Explain.

Careless, Sue. “Advocacy Journalism,” Interim , May 2000, http://www.theinterim.com/2000/may/10advocacy.html .

Courtemanche, Robert. “Newspapers Must Find Their Niche to Survive,” Suite101.com , December 20, 2008, http://newspaperindustry.suite101.com/article.cfm/newspapers_must_find_their_niche_to_survive .

Grumbles, Sara. “Breaking and Fitting the Mold,” Media Chatter (blog), October 3, 2007, http://www.commajor.com/?p=1244 .

Houston, Brant. “Interpretive Journalism,” The International Encyclopedia of Communication , 2008, http://www.blackwellreference.com/public/tocnode?id=g9781405131995_chunk_g978140513199514_ss82-1 .

Johnson, Peter. “More Reporters Embrace an Advocacy Role,” USA Today , March 5, 2007, http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2007-03-05-social-journalism_N.htm .

Kallan, Richard A. “Tom Wolfe.”

Kallan, Richard K. “Tom Wolfe,” in A Sourcebook of American Literary Journalism: Representative Writers in an Emerging Genre , ed. Thomas B. Connery (Santa Barbara: Greenwood Press, 1992).

McChesney, Robert W. “Media and Democracy: The Emergence of Commercial Broadcasting in the United States, 1927–1935,” in “Communication in History: The Key to Understanding” OAH Magazine of History 6, no. 4 (1992): 37.

Meyer, Phillip. Precision Journalism: A Reporter’s Introduction to Social Science Methods , 4th ed. (Oxford: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2002), vii.

New York Times, “Adolph S. Ochs Dead at 77; Publisher of Times Since 1896,” New York Times , April 9, 1935, http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0312.html .

Patterson, Thomas. “Why Is News So Negative These Days?” History News Network , 2002, http://hnn.us/articles/1134.html .

Plimpton, George. “The Story Behind a Nonfiction Novel,” New York Times , January 16, 1966, http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/12/28/home/capote-interview.html .

Scanlan, Chip. “Writing from the Top Down: Pros and Cons of the Inverted Pyramid,” Poynter, June 20, 2003, http://www.poynter.org/how-tos/newsgathering-storytelling/chip-on-your-shoulder/12754/writing-from-the-top-down-pros-and-cons-of-the-inverted-pyramid/ .

Schlussel, Debbie. “USA Today Heralds ‘Oprah Journalism,’” Debbie Schlussel (blog), March 6, 2007, http://www.debbieschlussel.com/497/usa-today-heralds-oprah-journalism/ .

Schudson, Michael. “The Politics of Narrative Form: The Emergence of News Conventions in Print and Television,” in “Print Culture and Video Culture,” Daedalus 111, no. 4 (1982): 104.

Village Voice, “About Us,” http://www.villagevoice.com/about/index .

Ward, Stephen J. A. “Journalism Ethics,” in The Handbook of Journalism Studies , ed. Karin Wahl-Jorgensen and Thomas Hanitzsch (New York: Routledge, 2008): 298.

Understanding Media and Culture Copyright © 2016 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Journalistic writing and style.

• Maarit Jaakkola Maarit Jaakkola Faculty of Communication Sciences, University of Gothenburg
• https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.013.884
• Published online: 30 July 2018

The core of the journalistic style is the newswriting style. Writing news leans upon the objectivity paradigm that has triggered wide academic debate about the biases in defining journalism. The majority of the scholarship regarding the journalistic style and writing gathers around newspapers and news; however, many traditions of writing transgress the traditional newswriting tradition and are supported by literary and cultural production, and the boundaries are becoming increasingly porous. The history of journalistic styles is closely connected to different genres: genres of journalism, such as news journalism and literary journalism, and textual genres, such as feature, column, and essay. Furthermore, style is a contextual term that emerges as a result of a variety of different choices, can be examined at different levels ranging from words to structures of production, and has to be studied in connection with other factors influencing the communication process such as medium, content, form, genre, discourses, and audience. It may thus be hard to separate the way of knowing from the way of presenting knowledge, “the way of using language” as style typically is defined. Indeed, journalism research is characterized by very diverse conceptualizations and operationalizations of style with regard to journalism. Relevant research is typically located in the intersection of language and journalism, literature and journalism, and the socially constructed reality and journalism, drawing on the different subareas of linguistics, literary theory and criticism, sociology, and interdisciplinary approaches. During the history of journalism studies, the scholarly inquiry has made struggles for symbolic power and alternative ways of knowing and presenting visible. The notions of the journalistic style in newspapers, magazines, and online have become more diverse.

• written texts
• journalistic writing
• language use
• writing style
• objectivity
• subjectivity
• journalism studies

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Media guide

Journalism genres and article types.

In journalism, there are several different article or journalism types. Some of the best-known include news articles, interviews, features, reviews, columns and editorials.

A news article is the most important article type in journalism. Its purpose is to convey information by answering the questions of what, where, when, how, why and who as neutrally and objectively as possible. The purpose of news is to tell people what has happened.

The form of a news article is highly standardised and regularly referred to as a downward-facing triangle structure. The most important information is located at the beginning of the news article and, from there onwards, less and less important background information is provided. The style has become so standard, that the last chapter or chapters of a news article can be removed during the layout without it hampering the ease of understanding the article. The most important message in a news article is called a news lead. It is a brief, concise description of the article’s content.

The most important message in a news article is called a news lead.

In its simplest form, an interview can be in a question-answer format, where both the reporter’s questions and the interviewee’s answers are quoted directly.

A feature article is a longer article type than a news article. A feature should be fact-based, objective and accurate, but the genre also allows for more creative expression than a news article. While containing elements of news, feature writing provides scope, depth, and interpretation of trends, events, topics or people. It aims to humanise, add colour, educate, entertain and illuminate. Types of features can be, for example, news features on a topical phenomenon including the use of several independent sources, profiles and reportages.

A feature should be fact-based, objective and accurate, but the genre also allows more creative expression than a news article.

Columns, editorials and reviews are even more subjective article types than features. They can and usually do include openly personal opinions from the writer. Nevertheless, a good review not only presents the critic’s opinions, but the critic’s expertise is put into practice, for example to analyse a piece of art or culture and place it in a larger context or tradition. Likewise, a good column is not just a rant composed of the writer’s thoughts but a well justified argument on a topical issue.

Article types and genres: A Summary

Article types of journalism include

• News articles

Journalism genres include

• News journalism
• Culture journalism
• Celebrity/people journalism
• Investigative journalism
• Gonzo journalism
• Citizen journalism.

Reflection: Please come up with short descriptions of the concepts above. Can you name more article types or genres?

Keep Reading:

The journalistic work process ;  Data Journalism & Infographics Or go back to the beginning of this section: Journalism

This article was updated on January 8th 2020

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7 Different Types Of Journalistic Writing To Consider For Your Career

• April 19, 2024
• Freelancing Tips

Table of Contents Hide

What is journalistic writing, what is the purpose of journalistic writing, 1. political journalism, 2. investigative journalism, 3. online reporting, 4. broadcast journalism, 5. opinion journalism, 6. sports journalism, 7.  entertainment journalism, 1. gather all necessary information, 2. verify all your sources, 3. establish your angle, 4. write a strong opening paragraph, 5. consider the headline, 6. use the ‘inverted pyramid’ structure, 7. edit your work carefully, frequently asked questions, recommendations.

Some types of journalistic writing might not be too deep when it comes to research and data collection, but a vast part of journalism involves gathering data on a certain topic and relaying findings and conclusions to a larger audience via print, digital, or broadcast media. Journalists report information through news, features, columns, investigative reports, and reviews.

Longer formats with greater detail and story development are investigative reports and feature articles. Shorter article formats including news, columns, and reviews are meant to cover a certain subject in greater detail but still in a concise manner.

Investigating and reporting on events that have a variety of effects on people’s lives and society is the goal of journalism. Diverse forms of journalism cover a range of societally relevant topics, cater to different audiences, and have differing standards for fact-finding objectivity.

Journalistic writing is a form of non-fiction writing used to report news and factual events. It can be utilized in newspaper articles, television reports, radio scripts , and news websites.

As you might expect, journalistic writing is the style of writing used by journalists. It is therefore a term for the broad style of writing used by news media outlets to put together stories.

Journalistic writing usually consists of short sentences and paragraphs that quickly reach the point of the article.

The aim of every journalistic writing is to attract readers to a website, broadcaster, or print media. This allows the owners to make money, usually by selling advertising space.

Traditionally, newspapers do not make most of their money by selling newspapers. Instead, their main income comes from advertising. If you look back at an early copy of the London  Times , for example (from the early 1900s), the whole front page was actually advertisements, not news.

Through journalistic writing, news outlets attract readers and keep them through their well-crafted stories that hook the readers.

READ ALSO: How To Write A Personal Essay: 7 Tips For Writers

Types of Journalistic Writing To Consider for Your Career

The following are some categories of journalism that you may come across:

Political journalism focuses on government, politics, and political candidates. It covers different segments of political activity, such as local, national, or international news. Political journalists often report on the activities of elected officials, political processes, and the results of political work.

It includes reporting political news and conducting investigative and watchdog reporting to ensure that the public has access to information about political activity. Political journalists may also report news in the form of the opinion journalism genre. Political journalism applies to print, digital, and broadcast media.

READ ALSO: “Over” vs “More Than”: How to Use Both Correctly as a Writer

The goal of the type known as “watchdog journalism” is to protect the public against unethical or ineffective behavior on the part of societal elites like politicians and companies. This journalistic writing style finds and exposes wrongdoing.

Watchdog reporters keep an eye on the actions of powerful individuals and big businesses, reporting on any actions that might have a detrimental effect on society. This kind of journalism makes sure that the powerful members of society are held responsible for their deeds.

Print and broadcast media can both practice watchdog journalism. Examining political campaign funds to make sure candidates follow campaign finance laws is an example of watchdog journalism.

Through online publications including blogs, social media, and digital newspapers, online journalism disseminates factual information. The internet is a great place to find information of any kind, but not all of the sources are reliable.

Online journalists produce and disseminate information in line with traditional journalism standards, which call for the objective reporting of the circumstances surrounding a situation or event.

Reporters can swiftly provide information to readers via Internet media without having to wait for print layout, processing, delivery, or broadcast time slots when using online journalism.

SEE ALSO: When To Use Too or To: Simplifying These Tricky Twins

The public is informed by broadcast journalism via media like radio and television. Broadcast journalism includes news, entertainment, sports, weather, and traffic.

Additionally, watchdog, opinion, and investigative journalism can be found in broadcast media. A report read aloud without a corresponding video, a story narrated with a linked video playing in the background, or a report conducted in the field with live video capture are examples of broadcast journalism.

Subjective concepts are used in opinion journalism to report on a topic instead of objective facts. Opinion writers cover stories from their points of view, including prejudices and opinions. Opinion journalism differs from other forms in that the author is free to express their personal opinion.

Knowing the difference between facts and views can be crucial in this type of journalistic writing.

When reading articles from many viewpoints, opinion journalism can help readers comprehend their own beliefs and opinions and provide a more complete image of the world.

Even though some opinion writers might share your beliefs, it’s important to counter such views with opposing ones to comprehend diversity better and to grow in empathy and respect for difference. Political journalists are one type of opinion journalist.

Related Post: When to Use Italics: When and Why to Use Italics

Sports news is the main topic of sports journalism. Scores, standings, and rankings for various teams or athletes competing in different athletic events are reported by sports writers. Sports journalism can be found in a variety of genres, including opinion and investigative.

Print and broadcast media are two possible formats. In broadcast and internet journalism, sports commentary is a type of sports journalism.

This is among the types of journalistic writing that delves into writing about well-known individuals and trends related to the entertainment world. Journalists covering entertainment cover various topics, including events, movies, TV shows, books, and celebrities.

News regarding the entertainment business as well as movie premieres and award shows may be covered by entertainment journalists. This kind of journalism is prevalent in print, digital, and broadcast media and can take many various forms.

What Structure Does Journalistic Writing Follow?

Journalists tend to follow a clear process in writing any article. This allows them to put together a compelling story, with all the necessary elements.

This process is:

Getting all the facts you’ll need to write the story is the first stage.

You want to be as informed as possible about every detail. As part of this process, journalists frequently spend time “on-site,” interviewing people to learn about what has happened and how it has affected them.

The best sources to consider are firsthand accounts from those who were present and saw the events. In journalism, secondary sources—those who learned about events from others—are by far the second-best.

It is crucial to establish the value of your information—that is, whether it is true or not.

A question of individual ‘truth’.

It has become common in internet writing to talk about ‘your truth’, or ‘his truth’.

There is a place for this in journalism. It recognizes that the same events may be experienced and interpreted in different ways by different people.

However, journalists also need to recognize that there are always some objective facts associated with any story. They must take time to separate these objective facts from opinions or perceptions and interpretations of events.

SEE ALSO: When to Use ‘Me’ or ‘I’: Easy Tips for Correct Usage for Writers

Next, decide what “angle” or focus your article will have—that is, what makes it noteworthy.

This will change depending on the news outlet and the kind of journalism. Determining the reasons behind people’s interest in your narrative may also require careful consideration.

Your opening paragraph tells readers why they should bother to read on.

It needs to summarise the five Ws of the story: who, what, why, when, and where.

It’s not always expected of journalists to write their headlines. Still, it’s helpful to think of possible headlines for a work.

One of the best ways to make sure you are clear about your topic and approach is to be able to summarize the article in a few lines.

READ ALSO: Fourth vs Forth: How to Choose the Right Word as a Writer

Journalists build their tales in a very specific way. They begin with the most crucial information (the paragraph that serves as the introduction), then go into further detail to elaborate. For those who are still interested, additional information is provided in the article’s last section.

As a result, you can determine whether or not to read a news piece by summarizing its essential points in the first paragraph.

Why the Inverted Pyramid?

The inverted pyramid structure actually stems from print journalism.

If typesetters could not fit the whole story into the space available, they would simply cut off the last few sentences until the article fitted.

Journalists therefore started to write in a way that ensured that the important information would not be removed during this process!

Editing your own writing before submission is the last step in any type of journalistic writing you are involved in.

Professional editors are typically employed by newsrooms and media publications to review all text before submission. But journalists also must proofread their work before submitting it to ensure that it makes sense.

Make sure your message is as clear as possible and that you have written in plain English by reading your work again. The editors and subeditors won’t have to waste time contacting you to get clarifications thanks to this.

Most media outlets base their basic news and media writing on the AP style, which is the style developed and updated by the Associated Press. Consistency in writing across media platforms and publications is ensured by using the AP style.

Storytelling. When a writer employs a narrative approach, they are attempting to create and convey a story—complete with characters, conflict, and settings—rather than only conveying facts.

Because the truth has to be presented creatively, a literary narrative written in the first person is the most challenging genre in the nonfiction category.

Journalists have a social responsibility to serve their communities by providing unbiased information in an open, fair, and impartial manner. Any type of Journalistic writing should rely on both facts and evidence. A journalist writes an editorial if they wish to express their support or disapproval of a certain topic or event. 

Maintaining sound ethical adherence to the laws of the profession is very important. Journalism remains one of the oldest forms of profession in the world with a relevance that will stick for a long time.

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What Is Journalistic Writing: Purpose, Features, Types, and 10 News Values

• by Anastasiya Yakubovska
• 26.04.2022 02.05.2024

Further in the article, you will learn about what journalistic writing is, its main purpose, what are the features and characteristics of journalistic style, get acquainted with three types of journalism, and at the end of the article, you will find information about how the media select news.

Not so long ago, people could get news only from local newspapers, radio, and television. Nowdays we have access to any information in any format 24/7 (thank you, Internet!).

The ways of obtaining information have changed, but the principles and features of journalism have remained the same.

Table of Contents

What is journalistic writing, and its main purpose.

• Features of Journalistic Writing 

How to Write a Journalistic Text: 3 Key Elements

Information genre and its types, analytical genre.

• Artistic-journalistic Types of Journalistic Writing 
• 10 News Values 

Journalistic writing is a style of writing that is used by the media to transmit news messages to a mass addressee (newspapers, television, radio, Internet).

Journalistic writing has two main purposes, which to some extent contradict each other:

• Informing . The main aim of journalistic writing is to inform the public about the event that has occurred or will occur in the future, while the journalist must be as objective as possible.
• Impact on the audience . In some cases, news reports may be overly emotional with a pronounced position of the author and his personal opinion. Such messages have a social assessment and appeal, influence the people and form public opinion.

Features of Journalistic Writing

Journalistic writing has some specific features by which it is easy to identify:

• Informative heading. The news headlines are quite long. From the title, it is clear what will be discussed in the news article. 
• The first sentence (paragraph or lead) summarizes the essence of the news. 
• The inverted pyramid principle . The priority, value, and usefulness of information decrease from the beginning of the text to its end.
• Sentences and paragraphs are mostly short.
• Lots of specifics and details.
• Readability, simplicity, competent presentation of information.
• Emotionality and evaluation.
• Frequent use of socio-political vocabulary (names of political parties, departments, economic and legal terms, etc.). 
• Focus on a mass audience.
• Rhetorical questions, exclamations, and repetitions.
• In addition to the main colloquial (informal) style used in journalism, there are slang and jargon words.
• post “What Is Scientific Writing Style: Characteristics, Types, and Examples”.
• “What Is Business Writing Style: Characteristics, Types, and Examples”.

There are three key components on which any journalistic text is built:

• Lead (or lede). This is the first sentence or main and opening paragraph of the news article. The lead is the “header” of the article, which outlines the main idea of the text. Often the lead is highlighted in a different font or color, usually, its length is from 3 to 5 lines of text.

Lead cannot be ignored. It can be sensational or dramatic, it can reveal the details of an event or briefly describe the news, it can amuse the reader or challenge him.

A news article lead looks like this:

“ Rescue operations are continuing in South Africa in an effort to save the lives of dozens of people who are missing following the floods in KwaZulu-Natal province. With more rain on its way, emergency teams face further peril as they search for survivors. “   bbc.com

2. Citation . 90% of all journalistic investigations are based on interviews or other primary sources. Therefore, it is not surprising that quotes have a special place in news reports.

Read also post “How to Write a Persuasive Article or Essay: Examples of Persuasive Argument”.

3. Brevity and readability. Sentences and paragraphs are short and simple. It does not mean that you will not find long compound sentences in the text. But in most cases – “brevity is the soul of wit.”

In addition, it is important not to overdo with terms. Still, the news articles should be understandable to the mass audience: if you used the term “legal nihilism”, be kind, and explain what it means (p.s.: legal nihilism is the denial of laws and rules/norms of behavior ). 

Journalism Genres and Types of Journalistic Writing

There are three genres of journalistic writing:

• Informational : reportage, interview, information note, informational report. The main function is to communicate information: what, where, when, and under what circumstances it happened or will happen.
• Analytical : conversation, review , article, survey, correspondence. The primary function is to influence the public. There are the author’s reasoning, argumentation, analysis of the event, personal conclusions, and assessment of what is happening.
• Artistic-journalistic : essay , feuilleton, pamphlet, profile essay. These genres used to get a figurative, emotional idea of an event or fact.

Let’s take a closer look at each genre.

Note as a Type of Journalistic Writing

A note is a short message about a new event or fact. The main features are the reliability of the fact, novelty, and brevity.

“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were accompanied by two of their children as they joined other royals for the Easter Sunday service at Windsor Castle. Prince George was dressed in a dark blue suit like his father while Princess Charlotte’s dress matched her mother Catherine’s light blue outfit . Several of their second cousins, such as Mia Tindall and Savannah and Isla Phillips, also attended. The Queen was not at the service – one of the staples of the family’s year. The 95-year-old monarch, who has been suffering mobility issues recently. was also absent from the traditional Maundy Service last Thursday where special coins were given to 96 men and 96 women .”   bbc.com

Read also “How to Write a News Story”.

Reportage is a message from the scene. Features: efficiency, objective coverage of events, the reporter is an eyewitness or participant in what is happening.

Example: television report (live broadcast from the scene), report in the print media after collecting and processing information.

An interview is the receipt of information during a conversation between an interviewer (journalist) and an interviewee. 

Examples: informational interviews to collect up-to-date data on an air crash that has occurred (for example, an interview with eyewitnesses); interview investigation; personal interview or interview-portrait.

Informational Report

A report is a chronologically sequential, detailed report of an event.

Example: a report on hostilities, a report on the results of a meeting, a conference, a government or court session.

Conversation or Dialogue

A conversation (dialogue) is a type of interview when a journalist acts not just as an intermediary between the hero and the viewer, but communicates with the interlocutor on an equal footing thanks to his achievements, experience, and professionalism.

Example: TV show with artists. 

A review is a critical judgment or discussion that contains an assessment and a brief analysis of a literary work, scientific publication, analysis of a work of art, journalism, etc. 

Examples: book review , play review, movie review , TV show review, game review.

An article is a genre of journalism that expresses the author’s reasoned point of view on social processes, on various current events or phenomena.

After reading an analytical article, the reader receives the information he needs and then independently reflects on the issues of interest to him.

The subject of the article is not the event itself, processes, or phenomena, but the consequences they cause.

Examples: an article on the political development of the country, a practical and analytical article on the rise in food prices, a polemical article (dispute) on teaching the basics of Orthodox culture.

Analytical Correspondence

Analytical correspondence is a message that gives information about an event or phenomenon (usually this is one significant fact).

Analytical correspondence may include fragments of a “live” report or a retelling of what is happening. But necessarily in such a message, there is a clarification of the causes of the event or phenomenon, the determination of its value and significance for society, and the prediction of its further development.

The primary source of this genre of journalistic writing is always the author of the publication (correspondent).

Artistic-journalistic Types of Journalistic Writing

Essay : a journalist not only describes a problem, an event, or a portrait of a person, based on factual data but also uses artistic methods of expressiveness. 

Examples: a portrait essay about the life of a famous person; historical essays , description of incidents, meetings with people during the author’s travel (essay by A. S. Pushkin “Journey to Arzrum”, 1829).

Feuilleton is a short note, essay, or article of a satirical nature, the main task of which is to ridicule “evil”.

Examples: satirical writers such as M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin, I.A. Ilf, and E.P. Petrov.

A pamphlet is a satirical work or article, the purpose of which is to ridicule certain human vices, to denounce and humiliate a hero who appears to the author as a carrier of a dangerous social evil.

In a pamphlet, the author uses grotesque, hyperbole, irony, and sarcasm.

Examples: “Lettres provinciales” by the French scientist and philosopher Blaise Pascal, “The Grumbled Hive” by the English writer Bernard Mandeville, pamphleteers D.I. Pisarev with the pamphlet “Bees”, A.M. Gorky “The City of the Yellow Devil”, L.M. Leonov “The Shadow of Barbarossa”.

10 News Values

First of all, journalistic writing is associated with the media. A special place in the mass media is occupied by news articles : they are in demand and attract more readers.

Therefore, I propose to pay attention to one very interesting point: how is a news article written, and by what criteria are news “selected”?

So, 10 news values are:

• Relevance . The news must meet the needs and interests of the audience.
• Timeliness . Event information must be up to date and appear on time. No one will read the election results two weeks after the election.
• Clarity and unambiguity. Simple, understandable news is more accessible to the public, read more often, and is more interesting. 
• Predictability . Significant events usually have specific dates (for example, election day, the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games, the football championship). Therefore, with the approach of such an event, public interest increases, and the news becomes more valuable.
• Unpredictability . On the other hand, unpredictable events and phenomena (natural disasters or crimes) also arouse public interest.
• Importance and scale of the event. War, elections, protests, sports games, and other important events require long and detailed press coverage.
• Composition . Sometimes, to dilute, for example, the negativity of the information flow, the editor selects news reports of the opposite nature: funny cases, love, romance, salvation, animals, adventure, risk, etc.
• Celebrities . News with the participation of politicians, artists, and sportsmen, due to their status and recognition, is more often published in the media and arouses increased interest.
• Leading countries in the world economy and politics. A strike, a natural disaster, or a plane crash in a developed country will immediately hit the media. But about the lack of drinking water in Ethiopia, you can write later.
• Negativity . The “bad” news is more popular.

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Story Craft

May 9, 2024, from the solid foundation of articles to the creative reach of stories, a college journalism student and aspiring writer shares what she's learning about the power of both factual and descriptive reporting.

Laine Cibulskis

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A bust of Julius Caesar (Pixabay) and actor Russell Crowe in the 2000 film "Gladiator" (Britannica)

By Laine Cibulskis

Then I landed in journalism school at the University of Missouri, where I learned to tell other people’s stories, without the fluff and flair of creative writing. My main role as a beginning journalist is to provide information to the public, and let them decide for themselves what that information means to them. So my focus for now is on reporting and writing articles — pieces grounded and shaped by information. Along the way, I’m learning how to use more creative storytelling techniques in those pieces, but only when necessary and relevant.

Here are some of the main lessons I’ve picked up so far, from professors, editors and my own experience.

Know the difference between articles and stories

Articles help serve one of journalism’s main roles in democracy: that of the informer. Articles transfer knowledge to readers, and point the reader to what’s happening in the news.

As a reporter for the Columbia Missourian and KBIA this semester, I started building up my article writing muscles. On my general assignment shift, I try to answer these four essential questions my professor, Liz Brixey , emphasizes in our reporting and writing class:

• Keep your focus here. Fewer words are often better. Boiling it down to a central theme or idea can help narrow your focus.
• Make a list. Do some furious Google searches. What do you want to know and how might these people be able to provide an answer?
• Do I need data to help explain this story? Research? Sources other than humans?
• Always keep visuals in mind. Is there an opportunity for a photo or video piece to help bring the reader to a place? Is there an infographic that can help explain the situation? How about audio?

These questions can help keep articles clear and informative, and help writers keep focused on answering a central question. They also make journalistic writing easier over time: I’m better at tackling tough situations like suicides and executions, researching complicated topics like COVID statistics and environmental policy, and reaching out to people to help get information to the public.

That foundation remains crucial when you start venturing into the world of stories.

Stories give readers information and an experience. A story doesn’t just transfer knowledge: It serves to transform the reader by expanding their understanding of a situation or bringing them closer into someone else’s world.

Think about the difference between a documentary film on Roman history versus a movie like “Gladiator.” The documentary provides straightforward information: dates, names, places. Movies, like stories, give us characters, plot and conflict. Even if your journalistic story doesn’t involve watching Russell Crowe fighting in the colosseum, strong reporting can still bring any reader deep into a moment.

Your biggest ally is your notes

Note taking, at this point in my life and career, soothes me. Whether I’m in class, in a meeting or in the field, writing down information is both a necessary tool and an emotional comfort. Sometimes, the best thing a reporter can be is quiet, and notetaking helps with that. My professor says that even the strongest of memories are fainter than the lightest of ink. Give yourself the space to absorb the situation and melt into your notebook.

What to notice and write down?

• The atmosphere at an event
• What people are wearing
• People’s mannerisms
• The sound of the room
• The sound of someone’s voice
• The color of the walls

You probably get the gist: Make anything that you usually observe subconsciously conscious. Describing the scene with senses can help bring your reader there.

And as a radio journalist, I always have a recorder on me, which means I’m always listening for noise that can help bring a listener to where I am. What are the protestors shouting? Are there birds singing? How about the champagne popping at the election night watch party?

Help your sources help you

I’m learning that the power of journalistic writing isn’t necessarily about crafting the most beautifully constructed sentence; it’s about solid reporting and clear writing that can educate your reader, but that also has the ability to transport them to any place in the world, and help them understand the significance of that world.

That can feel overwhelming, especially on deadline. But I’m also learning that you have to do this on your own: Small questions to sources during an interview can help contextualize their experience beyond the basic facts. Examples:

• What was the weather like that day?
• Did you notice anything different about the people you interact with?
• What did you eat for breakfast? What were you wearing?

One of my toughest assignments last semester was an audio profile of Richard, an elderly man, who found that art classes at the local arts alliance helped him build a community that supported him while his wife was in hospice care.

I was initially uncomfortable approaching sensitive emotional topics with Richard, but having two interviews really helped me narrow my story. I brainstormed with my instructor and she helped me find appropriate ways to ask questions that were at the heart of Richard’s experience.

• Tell me about your wife.
• How did you meet?
• Where is your wife in the home?
• Does she see your art when you come home?

Asking deeper questions helped me capture a story beyond a man sitting at a table painting a still life. I got a feel for the bond he and his wife shared, how her hair sparkled when they met, how she supervises Richard’s cooking skills from the living room, how she lights up when Richard shows her his art work, some of which now hangs on their walls.

I used sound to bring listeners right into the art classes, with the chatter of the community, the scratch of charcoal and Richard’s commentary while he sketches.

Less is more

With strong emotions like grief, love and outrage, less is more. Let your audience feel it for themselves. If you bring your reader into the room, you won’t have to spell out the situation to them. One saying that might be useful: “The hotter the story, the cooler the type.”

Sometimes stories might lead individuals to action, especially when there’s frustration or even outrage expressed. This is why your article basics are so essential: Making your story bulletproof means your audience has the right information they need if they decide act.

Never forget the foundations

Don’t think telling a story lets you forget the who, what, when, where, why and how. But you can report them in more expansive and creative ways than just-the-facts:

• Who are my characters beyond their name and title?
• What was the scene like? What action(s) happened?
• Where do I want to bring my reader to let them experience the story?
• When are these events happening? How will I help my audience move through time?
• What’s the causal path that led to this moment? What motivated this?
• How did this happen? What led to this situation? Are there unfamiliar or technical things I need to explain?

And never forget your nut graf, or your “so what?” What’s the relevance of this story to your audience? Why would it matter to them?

Here’s one example from earlier in the semester: Instead of telling my readers that a protest happened on campus in the afternoon, I told them that students stood out in freezing temperatures while their university was closed to protest administration . Though weather leads are usually clichés, in this case, it was a detail relevant to the story and a testament to the protestors’ dedication. I’d still consider the piece an article, but thinking like a storyteller helped add a touch of experience rather than just the cold, hard facts.

Another example of favorite storytelling is “ His name was Emmett Till ” by Wright Thompson . It includes minute details that would have passed by if you wern’t paying enough attention or taking enough notes, whether that’s during an interview or in a post-interview brain dump.

Like many stories from The Atlantic, the piece reads more like a novel than a news story. When Thompson visits Jeff Andrews on his property to visit the barn where Emmett Till was tortured, we know what Andrews is wearing, we hear the gravel crunching, we see the barn. The story uses time references to pull the reader to 1955 and back to the present. Readers might feel like they’re in Drew, Mississippi, where the barn is, or in Money, where 14-year-old Till was accused of making improper advances on a white woman named Carolyn Bryant. Till’s cousin, the Rev. Wheeler Parker, who was there, said that Till whistled at the woman. From the story:

Now the building is falling in on itself, overgrown with vines, ivy, and trees. In the owners’ desire for the store not to become a monument to a killing, it’s become something else: a monument to the desire, and ultimate failure, of white Mississippi to erase the stain of Till’s death.

The biggest takeaways

Ultimately, whether you’re reporting for an article or story, remember that people have many dimensions whose lives aren’t limited by the news situation they’re in. It’s our job as jouranlists to explain those dimensions in a way that’s relevant to the story and to the audience, whether you’re providing straightforward information or giving your reader a vicarious experience.

And although poetry isn’t my main gig anymore, I know that a keen eye and good questions can help you tell any story, whether that’s your own or a story of loss, love, and everything and anyone in-between.

Laine Cibulskis is a student at the University of Missouri studying journalism and economics. She reports for KBIA, mid-Missouri’s NPR affiliate.

Further Reading

“it smelled like margarine and white bread, marriage and cramped flats.”, by jacqui banaszynski, from nieman storyboard, the future of journalism in very good hands, by lauren kessler, a better way to teach writing try journalism, by elizabeth toohey.

Feature Writing

Ai generator.

“ Feature Writing is a creative form of journalism that focuses on engaging storytelling, providing relevant information, and offering a unique perspective to captivate readers. It involves crafting compelling narratives with clarity, coherence, and a strong narrative structure, while tailoring content to the target audience’s interests and preferences.”

What is Feature Writing?

Feature writing is a form of journalistic writing that focuses on specific events, issues, or people, providing more depth and detail than standard news reports. Unlike hard news stories, which primarily deal with the facts of who, what, when, and where, feature articles explore the how and why. They offer readers insight into the context and background of a subject, often emphasizing a narrative style. Feature articles are commonly found in magazines, newspapers, and online platforms, where there’s more space for exploration and stylistic flair.

Characteristics of Feature Writing

Feature articles are distinguished by several key characteristics:

• In-depth Exploration : Feature articles provide a deeper understanding of the topic, whether it’s a person, place, event, or issue. They go beyond mere facts to include the background, context, and in-depth details that paint a fuller picture.
• Narrative Style : Features often employ storytelling techniques, such as narratives and scenes, making them more engaging and relatable. They might follow a structured plot with a clear beginning, middle, and end, drawing the reader into the story.
• Emotional Engagement : These pieces frequently aim to evoke emotions, connecting the audience with the subject matter on a personal level. Whether it’s excitement, sympathy, or curiosity, the emotional pull is a crucial element.
• Subject Variety : The topics can range widely, from profiles of influential people, in-depth analysis of a social trend, descriptive accounts of events, or explorative pieces on cultural phenomena.
• Attention to Detail : Feature writers pay close attention to details, often using descriptive language that helps the reader visualize the setting and understand the characters involved in the story.

Different Types of Feature Writing

Feature writing encompasses various styles and forms, each tailored to deliver content in a unique and engaging manner. Here’s an overview of some common types of feature writing that cater to diverse reader interests and preferences:

1.Profile Features

• Profile features are intimate portraits of individuals, providing insight into their lives, careers, and personalities. These features often include interviews and observations and aim to reveal the character’s impact, motivations, and personal stories.
• Examples : A day in the life of a renowned chef. Profile of an up-and-coming athlete.

2.Human Interest Features

• Human interest stories focus on the emotional or sentimental side of events or individuals, aiming to connect with the reader on a personal level. These stories often highlight personal achievements, struggles, or unusual experiences.
• Examples : The journey of someone who has overcome a significant challenge, such as a major illness or adversity. The impact of a community project on the lives of local residents.

3.News Features

• News features provide background and context to current news stories, offering deeper insights than standard news reports. They delve into the “how” and “why,” giving readers a broader understanding of the significance and implications of the news.
• Examples : The effects of a new government policy on small businesses. Behind-the-scenes look at a major international summit.

4.Instructional Features

• Instructional features aim to educate and inform by providing step-by-step guidance on various processes or activities. These articles are practical and direct, helping readers understand complex tasks or learn new skills.
• Examples : How to start a vegetable garden in your backyard. Tips and tricks for mastering digital photography.

5.Historical Features

• These features explore significant events from the past, offering insights into their impact on the present. They draw connections between past and current events, providing a historical perspective that enriches understanding.
• Examples : The evolution of civil rights in America. A retrospective on the technology boom of the late 20th century.

6.Seasonal Features

• Seasonal features are timely pieces that relate to events, holidays, or phenomena specific to a particular time of year. They are relevant and engaging due to their immediate connection to the season or occasion.
• Best summer festivals in the United States. Winter holiday traditions around the world.

7.Behind-the-Scenes Features

• These articles provide a glimpse into places, processes, or events that the average person might not have access to, offering a backstage view of different worlds.
• Examples : Inside a top Michelin-starred restaurant’s kitchen. The preparation and execution of a major fashion show.

What is the Difference Between a News Story and a Feature Story?

Feature writing in journalism.

Feature writing in journalism occupies a unique space that combines in-depth reporting with creative storytelling. It serves to illuminate the broader contexts, delve into personal stories, and examine the implications of events and trends. Unlike hard news, which delivers the immediate facts of an event or issue, feature writing explores themes and ideas at a deeper level, engaging the reader with a mix of factual reporting and narrative techniques.

The Role of Feature Writing

Feature writing enhances journalistic endeavors by providing:

• Depth and Context : Features dig deeper than the basic facts, offering readers a comprehensive view of the topic.
• Human Element : By focusing on personal stories and experiences, features highlight the human impact of broader events and issues.
• Engagement and Retention : The narrative style of features draws readers in and keeps them engaged, increasing reader retention and involvement.

Challenges in Feature Writing

While feature writing is rewarding, it presents challenges such as:

• Time Consumption : Due to the depth of research and writing required, features take longer to produce than standard news stories.
• Balancing Facts and Style : Writers must ensure that their creative storytelling does not overshadow the factual accuracy of the reporting.
• Emotional Involvement : Maintaining objectivity can be challenging when dealing with stories that evoke strong emotions.

Feature Writing Examples

• Profile of a Local Hero : Exploring the life and impact of a firefighter who saved lives during a recent catastrophic event.
• Behind-the-Scenes at a Bakery : A day in the life of a master baker who crafts artisan breads at a popular local bakery.
• Reviving the Art of Handwritten Letters : A feature on communities and individuals who are bringing back the tradition of handwritten correspondence.
• The Rise of Urban Gardening : How city dwellers are transforming their rooftops and balconies into lush green spaces.
• Journey Through Traditional Music : A deep dive into the resurgence of folk music in rural Appalachia.
• The Challenge of Remote Education : Chronicling the experiences of teachers and students adapting to online learning during a global pandemic.
• The Craft of Artisanal Coffee : Following a bean from its origins in Ethiopia to a cup of coffee in a trendy urban café.
• Wildlife Conservation Efforts : Spotlighting a wildlife conservationist working to protect endangered species in Madagascar.
• Vintage Fashion Comeback : A feature on how vintage clothing is becoming mainstream and influencing contemporary fashion designers.
• Innovations in Renewable Energy : Profiling new technologies that are making solar and wind power more accessible and efficient.

Feature Writing Examples for Students

• A Day in the Life of a College President : Explore the responsibilities and daily activities of a college president, including their role in shaping educational policies and student life.
• The Science Behind Study Habits : Investigate how different study techniques affect learning outcomes, featuring insights from educational psychologists and students’ personal experiences.
• Eco-Friendly Schools : Profile a school that has implemented green initiatives, from recycling programs to solar-powered classrooms, and the impact on the school community.
• Student Entrepreneurs : Highlight students who have started their own businesses while managing school responsibilities, focusing on their challenges and successes.
• The Evolution of School Lunches : A look at how school cafeterias are transforming meals to be healthier and more appealing to students across various regions.
• Technology in the Classroom : Feature the integration of technology in education, showcasing specific tools and apps that enhance learning and student engagement.
• Arts in Education : Delve into the importance of arts programs in schools by profiling a successful school band, theater group, or art class and exploring the benefits of artistic expression.
• Sports and Teamwork : Follow a school sports team through a season, emphasizing how sports foster skills like teamwork, discipline, and resilience.
• Study Abroad Experiences : Share stories from students who have studied abroad, focusing on the cultural and educational impacts of their experiences.
• Impact of Mentorship Programs : Examine a mentorship program within a school or community, highlighting the relationships between mentors and mentees and the program’s influence on personal and academic growth.

Tips for Features

• Choose an Interesting Topic Select a subject that not only interests you but will also captivate your readers. It could be a person, an event, or a trend that offers rich details and a compelling story.
• Do Thorough Research Gather as much information as possible. This includes background research, interviews with experts or key personalities, and firsthand observations. The more detailed and accurate your information, the more credible your article will be.
• Create a Strong Hook Start with a compelling introduction that grabs attention. Use an intriguing fact, a powerful quote, or a vivid scene to draw readers into the story.
• Develop a Clear Structure Organize your content logically. While news stories often use the inverted pyramid structure, feature articles can follow a more narrative style. Plan out your beginning, middle, and end to ensure a smooth flow of information and story.
• Use Descriptive Language Employ vivid descriptions to bring your scenes to life. Let your readers visualize the settings and understand the emotions of the characters involved. Use sensory details to enhance the storytelling.
• Include Direct Quotes Incorporate quotes from your interviews to add authenticity and depth. Quotes can provide personal insights and highlight the human aspect of your story.
• Show, Don’t Tell Instead of merely telling readers about the situation, show it through details, actions, and words. This technique helps in creating a more immersive reading experience.
• Keep the Tone Appropriate Match the tone of your writing to the subject of your feature. A light-hearted topic can have a playful tone, while more serious subjects might require a formal approach.
• Edit and Revise Once your first draft is complete, revise it for clarity, accuracy, and engagement. Editing is crucial to ensure that the narrative flows well and is free of grammatical errors.
• Seek Feedback Before finalizing your article, get feedback from peers or mentors. Fresh eyes can offer valuable insights and suggest improvements that might have been overlooked.

Style and Objective of Feature Writing

Objective of feature writing.

The primary objectives of feature writing include:

• Educating and Informing : While a feature article provides in-depth coverage of a topic, it also educates the reader by offering thorough background information, explaining the complexities, and presenting multiple perspectives.
• Engaging and Entertaining : Through narrative techniques, features aim to hold the reader’s interest with a well-told story, potentially including elements of drama, humor, and emotional appeal.
• Providing Insight : Features often go beyond the surface of news facts to explore the underlying issues or personal stories, offering readers a deeper understanding of the subject matter.
• Evoking Empathy : By focusing on human interest elements, features can evoke empathy and a personal connection, helping readers to see issues from the perspectives of others.
• Inspiring Change : Many features aim to inspire action or change by highlighting stories of personal achievement, innovation, or community development.

Style of Feature Writing

Feature writing allows for a range of stylistic expressions that can vary greatly depending on the topic and the intended audience. Some key stylistic elements include:

• Narrative Flow : Unlike the inverted pyramid structure of hard news, features often follow a narrative arc that introduces characters, builds up a storyline, and concludes with a resolution or reflection, much like a short story.
• Descriptive Detail : Features frequently use descriptive language to create vivid imagery and bring stories to life. This involves detailed descriptions of people, places, and events that engage the senses of the reader.
• Personal Voice : Feature writers may inject their own voice and style into the article, offering personal insights or drawn conclusions, which is less common in traditional news writing.
• Direct Quotes and Dialogue : Incorporating direct quotes and dialogues enriches the authenticity of the piece, providing personal viewpoints and adding a dynamic layer to the storytelling.
• Emotional Depth : The use of emotional elements, whether through the exploration of joy, struggle, or triumph, helps to connect deeply with the reader, making the story memorable and impactful.

FAQ’s

What is the rule for feature writing.

The rule for feature writing is to engage readers with compelling storytelling, relevant information, and a unique angle, all while maintaining clarity, coherence, and a strong narrative structure.

What skills are essential for feature writing?

Essential skills for feature writing include strong research and interviewing techniques, excellent storytelling abilities, the capability to evoke imagery and emotions through words, and the skill to craft well-structured narratives that keep readers engaged from start to finish.

How important are sources in feature writing?

Sources are incredibly important in feature writing as they lend credibility and depth to the narrative. Interviews with direct stakeholders, experts, and eyewitnesses provide the foundational facts and diverse perspectives that enrich the storytelling and factual basis of the feature.

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

10 Examples of Public speaking

20 Examples of Gas lighting

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Writer and journalist Rex Murphy dead at 77

Murphy wrote for newspapers, also appeared on radio and tv during decades-long media career.

Rex Murphy, long-time CBC Radio host and commentator, dead at 77

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Rex Murphy, the controversial Newfoundland-born pundit and wordsmith whose writing and often-blistering commentaries were the focus of a decades-long career in Canadian media, has died at the age of 77, according to the National Post.

"You might not agree with what Rex had to say, but oh, boy, could he ever say it," said comedian and fellow Newfoundlander Mark Critch, who performed an impression of Murphy on  This Hour Has 22 Minutes .

In a report published on the Post's website  on Thursday, the newspaper said Murphy died after a battle with cancer, and he had last corresponded with an editor there on Tuesday, inquiring about his most-recent column.

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey posted a statement on the social platform X Thursday saying that people there "are mourning one of our own tonight, and sending condolences to his family and friends."

Murphy's "quick wit and mastery of words were unmatched, and his presence was significant — whether or not everyone always agreed," Furey said, echoing a theme that Critch touched upon in his own remembrances.

Critch told CBC News that he'd "only known a world with Rex in it," explaining that he grew up next to a radio station where his father worked, along with Murphy.

Comedian Mark Critch calls Rex Murphy 'the greatest wordsmith in a place known for talkers'

"As a little boy, I remember seeing this man with wild hair in a golden turtleneck, listening to music with dad at the house and he was larger than life," Critch said Thursday.

Former prime minister Stephen Harper, in a tribute posted on social media , remembered Murphy as "one of the most intelligent and fiercely free-thinking journalists this country has ever known."

In another social media tribute, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called Murphy "an icon, a pioneer of independent, eloquent and fearless thought, and always a captivating orator who never lost his touch."

Newspapers, radio and TV

Murphy graduated from Newfoundland's Memorial University before attending Oxford University as a Rhodes   Scholar in 1968 .

He got his start lending a hand at the private radio station VOCM in St. John's, backfilling a talk show while its host went on vacation.

Murphy would go on to spend many years working with CBC, including work on both radio and television. He was a National Post columnist at the time of his death and had previously written columns for The Globe and Mail.

"When Rex had something to say, he knew exactly what he wanted to say and how he wanted to say it," Kevin Libin, a longtime editor of Murphy's work at Postmedia, told CBC News on Thursday evening.

Murphy hosted Cross Country Checkup on CBC Radio  for more than two decades and was a familiar face to longtime viewers of CBC's The National . His appearances on CBC-TV date as far back as the 1970s.

Controversies and criticism

Murphy's work drew criticism, at times, including for accepting paid speaking engagements for the oil industry.

In 2014, while still hosting Cross Country Checkup  and regularly contributing TV essays to The National , members of the public complained to CBC's ombudsman that Murphy was in a conflict of interest for doing paid speeches at oil industry gatherings.

Rex Murphy on Canadian values

Murphy had long defended the sector, including on CBC, saying the oil boom saved many of his friends and fellow Newfoundlanders from economic ruin when the East Coast fisheries collapsed.

As for the speeches, he said nobody controlled what he said — not the oil industry, and not the CBC.

Later in life, Murphy became a loud detractor of the federal Liberal Party — despite having twice run as a provincial Liberal candidate in the mid-1980s — and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government. 

But he still had Liberals who admired him, such as longtime politician Bob Rae who posted on X that while they disagreed on many things he never lost "affection and admiration for him. He loved Newfoundland and Canada and was fearless."

He was also an outspoken opponent of "wokeism," progressive ideology sensitive to systemic inequities, and argued in his column that conservative voices like his were being pushed to the margins.

In a 2022 column, he decried "the frenzy of woke politics and the cancel culture it has bred and nourished, the prescriptions on what may or may not be debated or talked about."

Two years earlier, he'd been at the centre of one such frenzy for another piece of writing in the National Post.

A week after Minneapolis police murdered George Floyd, a Black man, Murphy accused liberals — both in general and in the party — of trumping up racism in Canada.

"Most Canadians, the vast majority in fact, are horrified by racism and would never participate in it," he wrote. "We are in fact not a racist country, though to say so may shock some."

The column was widely decried, prompting an editorial review at the Post, which eventually added a note at the top of the piece saying it fell short of the newspaper's standards.

Rex Murphy, on Newfoundland outport fishing

With files from The Canadian Press

Related Stories

• Rex Murphy remembered as opinionated wordsmith, fierce Newfoundlander

What causes the different colours of the aurora? An expert explains the electric rainbow

Professor of Chemistry, UNSW Sydney

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Last week, a huge solar flare sent a wave of energetic particles from the Sun surging out through space. Over the weekend, the wave reached Earth, and people around the world enjoyed the sight of unusually vivid aurora in both hemispheres.

While the aurora is normally only visible close to the poles, this weekend it was spotted as far south as Hawaii in the northern hemisphere, and as far north as Mackay in the south.

This spectacular spike in auroral activity appears to have ended, but don’t worry if you missed out. The Sun is approaching the peak of its 11-year sunspot cycle , and periods of intense aurora are likely to return over the next year or so.

If you saw the aurora, or any of the photos, you might be wondering what exactly was going on. What makes the glow, and the different colours? The answer is all about atoms, how they get excited – and how they relax.

When electrons meet the atmosphere

The auroras are caused by charged subatomic particles (mostly electrons) smashing into Earth’s atmosphere. These are emitted from the Sun all the time, but there are more during times of greater solar activity.

Most of our atmosphere is protected from the influx of charged particles by Earth’s magnetic field. But near the poles, they can sneak in and wreak havoc.

Earth’s atmosphere is about 20% oxygen and 80% nitrogen, with some trace amounts of other things like water, carbon dioxide (0.04%) and argon.

When high-speed electrons smash into oxygen molecules in the upper atmosphere, they split the oxygen molecules (O₂) into individual atoms. Ultraviolet light from the Sun does this too, and the oxygen atoms generated can react with O₂ molecules to produce ozone (O₃), the molecule that protects us from harmful UV radiation.

But, in the case of the aurora, the oxygen atoms generated are in an excited state. This means the atoms’ electrons are arranged in an unstable way that can “relax” by giving off energy in the form of light.

What makes the green light?

As you see in fireworks, atoms of different elements produce different colours of light when they are energised.

Copper atoms give a blue light, barium is green, and sodium atoms produce a yellow–orange colour that you may also have seen in older street lamps. These emissions are “allowed” by the rules of quantum mechanics, which means they happen very quickly.

When a sodium atom is in an excited state it only stays there for around 17 billionths of a second before firing out a yellow–orange photon.

But, in the aurora, many of the oxygen atoms are created in excited states with no “allowed” ways to relax by emitting light. Nevertheless, nature finds a way.

The green light that dominates the aurora is emitted by oxygen atoms relaxing from a state called “¹S” to a state called “¹D”. This is a relatively slow process, which on average takes almost a whole second.

In fact, this transition is so slow it won’t usually happen at the kind of air pressure we see at ground level, because the excited atom will have lost energy by bumping into another atom before it has a chance to send out a lovely green photon. But in the atmosphere’s upper reaches, where there is lower air pressure and therefore fewer oxygen molecules, they have more time before bumping into one another and therefore have a chance to release a photon.

For this reason, it took scientists a long time to figure out that the green light of the aurora was coming from oxygen atoms. The yellow–orange glow of sodium was known in the 1860s, but it wasn’t until the 1920s that Canadian scientists figured out the auroral green was due to oxygen.

What makes the red light?

The green light comes from a so-called “forbidden” transition, which happens when an electron in the oxygen atom executes an unlikely leap from one orbital pattern to another. (Forbidden transitions are much less probable than allowed ones, which means they take longer to occur.)

However, even after emitting that green photon, the oxygen atom finds itself in yet another excited state with no allowed relaxation. The only escape is via another forbidden transition, from the ¹D to the ³P state – which emits red light.

This transition is even more forbidden, so to speak, and the ¹D state has to survive for about about two minutes before it can finally break the rules and give off red light. Because it takes so long, the red light only appears at high altitudes, where the collisions with other atoms and molecules are scarce.

Also, because there is such a small amount of oxygen up there, the red light tends to appear only in intense auroras – like the ones we have just had.

This is why the red light appears above the green. While they both originate in forbidden relaxations of oxygen atoms, the red light is emitted much more slowly and has a higher chance of being extinguished by collisions with other atoms at lower altitudes.

Other colours, and why cameras see them better

While green is the most common colour to see in the aurora, and red the second most common, there are also other colours. In particular, ionised nitrogen molecules (N₂⁺, which are missing one electron and have a positive electrical charge), can emit blue and red light. This can produce a magenta hue at low altitudes.

All these colours are visible to the naked eye if the aurora is bright enough. However, they show up with more intensity in the camera lens.

There are two reasons for this. First, cameras have the benefit of a long exposure, which means they can spend more time collecting light to produce an image than our eyes can. As a result, they can make a picture in dimmer conditions.

The second is that the colour sensors in our eyes don’t work very well in the dark – so we tend to see in black and white in low light conditions. Cameras don’t have this limitation.

Not to worry, though. When the aurora is bright enough, the colours are clearly visible to the naked eye.

Read more: What are auroras, and why do they come in different shapes and colours? Two experts explain

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• Published: 08 May 2024

Accurate structure prediction of biomolecular interactions with AlphaFold 3

• Josh Abramson   ORCID: orcid.org/0009-0000-3496-6952 1   na1 ,
• Jonas Adler   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-9928-3407 1   na1 ,
• Jack Dunger 1   na1 ,
• Richard Evans   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-4675-8469 1   na1 ,
• Tim Green   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-3227-1505 1   na1 ,
• Alexander Pritzel   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4233-9040 1   na1 ,
• Olaf Ronneberger   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4266-1515 1   na1 ,
• Lindsay Willmore   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-4314-0778 1   na1 ,
• Andrew J. Ballard   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-4956-5304 1 ,
• Joshua Bambrick   ORCID: orcid.org/0009-0003-3908-0722 2 ,
• Sebastian W. Bodenstein 1 ,
• David A. Evans 1 ,
• Chia-Chun Hung   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-5264-9165 2 ,
• Michael O’Neill 1 ,
• David Reiman   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-1605-7197 1 ,
• Kathryn Tunyasuvunakool   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-8594-1074 1 ,
• Zachary Wu   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-2429-9812 1 ,
• Akvilė Žemgulytė 1 ,
• Eirini Arvaniti 3 ,
• Charles Beattie   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-1840-054X 3 ,
• Ottavia Bertolli   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-8578-3216 3 ,
• Alex Bridgland 3 ,
• Alexey Cherepanov   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-5227-0622 4 ,
• Miles Congreve 4 ,
• Alexander I. Cowen-Rivers 3 ,
• Andrew Cowie   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4491-1434 3 ,
• Michael Figurnov   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-1386-8741 3 ,
• Fabian B. Fuchs 3 ,
• Hannah Gladman 3 ,
• Rishub Jain 3 ,
• Yousuf A. Khan   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-0201-2796 3 ,
• Caroline M. R. Low 4 ,
• Kuba Perlin 3 ,
• Anna Potapenko 3 ,
• Pascal Savy 4 ,
• Sukhdeep Singh 3 ,
• Adrian Stecula   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-6914-6743 4 ,
• Ashok Thillaisundaram 3 ,
• Catherine Tong   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-7570-4801 4 ,
• Sergei Yakneen   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-7827-9839 4 ,
• Ellen D. Zhong   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-6345-1907 3 ,
• Michal Zielinski 3 ,
• Augustin Žídek   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-0748-9684 3 ,
• Victor Bapst 1   na2 ,
• Pushmeet Kohli   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-7466-7997 1   na2 ,
• Max Jaderberg   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-9033-2695 2   na2 ,
• Demis Hassabis   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-2812-9917 1 , 2   na2 &
• John M. Jumper   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-6169-6580 1   na2  

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• Drug discovery
• Machine learning
• Protein structure predictions
• Structural biology

The introduction of AlphaFold 2 1 has spurred a revolution in modelling the structure of proteins and their interactions, enabling a huge range of applications in protein modelling and design 2–6 . In this paper, we describe our AlphaFold 3 model with a substantially updated diffusion-based architecture, which is capable of joint structure prediction of complexes including proteins, nucleic acids, small molecules, ions, and modified residues. The new AlphaFold model demonstrates significantly improved accuracy over many previous specialised tools: far greater accuracy on protein-ligand interactions than state of the art docking tools, much higher accuracy on protein-nucleic acid interactions than nucleic-acid-specific predictors, and significantly higher antibody-antigen prediction accuracy than AlphaFold-Multimer v2.3 7,8 . Together these results show that high accuracy modelling across biomolecular space is possible within a single unified deep learning framework.

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Author information.

These authors contributed equally: Josh Abramson, Jonas Adler, Jack Dunger, Richard Evans, Tim Green, Alexander Pritzel, Olaf Ronneberger, Lindsay Willmore

These authors jointly supervised this work: Victor Bapst, Pushmeet Kohli, Max Jaderberg, Demis Hassabis, John M. Jumper

Authors and Affiliations

Core Contributor, Google DeepMind, London, UK

Josh Abramson, Jonas Adler, Jack Dunger, Richard Evans, Tim Green, Alexander Pritzel, Olaf Ronneberger, Lindsay Willmore, Andrew J. Ballard, Sebastian W. Bodenstein, David A. Evans, Michael O’Neill, David Reiman, Kathryn Tunyasuvunakool, Zachary Wu, Akvilė Žemgulytė, Victor Bapst, Pushmeet Kohli, Demis Hassabis & John M. Jumper

Core Contributor, Isomorphic Labs, London, UK

Joshua Bambrick, Chia-Chun Hung, Max Jaderberg & Demis Hassabis

Google DeepMind, London, UK

Eirini Arvaniti, Charles Beattie, Ottavia Bertolli, Alex Bridgland, Alexander I. Cowen-Rivers, Andrew Cowie, Michael Figurnov, Fabian B. Fuchs, Hannah Gladman, Rishub Jain, Yousuf A. Khan, Kuba Perlin, Anna Potapenko, Sukhdeep Singh, Ashok Thillaisundaram, Ellen D. Zhong, Michal Zielinski & Augustin Žídek

Isomorphic Labs, London, UK

Alexey Cherepanov, Miles Congreve, Caroline M. R. Low, Pascal Savy, Adrian Stecula, Catherine Tong & Sergei Yakneen

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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Max Jaderberg , Demis Hassabis or John M. Jumper .

Supplementary information

Supplementary information.

This Supplementary Information file contains the following 9 sections: (1) Notation; (2) Data pipeline; (3) Model architecture; (4) Auxiliary heads; (5) Training and inference; (6) Evaluation; (7) Differences to AlphaFold2 and AlphaFold-Multimer; (8) Supplemental Results; and (9) Appendix: CCD Code and PDB ID tables.

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Abramson, J., Adler, J., Dunger, J. et al. Accurate structure prediction of biomolecular interactions with AlphaFold 3. Nature (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07487-w

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Published : 08 May 2024

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07487-w

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