PROFILES

Profiles• An entertaining, informative piece on a person (or

occasionally a group)• Depends on how well you can coax the subject into

revealing details of their private life• Also should talk with their friends, colleagues, relatives,

critics

Profiles• Get them to tell lots of stories (anecdotes)• The anecdotes make the reader relate to subject• Have strong opening and closing

Mas about features• Focus structure/the Wall Street Journal approach

Mas about features• Focus structure/the Wall Street Journal approach• By focusing on one individual, it makes complex issues

and numbers meaningful

“A SINGLE DEATH IS A TRAGEDY. A MILLION DEATHS IS A STATISTIC.”Joseph Stalin

How it looksFocus on individual > transition to larger issue > report on larger issue > return to opening focus

Even more about features• Add foreshadowing

Even more about features• Add foreshadowing• Goal is to ensure readers continue reading

Even more about features• Add foreshadowing• Goal is to ensure readers continue reading• Can be done in a single sentence or developed during

several grafs

Bret Hostetler, a 16-year old aspiring actor from Sarasota, knew if he aced the audition, his life would never be the same

Like millions of teenagers, Hostetler wants to find success in Hollywood and beyond. According to the Screen Actors Guild…

Yes, there’s more!• Add the “so-what”• Tell the readers why they should care that about the

individual you’re focusing on

Yes, there’s more!• Add the “so-what”• Tell the readers why they should care that about the

individual you’re focusing on• This is the “Impact” from ICNPPIE

Yes, there’s more• So if doing a story about migraine headaches: lede

with individual’s struggle > foreshadow something in their life that’s changed > talk about how many people have migraines in America > talk about how much this costs America > finish with individual’s problem you foreshadowed (for example: yes, they had to quit their job)

13 weeks of journalism: a review• Why study journalism?

13 weeks of journalism: a review• First Amendment• Most/least media free nations• History of journalism… starting with Luke and through to

today’s on-line world

13 weeks of journalism: a review• What is news?• Know your audience• I Can Never Prepare Pancakes In England• Never be dull• Accuracy/fairness/objectivity

13 weeks of journalism: a review• Interviewing• Starts with great notes• Notebook/recorder/computer• Preparation• During interview• On the record/off the record/on background

13 weeks of journalism: a review• Types of interviews• Use of quotes• Attribution

13 weeks of journalism: a review• Inverted pyramid journalism• Five Ws (and an H)

13 weeks of journalism: a review• Ledes

Writing great ledes• Collect all your facts• Sum it up, boil it down• Prioritize the five Ws (and an H)• Rethink, revise, rewrite• Is it clear?• Is it active?• Is it wordy?• Is it compelling?• Is it news??????

13 weeks of journalism: a review• Other types of ledes

13 weeks of journalism: a review• After the lede• Briefs• Brites• Nut graf• Story structure: Martini glass, Kabob, WSJ• Features and profiles

Assignment 11/19• Pages 18-27• Would it be a nice day for a quiz?