SF Chronicle

Unemployment
Good News/Bad News
 A 'hook' lead

Workplace Sexual
Harassment
 A 'human peg' lead

Home Defaults
On The Rise
 A 'human peg' lead

SJ Mercury News

Credit Checks
for Job Applicant
( A 'hook' lead )

Ex-Silicon Valley
Exec Pleads Guilty


Pink Slip Series:
The Surprising Lessons
Learned
( A 'human peg' lead)

 

Video News
Features

Associated Press
Unemployment
What NOT to do!
Example of dull,
generic reporting.
Lots of information
but no personal
connection with
audience.

Better Video
 Approaches:

CNN:
Unemployed Trained
'Hook' lead approach

Faces of the
Unemployed
'Human Peg' approach

Here are the steps to developing a good news feature story:

 1. Get a clear understanding of your assignment.
Listen well the first time, connect assignment to your current events
knowledge, and ask clarifying questions if need be.
Critical thinking process...
Ask yourself immediately HOW does this topic affect my
readers or viewers? WHAT would make them care about my story?
WHO could I find to showcase the impact  this topic has on
everyday people's lives?

2. Quickly conduct research for timely & reliable information.
Know current events and think critically:
WHERE would I find pertinent facts, figures, quotes,
etc. from responsible sources. Consider logical places for info...i.e.
on campus, online, in the community, around the county, state, or
federal government agencies, non-profit groups and specialty
businesses and private groups. Get and save names, titles,
addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses for re-contact later.

3. Find an appropriate 'human peg' or 'hook' for your story.
After critically thinking about your assignment and talking with expert
sources about your assignment, identify people or some familiar
example which best highlights how your story really impacts people.
Once found, ask enough WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHERE? WHY?
& HOW? questions and get a good fix on the facts about their
connection to your assigned story. Take detailed notes on comments.

4. Listen closely & pick interesting comments from human peg.
Everyone has a unique take on their situations. Many times we all
can relate to their take on things, or sometimes their take is so
unique or creative, it inspires our curiosity. Give immediate consideration
to using something your human peg does or said to you
to tell their point of view and connect with readers and viewers.
Don't be afraid to use an expression, feeling, attitude, or activity
the human peg suggested to include in your story lead.

5. Combine timely news facts with the human peg in your lead.
Remember in journalism writing, no composition generics.
Get to the point of your specifically assigned story immediately, and
tie your human peg choice to those facts in some creative way.
No very long paragraph leads. (Two succinct sentences in print leads,
 two or three short sentences for online news leads.)
 Be conversational in approach.
Using human peg quotes is an option sometimes, not always.
(No stiff or dull style writing used in academic papers! Yuck!)

6. Next offer your most powerful or meaningful research info.
Showcase how good you are as a news writer. Give readers or
your audience substance which should be the very latest facts,
information or updates and SOURCES your spoke with
for your assigned news topic. Give proper attribution to sources
so your story does not sound like you offering your opinions.
Avoid being stiff or boring in your wording. Try more finesse or
you could turn off or lose your readers or audience.

7. Give audience more perspective next with background info.
Answer the question WHY should we care about your story?
Draw on your research and combine with with any pertinent
human peg or hook information you found. The middle of your
story should offer clarifications and more substance which is
evidence of your critical thinking skills as a news writer.
Know and meet your story length requirements. No excess.

8. Conclude by coming full circle back to your human peg again.
Bring back your lead hook or human peg and offer some thoughtful
perspective. Beware NOT to allow your personal opinions or
judgments to be come across so strong they sound imposing to the
reader or audience. Let your human peg's opinions or perspective
tie things together for you.

9. Edit your full story for all mistakes before submission.
Never wait for your editor to find and fix spelling or grammar errors,
or raise questions about the wording in your story. Go back and
review, line by line, every word and every content element and
ask yourself "Does this make sense? Does the info flow together?
If not fix it yourself! Take pride in doing so before your editor
takes a final look at your story.

10. Be open to changes & criticism. Learn from suggestions.
Editors are paid to offer a fine eye look at all news writer stories.
They are your last line of quality control to avoid public ridicule or
embarrassment. Accept that and welcome their detailed scrutiny.
Ask questions if you do not understand suggestions offered.
Don't take any criticism as a personal attack. Stop that!
Make the requested changes quickly and thoroughly.
Always put your very best writing effort out to the public.


* No matter how successful your use of a human peg or hook
worked in one story, do NOT think like a student.
Do not replicate the same approach
 over and over in future stories.
Predictable approaches are noticeable and boring in approach.
Trust that there is always another way to be creative!
Every story, challenge yourself to "boldly go where (you) have
not gone before! "  Be competitive first with your own thinking!