Journalism Workbook

2

Feature writing (general)

SINCE features tend to have greater length and complexity, more time needs to be allowed for gathering the material and writing it up than in news reports. The required skills are also more varied. The work is often specialized both in subject and market; feature writers on top of reporting ability, have to be versed in finding ideas and fitting them to markets, in researching at greater depth, in planning an effective structure and evolving a style for articles that analyse, explain and argue with conviction and readability, and do these things in terms of a targeted readership. (See notes on style and structure on pages 61–3.)

Some young writers find they are better at originating ideas than in buiding on them, ...