Shannon Philpott

Feature This: Stories With Heart

Feature stories have heart. Feature stories have warmth. Most of all, feature stories force a writer/reporter to evaluate the human side of a community – beyond the facts, beyond the opinions – to find the spirit of the story.

I have always favored feature stories (or soft news) as a writer because it gives me the chance to get to know people on a higher level than straight news reporting (hard news) does. Beyond that, it also forces me to work as a reporter with feelings – yes, some reporters have actual feelings  .

 For the past few weeks, I’ve evaluated a variety of types of college feature stories in preparation for a workshop I’m presenting at the Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Advisers National College Media Convention. After sifting through stacks and stacks of archives of papers, I’ve come to the conclusion that college newspapers are much more active to seek out the feature elements than mainstream, professional newspapers.

 My students (and former students) from The Montage, have compiled heartwarming stories of life and death, fun and frolics, and service and sacrifice. Here are a few examples: 

• “A Day in the Life of Mary Davis:” As a regular series, my students write personality profiles, covering students, faculty, staff, locals, etc. This particular story highlights an 86-year old student still eager to learn.
• “Turning Lead into Gold:” This profile provides an in-depth look at a faculty member’s passions.
• “Inauguration Road:” Following a road trip to the White House for Barack Obama’s inauguration, two of my students compiled a piece about a 1^st person account of the journey itself.
• “What’s Brewing in St. Louis:” Beer is a priority for many college students. Recognizing this, my students compiled an in-depth centerspread on St. Louis’ beer culture, including a list of “things” to do with beer.
• “The Vertical Expression of a Horizontal Desire:” Fun and frolics come in all shapes and sizes as detailed in this feature about the art of tango music.

 The list includes a variety of subjects, topics, and angles. Primarily, though, these stories offer readers something “different,” something soft – a much-needed break from the heart-wrenching news of abductions, murders, and swine flu statistics. Even more so, they offer writers (whether student or professional) a chance to explore more than just the facts but rather the fun-loving spirit of life.

 I could spend all day listing compelling, heart-warming and entertaining features that have been written by both students and professionals, but I’d rather open my eyes and seek the next big story that could possibly touch someone else’s life and in return, touch mine.

- Shannon Philpott
Blog Entry: Oct. 25, 2009

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October 25, 2009 - Posted by sphilpott | Blog, Journalism, Teaching, Writing | associated collegiate press, college media advisers, college writing samples, Feature Stories, inauguration road, magazine feature stories, newspaper feature stories, sample feature stories, tango, the Montage