Media writing can be a:
- news article – these are factual, ostensibly unbiased and information focused
- feature article – these explore a particular topic more deeply and often involve significant research such as interviews or document searches
- magazine article – these depend on the type of magazine, but are often similar to a feature article, although shorter and more casual in tone
- opinion, editorial or ‘op-ed’ piece – these aim to persuade the reader of the merits of a particular point of view.
Different types of articles may cover the same topic, but with a different approach. For example, a news article could provide an update on the candidates’ activities during an election campaign; a feature article could research the background of each candidate and include biographical details; a magazine article could focus on one candidate using interviews with family and friends; and an opinion piece could aim to persuade the reader that a particular candidate is best.
For media writing, the challenge is to present information clearly and include everything a member of the public needs to understand a story. This might include background or historical information, and contextual or technical explanations.
Sound journalism is objective, and news and feature articles should present information in a balanced, measured way. The writer should consider the evidence and present information without bias or emotion.
Other types of media writing, such as editorials, opinion pieces and op-eds, can take a more personal approach, inserting the writer into the text and arguing for a particular point of view:
The Health Minister has announced a new initiative to provide at-home nursing services to people with Parkinson disease. [news article]
The Health Minister’s recent announcement about at-home nursing services for patients with Parkinson disease is a welcome development. This patient group has not received sufficient attention in the past, and services are lacking in many parts of the state. [editorial]
Journalism usually uses the third person perspective in news, features or magazine articles, but can use the first person in opinion pieces:
The Prime Minister met with the trade delegation from Norway on Monday. [news article]
I believe Monday’s meeting will be key to our future trade with Norway. [editorial]
See News articles and press releases for more information about writing a news article.
