Personality feature stories

PR Writing class

Feature profile or bio?

• Bios provide factual information about the person – their current title and employer, work history, educational background, professional achievements.

• Bios usually accompanied by a photo.

Feature profile or bio?

• Feature personality profiles offer a window into the subject, using anecdotes, interesting facts and colorful quotes to bring the individual to life for the readers.

• Feature stories can answer questions such as what makes this person special? What drives him or her? What are they known for?

• Feature stories don’t have to follow a chronological order or tell everything about the person’s past.

Lead paragraphs

• Think: What is the purpose of a lead paragraph?

• A lead paragraph (and most other paragraphs too) should not exceed 3 to 4 lines of type on an 8 ½ x 11 sheet. Keep it short!

• Keep a tight focus. Don’t wander around.

Quotes

• Minimum of two quotes for this assignment.• Quotes must be full sentence, not fragments.• Quotes should add value and “flavor” to the story,

saying things that aren’t just factual information and that reflect the character or personality of the subject.

• Every new quote requires starting a new paragraph.

Attribution

• In quotes: Attribution is necessary and should come at the end of the first sentence.

• In quotes: Stick with “said” not “says,” “exclaimed” or other words. Follow subject/verb order where possible, but story flow and easy reading take priority.

Attribution

• Attribution is required throughout the story, not only in direct quotes.

• We, as writers, cannot know how a subject “feels” or what they “believe.” But we can say that “Sally said she believes … ” Use attribution in all such sentence constructions when opinion, feeling or belief is being expressed.

Attribution example

• She enjoys working for Dr. Bacon.

vs.

• She said she enjoys working for Dr. Bacon.

Attribution example

• Nicodemus feels passionate about the environmental issues …

vs.

• Nicodemus said he feels passionate about the environmental issues …

Transitioning into quotes

• Bad: Varner ended the conversation by saying, “ACU lives by their mission … ”

• Bad: When asked about his dream job, Mendenhall said, “I think this would … ”

• Better: Mendenhall’s love for kids is seen not only in his love for each of his children, but also in his commitment to coaching.

“I’ve spent a long time coaching kids’ soccer,” he said.

Precision and accuracy

• Be specific, be precise and always be accurate.• Check stuff out! Look it up!

Example: “Stephanie Carlton, the secretary for ACU’s JMC department, … ”

Remember what we said about the word “professor.”

Slang

• “Joey started doing the Fire Academy … ”

• “After getting his undergrad at ACU … ”