Feature Writing

Offered By: University of Kent via FutureLearn

Course Description

Overview

Learn how to write a feature article

This four-week course will help you explore the feature landscape to help you understand the crucial difference between a news story and a feature.

You’ll learn how feature writers get their ideas as you discover the importance of research and valuable sources. With this understanding, you’ll put what you have learned into practice and complete an exercise to get the ideas flowing for your own feature.

Explore the vital ingredients for first-class feature articles

Delving into the key components of a feature article, you’ll learn the best techniques for interviewing people to help take your ideas and turn them into long-form pieces.

You’ll think about the value of originality and some of the ethical dilemmas you could face as a feature writer.

You’ll also examine different types of features to understand their common principles before being guided through a practical exercise to help you learn key structural tips.

Discover the art of writing an opinion piece

Finally, you’ll explore the opinionated side of journalism – reviews, opinion columns, and news-based blogs.

Having already explored the value of impartiality in journalism, you’ll understand the ethical and legal difficulties you could face when producing opinion pieces.

This course is designed for aspiring writers or journalists with an interest in media reporting.

Syllabus

Feature writing

Welcome to feature writing
What is a feature?
Where do features appear?
Where do you get your ideas from?
Weekly wrap up

Vital ingredients for feature writing

Welcome to Week 2
From ideas to research
Pitch an idea for a feature
Planning a longer interview
Preparing for your own long-form interview
Weekly wrap up

Constructing a feature

Introduction to Week 3
How to construct a feature
Approaches to feature structure
Create an 'intro' to a feature
Weekly wrap up

Opinion columns, blogs and reviews

Introduction to Week 4
Shades of opinion or 'ranting reporters'?
What makes a good opinion column?
Writing riveting reviews
Ethical and legal dilemmas or problems when giving opinions
Write a review, opinion column or 'newsy blog'
End of Course 3

Taught by

Angela Harrison