FEATURE STORIES - HUMAN INTEREST STORIES

Definition and Purpose

Human interest stories are a type of feature story that focuses on people and their experiences, emotions, and struggles. 

The purpose of human-interest stories is to inspire, educate, or entertain the audience by highlighting the human side of a news event or issue.

Characteristics

1. Personal and emotional: Human interest stories often focus on personal struggles, triumphs, and emotions.
2. In-depth storytelling: These stories provide detailed, nuanced accounts of people's experiences.
3. Storytelling technique: Human interest stories use narrative techniques like anecdotes, dialogue, and descriptive language to engage the audience.
4. Non-time sensitive: Unlike hard news stories, human interest stories are not necessarily tied to a specific news event or deadline.
5. Focus on individuals: Human interest stories often focus on ordinary individuals who have extraordinary stories to tell.

Types of Human-Interest Stories

1. Profile stories: In-depth profiles of individuals, highlighting their achievements, struggles, and personalities.
2. Overcoming adversity stories: Stories of people who have overcome challenges, such as illness, disability, or personal struggles.
3. Humanitarian stories: Stories of people who are making a positive impact in their communities or the world at large.
4. Unusual occupation/hobby stories: Stories of people with unique occupations or hobbies that showcase their passion and dedication.
5. Tribute stories: Stories that pay tribute to individuals who have made significant contributions to their communities or society.
6. Anniversary stories: Stories that commemorate significant events or anniversaries.
7. Behind-the-scenes stories: Stories that give readers a glimpse into the lives of people who work behind the scenes.

Key Elements

1. Strong narrative: A compelling story that draws the audience in.
2. Well-developed characters: The people featured in the story should be well-rounded and relatable.
3. Emotional connection: The story should evoke emotions in the audience, such as empathy, inspiration, or joy.
4. Vivid descriptions: The use of sensory details to bring the story to life.
5. Dialogue: The use of quotes and conversations to add depth and authenticity to the story.
6. Show, don't tell: Rather than telling the audience what happened, show them through descriptive language and anecdotes.
7. Context: Providing background information and context to help the audience understand the story.

Tips for Writing Human Interest Stories

1. Conduct in-depth interviews: Spend time with the people featured in the story to get to know them and their experiences.
2. Use descriptive language: Use vivid descriptions to bring the story to life and help the audience visualize the scene.
3. Show, don't tell: Rather than telling the audience what happened, show them through descriptive language and anecdotes.
4. Edit and revise: Make sure the story is well-structured, concise, and free of errors.
5. Use active voice: Using active voice makes the story more engaging and easier to read.
6. Use anecdotes: Anecdotes can help to illustrate a point and make the story more relatable.
7. Get feedback: Get feedback from others to help improve the story.

Examples of Human Interest Stories

1. "The Story of Malala Yousafzai": A profile of the Nobel Peace Prize winner and her fight for girls' education.
2. "The Blind Photographer": A story of a person who has overcome visual impairment to pursue their passion for photography.
3. "The Community That Came Together": A story of a community that rallied together to support a family in need.
4. "The Survivor's Story": A story of a person who has survived a natural disaster or other traumatic event.
5. "The Local Hero": A story of a person who has made a positive impact in their community.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Sensationalism: Avoid sensationalizing the story or exploiting the people featured in it.
2. Lack of depth: Avoid writing a story that is too superficial or lacks depth.
3. Inaccuracy: Avoid inaccuracies or factual errors that can undermine the credibility of the story.
4. Lack of context: Avoid failing to provide background information and context that can help the audience understand the story.
5. Poor writing: Avoid poor writing, including grammatical errors, awkward phrasing, and lack of clarity.