8/13/2019 FEATS - Handout How to Write a Feature (1) 2011

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How to write an analytical feature - IIJ Economic Journalism Berlin 2011

So how do we write a good feature?

What are the key ingredients?

1 !efine the "E# $%E&'I() it is trying to answer *Bad +uestion , ad feature

2 It has a &'.%/'%.E

It has (/%&E! /()'E)'

It has a 3.I44I)3 I)'.(

5 It has a readale &'#6E

7 It has a 48#( thatfeelslike an ending

Lets look at these in more detail...

1 'HE 4(I)' ( 'HE E8'%.E9

%nless you ha:e identified the key +uestion you are trying to answer; you are

ne:er going to write a good feature< 8 feature is not o=inion< It is not a rant< It is

an attem=t to look dis=assionately; at the e:idence and =ro:ide some kind ofanswer to a to=ical +uestion go ust?

What future for &tate 8irline?

'his e:en a==lies to =rofiles9

Has /hief Eecuti:e &unil .amakrishnant got a sound strategy for the

com=any he is running?

What does /hief Eecuti:e @ohammed 8li think aout the key issues

affecting his com=anyAthe economy

Why is it worth kee=ing an eye on Economics @inister 8=ril (dinga

&o figure out the $%E&'I() you are trying to answer

8/13/2019 FEATS - Handout How to Write a Feature (1) 2011

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)ow; the +uestion may or may not e your own

'< &o many features fail

ecause they are written for insiders< 'o remind yourself what contet you

need to include; imagine you ha:e Gust arri:ed from @ars

8/13/2019 FEATS - Handout How to Write a Feature (1) 2011

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If you are writing aout a com=any; you need to say what it does; how igit is; how =rofitale *or otherwise it is; why it matters< If you are writing

aout an indi:idual; say where he or she is from *=lace; =re:ious Gos;

whate:er has sha=ed themmaye e:en where they seem to e goingto

#ou also need to =ro:ide any necessary history; geogra=hy; and so on; ande=lain technical terms so that they can e understood y your readers or

listeners< !( )(' (E.E&'I@8'E their financial literacy; or their

fascination with the suGect