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Feature Writing

Explore the role of a feature writer and the key ingredients to use in your own writing to create a stand-out feature article.

2,975 enrolled on this course

Feature Writing

2,975 enrolled on this course

  • 4 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

  • Duration

    4 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours
  • 100% online

    How it works
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    $244.99 for a whole yearLearn more

Learn how to write a feature article

This four-week course will help you explore the feature landscape to help you understand the crucial difference between a news story and a feature.

You’ll learn how feature writers get their ideas as you discover the importance of research and valuable sources. With this understanding, you’ll put what you have learned into practice and complete an exercise to get the ideas flowing for your own feature.

Explore the vital ingredients for first-class feature articles

Delving into the key components of a feature article, you’ll learn the best techniques for interviewing people to help take your ideas and turn them into long-form pieces.

You’ll think about the value of originality and some of the ethical dilemmas you could face as a feature writer.

You’ll also examine different types of features to understand their common principles before being guided through a practical exercise to help you learn key structural tips.

Discover the art of writing an opinion piece

Finally, you’ll explore the opinionated side of journalism – reviews, opinion columns, and news-based blogs.

By the end of this course, you’ll understand the ethical and legal difficulties you could face when producing opinion pieces.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Feature writing

    • Young man working on laptop and taking notes.

      Welcome to feature writing

      Let’s look at what’s coming up in this course, which is designed to get you thinking about fascinating features - what they are, how they are made and how to come up with ideas for your own.

    • Opened magazines with magnifier glass, side view, isolated on white background.

      What is a feature?

      Let’s break down what makes something a feature in journalism and see which ones you have enjoyed.

    • Websites (homepages) of leading news websites and publishing media in United Kingdom - BBC, Sky News, Telegraph, Independent, Times

      Where do features appear?

      Let’s explore the features landscape and think about where they appear. We will also hear from an experienced magazine editor and feature writer about their passion for features.

    • Outline of two human heads with light bulbs and gears on red background

      Where do you get your ideas from?

      The ideas phase is the first step in creating a fascinating feature – but where do journalists get their ideas? In this section, we will look at this and at ways of getting our own brains buzzing.

    • Birdseye view of an open laptop in the center of a desk, with a blank notepad, cell phone and coffee.

      Weekly wrap up

      Let’s recap what we’ve covered in this first week of the course.

  • Week 2

    Vital ingredients for feature writing

    • Over the shoulder picture of a woman about to write on a blank pad of paper

      Welcome to Week 2

      Let’s find out what is coming up in this, the second week of the course.

    • Woman working on laptop surrounded by post-it notes and notebooks

      From ideas to research

      Let’s explore how to lift your idea off the page, check it out and see if it has the potential to be transformed into a feature.

    • A woman with a sheet of paper and laptop speaking to another woman, explaining something.

      Pitch an idea for a feature

      Bring all your imagination and information together to create a convincing ‘pitch’ for the feature idea you have come up with – or for a fresh one. This task is part of a peer graded assignment with clear guidelines to help you.

    • Digital Voice Recorder lying on laptop.

      Planning a longer interview

      Some features are biographical and are based on one big (‘long-form’) interview. Others include several voices or interviewees. In-depth interviews need good preparation – which is what the next steps are all about.

    • Shot of a young man and woman having a discussion in a modern office

      Preparing for your own long-form interview

      Good planning and preparation are vital before a big interview, on which many features are based. Here are some tips to help you prepare, plus some warnings about situations or ethical dilemmas a journalist might face.

    • Birdseye view of an open laptop in the center of a desk, with a blank notepad, cell phone and coffee.

      Weekly wrap up

      Let’s recap on what we’ve covered in this week of the course and think about what’s coming up next.

  • Week 3

    Constructing a feature

    • Close up of a magazine rack in a shop.

      Introduction to Week 3

      Let’s take a look at what’s coming up in the world of features for us this week.

    • White iPad Air and The Economist magazine displaying same article

      How to construct a feature

      Planning how you want your feature to be takes time and involves analysing and pulling various elements together. Thinking time and picking the best quotes are key steps in this process and that’s what we will cover here.

    • High angel view of a podcaster behind microphone

      Approaches to feature structure

      Let’s explore some different approaches to feature-writing, including narrative-style and people-centred. We will also listen to a radio feature or two and you will think about your favourite kinds of features.

    • Close-up of woman typing on computer keyboard, text on the screen

      Create an 'intro' to a feature

      It’s time to get creative and write an intro for a feature - real or imagined - to draw readers in and make sure they read on. You will be able to display your work on a padlet ‘wall’ where you can read others’ work too.

    • Birdseye view of an open laptop in the center of a desk, with a blank notepad, cell phone and coffee.

      Weekly wrap up

      Let’s reflect on what we’ve covered in this week of the course.

  • Week 4

    Opinion columns, blogs and reviews

    • A woman talking through a megaphone on a colourful graphic background.

      Introduction to Week 4

      Let’s get in the mood to write - and find out what’s coming up this week.

    • Studio shot of a group of women holding speech bubbles while standing against a grey background

      Shades of opinion or 'ranting reporters'?

      Let's think about the places journalistic opinions come out and your experiences of and reactions to this.

    • A man holding a magnifying glass on the "views" word in the stack of newspapers

      What makes a good opinion column?

      Let’s think about what makes an effective opinion column and hear from a sub editor working in this field. First, let’s recap on how a careful choice of words is needed to keep personal opinions out of general news stories.

    • A man in a coffee shop reading a paper with an shocked expression.

      Writing riveting reviews

      Let’s explore another area of journalism where opinions are essential - reviews. We will think about what makes a good review and how to approach writing one.

    • A broken yellow pencil on a blue background with a note pad and screwed up sheets of paper around it.

      Ethical and legal dilemmas or problems when giving opinions

      What are some of the possible legal or ethical issues which come with writing reviews or opinion columns? Let’s take a look.

    • High angle shot of magazine staff at their desks writing on computers, surrounded by magazines and newspapers.

      Write a review, opinion column or 'newsy blog'

      Put your ideas and what you’ve learned into practice by creating your own ‘newsy blog’, opinion column or review. Let your opinions and writing skills out on any topic which interests you in this Peer Grade Assignment.

    • Close up of a magazine rack in a shop.

      End of the course

      It’s time to wrap up this course by recapping some of what you’ve learned and thinking about what other resources or paths are available for those wanting to go further in their journalism journey.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Explore features and where they appear
  • Discuss idea-generation
  • Explain how to prepare to interview people for features
  • Describe feature construction, including narrative storytelling
  • Investigate ideas for features
  • Produce a pitch for a feature idea
  • Explore opinion columns, reviews and blogs

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for aspiring writers or journalists with an interest in media reporting.

If you’d like to develop your understanding further, you may be interested in these courses. They’re from the same provider and share overall learning outcomes:

Who developed the course?

The University of Kent logo

The University of Kent

The University of Kent, the UK’s European university, is one of the country’s most dynamic universities. Established in 1965, it now has 19,850 students studying at its various campuses.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$244.99 for a whole year

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$79/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 4 Mar 2025

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

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