Writing Homework Help

Feature story 30%: Students must find, research, conduct interviews, and write a feature story of 1000 words, demonstrating mastery of feature writing techniques as well as an understanding of news values and the ability to conduct interviews, with an interesting headline.

• The story should include at least three interviews and be worthy of publication in a local or state newspaper or news website. Students should not interview family, friends or classmates. If in doubt, speak to your Tutor. Each interview must be accompanied by a consent form signed by your interviewee.
• Two (2) interviews AT LEAST must be conducted by synchronously–that is, in person, by phone or Zoom/Skype/Messenger video. Other interviews may be conducted via email, Messenger, WhatsApp etc. Emailed interview comments are only acceptable for secondary interviews with councils, government departments or Minister’s comments, and organisations. These are usually official statements prepared for all media enquiries. Emailed interviews are NOT suitable for your main interviews as they are written and generally lack the immediacy of spoken quotes. We strongly recommend you take into account the constraints on people’s availability and set up interviews as early as possible.
• Include interesting, copyright-free images if you aspire to have your story published. Please include photo credit in your captions.
• Transcript: Students will also provide a transcript totalling 750 words of one or more interviews, highlighting the quotes used for the story, adding the quotes that precede and follow those used. These will provide context.

Pitch: 250 words 10%

• Submit a 250-word pitch. Please submit your pitch on discussion board Piazza in Week 9.
• Your pitch must include: your story idea and why you think the story is newsworthy (news values); the sources you plan to interview, including full names, why you have chosen these people to interview and contact details (Facebook/Twitter etc are not sufficient information – email addresses or phone numbers please). Also indicate how these interviews will be conducted e.g. in person, phone, Zoom, Skype etc.