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TYPES AND SUBJECTS OF ARTICLE:Interview articles, Utility articles

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Feature and Column Writing ­ MCM 514
VU
LESSON 38
TYPES AND SUBJECTS OF ARTICLE
There are seven broad types of article, which are usually considered by editors, while the subjects are
ranging from political to personal experiences. Besides this, there are certain factors behind the making of
articles.
Seven Broad Types
1. Interview articles
These articles are cased on recognised authorities or famous persons' opinion or ideas in which
prominence is given to the concept and ideas of the person, while considering that what he is important
for the readers. However, it is always suggested that one must be never tempering with his point of view.
2. Utility articles
These articles aim to help the reader by giving him definite directions or advice about a particular issue
because all human beings want to be wiser, healthier and wealthier. Hence suggestions are given through
the experts' point of view in such articles.
3. Personal Experience articles
Unusual experiences are written to entertain, help or inform. In this regard, travelogues carry personal
impressions of the writers, as the personal experiences part of the same theme, while most of the writers
like to do this.
4. Confession articles
These articles reveal innermost feelings of a person in a confidential tone, while the intimate experiences
or of others; people are uninterested in publishing name.
The `Inside story' of the unknown is to entertain, reform or inform.
5. Personality sketch or success articles
These are the articles about success of unknown, and well-known, who have surmounted obstacles to
acquire fame or fortune. These articles are written to inspire, instruct and guide readers, who are seeking
solutions and adjustments in life.
6. Narrative articles
These articles present facts through devices, like short story. It is in a conversational and description style,
which is used to heighten effect and entertain as well as inform the readers.
7. Opinionated articles
These articles are based on writers' opinion, thought, observation, criticism, appreciation, and are used to
give readers insight about certain issues.
Subjects of Articles
1. Political
One of the most popular subjects is political, while article only of experts are considered to be worthy for
publishing, and only the well-known take much of the space. Moreover, socio-political comments are
more popular.
2. Social
This is another popular subject, which is equally considered good for novices and expert writers.
However, new subjects are less attempted besides the fact that the old subjects from fresh angles are also
a rarity. Nevertheless, social issues are tackled with great devotion.
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Feature and Column Writing ­ MCM 514
VU
3. Economics
Mostly, only the specialists are writing about this subject, while less of novices are joining this kind of
writing or are inclined to it. Hence it has become a field for experts only. This is also part of the
professionals' magazines, while the newspapers carry commerce sections. However, there are fewer
number of magazines of this subject.
4. Personal experiences
Usually, the writers are not explicitly sharing their own experiences, and are found depicting personal
experiences as of others. However, the practice is of writing about personal experiences by connecting
various instances of others.
5. Opinion-based
Personal opinions are shared through articles, and many writers base their articles on personal opinions.
English newspaper carry more opinion-based article than the Urdu or vernacular dailies. Fashion articles
are mostly opinion-based, while the political articles do carry this impression as well.
6. Travelogues
These are more popular with Urdu writers of magazines, as personal impressions are coupled with general
information. Besides this, Urdu writers are also bringing in fantasies, which is less of case with the
English writers.
What factors are considered, must be kept in mind, and observed while writing above subjects?
1.
Editorial policy
2.
Readers' demands, milieu and perceptions
3.
Keeping the society and circumstances in mind
4.
Never giving low scope to subjects
5.
Considering the subject from the required angle
6.
Never taking the facts and figures for granted
7.
Considering the writing job as a serious subject
8.
Checking the subjects and language
Interview Amal Shakeb
Talked about
1. Articles and writers
2. How modern writers are writing articles?
3. What are the areas of interest they have?
4. Quality of writers
5. Subjects discussed by writers
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Table of Contents:
  1. IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE:Feature writing, Explanation of the definition
  2. SOURCES OF MATERIAL:Commemorations, Science and Technology
  3. INTERNET USAGE IN FEATURE WRITING:Be very careful, Website checklist
  4. WHAT MAKES A GOOD FEATURE?:Meeting demands of readers
  5. DEMANDS OF A FEATURE:Entertainment and Interest, Both sides of picture
  6. CONDUCTING AND WRITING OF INTERVIEWS:Kinds of interviews
  7. WRITING NOVELTY INTROS:Punch or astonisher intros, Direct quotation intros
  8. STRUCTURE OF FEATURES:Intro or Lead, Transition, Body
  9. SELECTION OF PICTURES, ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS:Sources
  10. FEATURES AND EDITORIAL POLICY:Slanting or angling feature
  11. HUMAN INTEREST AND FEATURE WRITING:Obtaining facts, Knowing how to write
  12. NEWSPAPER FEATURE STORY:The Business Story, The Medical Story
  13. THE NEWSPAPER FEATURE STORY IDEA:Conflict, Human interest
  14. MAGAZINE FEATURE VERSUS DAILIES:Feature versus Editorial, An overview
  15. WRITING THE SPECIALISED FEATURE STORY:The Deadline Feature Sidebar
  16. MODERN FEATURE AND ITS TREATMENT:Readers’ constraints
  17. MODERN FEATURE WRITING TECHNIQUE:The Blundell Technique
  18. ADVICE TO FEATURE WRITERS:A guide to better writing, Love Writing
  19. COLUMN WRITING:Definition, Various definitions, Why most powerful?
  20. COLUMN WRITING IN MODERN AGE:Diversity of thought, Individuality
  21. ENGLISH AND URDU COLUMNISTS:More of anecdotal, Letting readers know
  22. TYPES OF COLUMNS:Reporting-in-Depth Columns, Gossip Columns
  23. OBJECTIVES AND IMPORTANCE OF COLUMNS:Friendly atmosphere, Analysis
  24. WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIALS AND BASIC POINTS THAT GO IN TO THE FORMING OF A COLUMN?
  25. STYLE:General and a specialised writing, How can a columnist improve it?
  26. GENERAL STYLE OF THE COLUMN:Unified Style, Anecdotal Style, Departmental Style
  27. STRUCTURE OF A COLUMN:Intro or lead, Main body, Conclusion
  28. COLUMN WRITING TIPS:Write with conviction, Purpose, Content
  29. SELECTION OF A TOPIC:Close to your heart, Things keeping in Queue
  30. QUALITIES OF A COLUMN WRITER:Personal, Professional, Highly Educated
  31. WHAT MUST BE PRACTISED BY A COLUMNIST?:Pleasantness, Fluency
  32. SOURCES OF MATERIAL OF COLUMNS:Constant factors, Interview
  33. USEFUL WRITING DEVICES:Be specific, Use Characterisation, Describe scenes
  34. COMMON WRITING PROBLEMS:Eliminate clichés, Don’t misuse words
  35. WRITING THE COLUMN:Certain thumb rules, After writing the column
  36. ARTICLE WRITING:Introduction, Definition, Contents, Main Segments, Main body
  37. HOW TO WRITE AN ARTICLE?:It is more efficient, It is more believable
  38. TYPES AND SUBJECTS OF ARTICLE:Interview articles, Utility articles
  39. FIVE COMMANDMENTS, NO PROFESSIONAL FORGETS:Use Key Words
  40. ARTICLES WRITING MISTAKES:Plagiarising or 'buying articles, Rambling
  41. WRITING THE ARTICLE:Various parts of article, The topic sentence
  42. What to do when you have written the article?:Writing the first draft
  43. TEN STANDARD ARTICLE FORMATS:The informative articles
  44. LEGAL AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR WRITERS:Libel, Doctoring Quotes
  45. REVISION:Importance of language, Feature writing, Sources of material