How to Write Newspaper Profiles

A good newspaper profile must grab the reader's attention.

Writing a newspaper profile is more than just conveying the information about the person. The article must be entertaining enough to persuade the reader to continue reading all the way to the end. You must develop the character as a person and get below the surface, with insights capable of mesmerizing even those who think they know the profile character.

Instructions

1. Research the person you're profiling first before you start writing. If he is a chief executive officer of a company, for instance, look at what has been written about him. Get as much information as possible to get an idea about any new information readers might find interesting about him.

2. Conduct an interview with the person you're profiling. A newspaper profile must not be based on stale information. Cultivate new and fresh angles. To get new information, you must go beyond the usual routine during the interview. One interview is usually not sufficient for a newspaper profile. If you want to write an outstanding article, you must have at least one interview outside of her office or home.

3. Interview people who know the subject very well. Also, you can spend some time just observing him and write down more than facts and quotes. Write down details about the setting and his appearance. Take notes on his mannerisms and your impressions from the interviews with the person and those who know him. You need to have as much material as possible with which to work. You might not use everything, but it is important to have more than enough detailed information.

4. Categorize the areas you want to explore in your reporting, including the origin, formative experiences, education, relationships, spirituality and work. Formative years usually explain what shapes the person's character. This includes schooling. Relationships involve the people around her, including parents, siblings, wives or husbands and children. Personal beliefs also reveal a lot about a person.

5. Plan the way you want to present the information in your profile. Such an article is more than a presentation of what makes the person deserve a newspaper profile. The reason you conducted one of your interviews outside of the subject's turf is because the person has a life outside of work. If you were not able to get such an interview, you can still gather information from the people who know the subject very well.

6. Write the article once you have gathered information about the subject. Use all the information you have gathered to convey a well-rounded portrait of him. There are various approaches you might take when writing a profile. It could be short or long, narrative or a day-in-the-life. Sometimes it depends on the newspaper's style. Give the reader a reason to read the profile right from the start. The reader must find surprises about the profile subject when reading the article.

7. Describe the character of the person through appearance, mannerism and eccentricities. Avoid generalization, instead your descriptive writing must help the reader to form an image about her. You must be specific. Instead of writing that she was casually dressed, for instance, describe the attire to help the reader form an image about her. Descriptive writing brings out the character of a person. Start conveying her personality soon after the introduction, including the name and the person's origin. This provides common ground between the character and the reader.

References

• "Writing World;" Procedures, Perks and Pitfalls of Profile Writing; Shirley Byers Lalonde
• "Writing World;" Crafting the Perfect Profile; John Rains

Resources

• "New York Times;" What Are the Most Important Changes, in Your Life and in the World, in the Last Decade?; Katherine Schulten, September 9, 2011