Writing Feature Articles: Print, Digital and Online

Description

Writing Feature Articles presents clear and engaging advice for students and young professionals on working as a freelance feature writer. This fifth edition not only covers producing content for print, but also for digital platforms and online. Mary Hogarth offers comprehensive guidance on every aspect of feature writing, from having the initial idea and conducting market and subject research, to choosing the right target audience and publishing platform and successfully pitching the article. In addition, the book instructs students on developing their own journalistic style and effectively structuring their feature. Each chapter then concludes with an action plan to help students put what they have read into practice. Topics include: Life as a freelance Building a professional profile Telling a story with images Developing a specialism Interviewing skills Profile and interview articles Working in publicity and advertising A career in magazines and newspapers Getting published overseas Understanding issues in media law and regulation The book also provides an extensive range of interviews with successful media professionals, including a newspaper editor, a money, health and lifestyle journalist, a copywriter and an award-winning columnist, where they share their own experiences of working in the industry and offer invaluable tips on best practice. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of contents List of Figures List of Tables List of Contributors Foreword Acknowledgements 1 Introduction Elementary skills and resources Learning your trade Set up a workspace Gathering experience and networking Getting published Engage editorial teams Work placement opportunities 2 Life as a freelance Books, equipment and resources A productive home office Tools for organising data Writing is a business Organising your time Getting commissions Workflow and business records Set the rate and rights 3 Ideas are everywhere Ideas as a staff writer News stories Press releases Social media and the letters’ page How to get ideas as a freelance Finding suitable target markets Where to look Ideas from B2B magazines and professional journals Books are a great source of inspiration A word about techniques Get creative Using formulas and word associations Linear-logical thinking Develop a specialism An essential checklist 4 Market research Researching magazine markets Analyse adverts What media kits will tell you Content analysis Online opportunities Target new start-ups Newspaper markets An emphasis on features Specialists in demand Local papers Examples of local stories Reporting experience National papers Features with topical pegs When local becomes national Further resources 5 How to pitch successfully An editor’s point of view Preparing to pitch The pitch Example 1: a travel magazine editor receives a phone call Example 2: the woman’s magazine editor receives a call Pitch via email An example of a pitch Multiple pitches Develop a network Organising commissioned articles Start a feature file Problem features When to send specs Dealing with editors Dealing with rejection 6 Turn ideas into articles Feature opportunities Celebrity stories Changing times Pitfalls Your approach Children Different approaches Pitfalls Your approach Crime Different approaches Pitfalls Your approach Education Different approaches Pitfalls Your approach Health and medicine Different approaches Pitfalls Your approach Old age or retirement Different approaches Pitfalls Your approach Travel Different approaches Pitfalls Your approach Books 7 Research and interview techniques Finding reliable sources Background research Personal experience and legwork From legwork report to feature Build up your contacts Assessment of sources Social media and online resources A word on experts Interview strategies Effective approaches Some dos and don’ts Interview notes Quoting and paraphrasing How to organise notes Creative questioning Questions not to ask Persuasion techniques Awkward questions Something to hide? When to get legal advice How to elicit good quotes Choose the best interview method Acknowledge your sources Establish bonds with contacts Verification skills How many facts make the truth? Verifying figures Evaluating online sources 8 A cohesive structure The right components Organise your notes An engaging feature Focus on the readers’ interests Get the order right Taking a how-to approach Writing detailed, descriptive articles Taking care of the narrative Structuring arguments First drafts and the feature package A word about style and packaging Get the structure right How many quotes? Key components of the draft Headlines Intros that make an impact Get the right ending Turn your feature into a package 9 How to develop a strong style Get the description right Compelling narration A thorough explanation Arguing convincingly Essays, think pieces and polemics Find your own style 10 Images tell a story Images add impact Photos – relevance or art? Pictures for features Build up experience Relevant shots and getting permission Specialist photography Cameras, tips and resources Basic photo techniques Sending/uploading images Working with a photographer Getting pictures from other sources Captions are essential Photos from a business perspective Negotiating fees Creating a digital library Infographics, charts, maps and timelines An infographic Charts Maps Timelines Resources 11 Copywriting and PR From journalism to PR Advertising and PR defined Research is key Advertising copywriting Slogans with impact Developing the idea From PR to journalism Press releases Getting copy past editors Example of a press release Adapting to different markets Trade releases Obtaining publicity work Building your portfolio Specialist services 12 Specialist features, columns and reviews Part 1: Specialist features Finding opportunities Keeping ahead in your field A publishing strategy Pitching to specialist publications Producing specialist features Shape your copy Use the right language Beware of jargon Research and fact-checking Part 2: The art of columns Learning from the best Securing a column Finding the gap Types of columns How columnists work Part 3: The reviewer How to get started Potential markets On the job Writing up your copy Book reviews Music Art exhibitions The theatre TV and films 13 Interviews vs profiles Interviewees: choose wisely Getting commissioned Setting up the interview Getting past the minders Interview options Face-to-face Recording face-to-face interviews A phone interview The email interview Preparing questions What questions, in which order? A structured approach Interviewing techniques Be in control Techniques for tough questions Difficult interviewees Encouraging revelations Prepare to follow up Editing the transcript Summarise parts Formats for writing up Q&A The narrative The profile Always follow up 14 Worldwide markets Finding opportunities Getting started Writing for different countries Study the culture Finding opportunities Syndication 15 A career in magazines and newspapers My career path Publishing from a business perspective More opportunities are being created Work placements The industry view Advice on work experience When on placement A graduate’s perspective Build up a portfolio Mapping your future A word from the experts Toby Granville at Newsquest Rebecca Constable and Jason Alner at Haymarket Jonathan Telfer at Warners Group Publications PLC 16 Law and ethics: A rough guide Copyright Libel Defences to libel Good practices for avoiding libel Contempt Anonymity for vulnerable people Rights and restrictions when reporting court cases Privacy and data protection Data Protection law and General Data Protection Regulation Ethical concerns 17 Last word: An editor’s perspective, with Jonathan Telfer Appendix 1: Example of a freelance workflow income spreadsheet Appendix 2: NUJ Code of Conduct Appendix 3: IPSO – Editors’ Code of Practice Appendix 4: The Society of Authors’ Guide to Copyright and Permissions Appendix 5: Syndicates, news and press cuttings agencies References Bibliography Books Reference Basic reference library Publications Online Indexes to articles Magazines Index