Errors and Omissions

Architecture of Newspapers: part 1

It is not readily apparent to most newspaper readers that there is a specific architecture underlying a newspaper. News, features and opinion/editorial are three key components of this architecture. Understanding how these three components differ is important because editors often refer to them when discussing objectivity in the news. Let's talk about Features.

Feature Articles (from teachwriting.com):

What is a feature article?

Feature articles and editorials are two of the most prominent genres of writing in newspapers and magazines today. Almost every article you read in a magazine is a feature article whether it is written about which make-up to buy or how to help your child in school. Feature Articles are everywhere.

While there is no specific definition to be found in a dictionary or listing of journalistic terms, a feature article can be defined by its features:

• Feature articles can be written at any time or at a specific time of the year such as seasons or holidays. In other words they are not front page news stories.

• Authors who write feature articles write about topics they are familiar with or topics that grab their interest.

• They are written with factual information that can be researched.

• Feature articles can be written about any topic.

So, from above. Features are not news. They are not about current events. An article saying there was a traffic jam yesterday that caused delays commuting into Harrisburg is news. A review of a GPS device that helps you avoid traffic jams is a feature. While they are "written with factual information," they may very well have a strong point of view (e.g., a subtext of "Microsoft is arrogant and technically behind the curve!" in a review of an updated web browser).

When editors say journalists are objective, they don't mean when journalists are writing feature articles.

Anyone got a better definition for this term? Send it on!

posted by Unknown @ 5/02/2006 01:50:00 PM