Types of Journalistic Stories

Types of Journalistic Stories

There are multiple genres that
journalistic stories can fall into.

Let’s explore them...

News Stories

● These stories relay facts, information and events to readers

in a very straightforward, accurate and unbiased way

● They are more timely, and are often published immediately

after an event takes place

● The stories typically lack verbal embellishment

● They also usually lack the same amount of depth, and the

questioning approach, that investigative pieces contain

Multiple Select

Verbal embellishment can include

• creative language like metaphors

• creative language like exaggerations

• factual information

• rhetorical devices

Multiple Choice

Which of the following phrases is an example of verbal embellishment?

Select the correct option

• "The sun was very hot."

• "The scorching sun beat down relentlessly."

• "The sun was shining brightly."

Examples of News Stories

Feature Stories

● Feature stories can be less timely than news stories
● The topics of these stories are usually more lighthearted or

casual than the topics of news stories
○ Examples of feature topics include: The interpretation

of trends, events, the expression of emotions and ideas,
a profile of a specific person, etc.

● These stories can be much more personal and often aim to

provide a previously unseen perspective on an event, issue
or person

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements is true regarding feature stories?

• Feature stories are typically more timely than news stories.

• Feature stories focus on serious and heavy topics.

• Feature stories aim to provide a unique perspective on events or individuals.

• Feature stories rarely include emotional or personal elements.

Examples of Feature Stories

Opinion Stories

This category can be broken down into
three types of stories:

1. Columns
2. Editorials
3. Reviews

Multiple Choice

A person’s worldview, applied to a specific situation is a(n):

• Fact

• Opinion

• Informed Opinion

Columns

● Give the point of view of the author

● Attempt to persuade readers that the opinion held by the

author is correct

● Facts and evidence should be incorporated to strengthen

the author’s argument

● They focus on one particular perspective and share why

they think that perspective is right

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of columns in journalism?

• To present a balanced view of multiple perspectives on an issue.

• To provide an unbiased summary of current events.

• To share personal opinions and persuade readers that the author's viewpoint is correct.

• To report objective facts without any subjective analysis.

Examples of Columns

Editorials

● Pieces that present the official voice of the publication

● They represent the general consensus of several people,

instead of only one person like a column

● One person usually assumes the role of writing the

editorial, even if they don’t necessarily agree with it

● They typically remain unsigned because they represent the

voice of the entire publication, not a specific person

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements accurately describes editorials in publications?

• A) Editorials are typically written by multiple authors to reflect diverse perspectives.

• Editorials are signed by the individual author to take personal responsibility.

• Editorials represent the official voice of the publication and often have a single author.

• Editorials are known for presenting only the personal opinions of a specific columnist.

Examples of Editorials

Reviews

● Reviews center around things that readers may eventually

want to try such as restaurants, activities, movies, books,
video games, etc.

● They are more of an evaluation instead of the writer taking

a stand on something

● They are often also categorized as/synonymous with Arts

and Entertainment stories

● They should give enough information, while also allowing

the reader to make some judgements for themselves

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the purpose and characteristics of reviews based on the provided information?

• Reviews primarily focus on the writer's personal opinions and beliefs.

• Reviews aim to persuade readers to adopt the writer's viewpoint.

• Reviews offer evaluations and provide information for readers to make their own judgments.

• Reviews are typically categorized as political or scientific articles.

Examples of Reviews

Sports Stories

● Sports stories can take on a variety of formats:

○ Previewing a upcoming game/match/meet, coverage of

an actual game/meet/match, features on a particular
athlete or team

● If writing a game preview or recap, timeliness is key. If you

wait too long to write the story once the game ends, it’s no
longer relevant.

● Sports features often dive deeper into team trends,

outstanding plays, injuries, etc.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a common format for sports stories?

• Previewing an upcoming game/match/meet

• Coverage of an actual game/meet/match

• Features on a particular athlete or team

• Weather forecasts for outdoor sporting events

Examples of Sports Stories

In-Depth/Investigative Stories

● These stories aim to dig deeper or uncover the truth about

a specific person, subject, or event

● They typically weave together qualities of both news and

feature writing: Research, numerous interviews, anecdotal
evidence, etc.

● These stories often take a much longer time to produce

due to the amount of research, interviewing and writing
work that goes into them

Multiple Choice

Which type of journalistic stories combines elements of news and feature writing, involving extensive research, numerous interviews, and a longer production timeline to uncover the truth about a specific person, subject, or event?

• Op-Ed Stories

• In-Depth/Investigative Stories

• Breaking News Stories

• Human Interest Stories

Examples of In-Depth/Investigative Stories

*Story from Parkway West High School