10 Things to Note When Writing Human-Interest Stories
- You can introduce the story with an anecdote, summary, quotation, catchy phrase, or one word, or a description of the individual or place where relevant events took place.
- Human Interest Stories are about people, not statistical data or government policy, and the like. It answers the question ‘who?’. Therefore, it is important to interview the people involved in the story. How does inflation affect people, beyond the percentage drop in inflation?
- You need to evoke emotions; therefore, you must be descriptive in your writing. Your choice of words would reflect your attitude toward the subject – negative or positive.
- Complete your research before you begin to write. That means you may have interviewed the subject, those who know them, or have read up on details about the issue at stake.
- Conflict: Every human-interest story involves conflict, whether or not it is resolved. The conflict element in storytelling answers the question: at what point did things go wrong? How did it go wrong? How did it impact the person? Determine where to introduce conflict in your story, and clearly explain the twist in the story.
- Don’t insist on interviewing a traumatized person in the name of doing a human-interest story.
- Check and cross-check claims made by victims, especially if they have to do with numbers, accusations,and counter-accusations.
- Photographs and video clips about the persons or issues involved in the conflict should be used to illustrate the story.
- In the body of the story, keep related material together and weave your subtopic like a spider web into the story.
- In writing the story or editing your video clips, show emotions, but beware of exaggeration.
Daily Trust Foundation organized a webinar on Human-Interest Journalism on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
The training was the third in a series of monthly webinars organized by the Foundation. The two previous webinars, in October and November 2025, were ‘Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence’ and ‘Audience Engagement for Multimedia Journalism.’
Dr. Theophilus Abbah, the Programme Director at Daily Trust Foundation, introduced the webinar, emphasizing the importance of making content relevant to readers. He mentioned that the Foundation had conducted over 51 training workshops on various aspects of journalism and aimed to hold at least one webinar monthly to address emerging issues in journalism.
The session was facilitated by Dr. Abdullahi Tasiu Abubakar, a journalist and academic from the UK, who took participants through the process of incorporating human elements into their stories.
Origins and Types of Human-Interest Journalism
Dr. Abdullahi traced the origin of the genre of Journalism to the 1830s in the US as a way to attract readers to newspapers, beyond hard news. He outlined different types of human-interest stories, including short dramatic narratives, long features, profiles, and case-driven stories that humanize hard news events. The presentation included academic definitions and examples, with a participant sharing his experience covering a plane crash in 2001 that focused on survivors’ personal stories rather than statistics.
Human Interest Stories in Journalism
Dr. Abdullahi discussed the impact and importance of human-interest stories in journalism, highlighting their ability to evoke emotions, provoke thought, and create connections with audiences. He emphasized the need to focus on individual experiences and delve deep into subjects to gather relevant elements for a compelling story. He also stressed the importance of highlighting both positive and negative aspects of society through journalism, as it reflects the reality of the world and can influence societal change.
Ethical Guidelines for Human Interest Stories
Dr. Abdullahi discussed the importance of using exploratory interview structures for human interest stories, emphasizing the need for open-ended conversations and prioritizing impactful elements. He advised against interviewing victims in traumatic conditions, highlighting ethical guidelines that prioritize the well-being of individuals over the pursuit of a story. He also addressed the challenges of involving children in disaster stories, stressing the necessity of parental consent and sensitivity in handling such cases. The discussion concluded with a critique of classic human-interest journalism, noting concerns about sensationalism and the commercialization of journalism at the expense of more serious topics.
Human Interest Journalism: Challenges and Impact
Dr. Abdullahi discussed the role and challenges of human-interest journalism. He highlighted the criticism that human interest stories sometimes divert from critical, independent reporting but argued that they can increase journalism’s relevance and diversity by giving a voice to ordinary people. Dr. Abdullahi also shared examples of human-interest stories from Western news outlets and stressed the importance of ethical considerations when dealing with sensitive topics, including the risk of secondary or tertiary trauma for journalists covering such stories.
Ethical Journalism in Human Interest Reporting
Dr. Abdullahi discussed ethical considerations in journalism. He explained the importance of obtaining informed consent before interviewing subjects, especially vulnerable individuals, and emphasized avoiding techniques like “door stopping” and “dose-taping.” He also highlighted the risks of using subterfuge techniques for secret recordings, which should only be employed with full organizational support. He stressed the need to portray vulnerable subjects in a dignified manner and avoid exploiting their vulnerabilities for sensational stories.
Human Interest Journalism Strategies
Dr. Abdullahi discussed the challenges and strategies involved in human interest journalism, particularly in Nigeria, compared to the West. He emphasized the importance of humanizing conventional stories by focusing on personal experiences and profiles, even when reporting on prominent figures like business leaders or politicians. He suggested gathering information from various sources, including primary sources, family, friends, and opponents, to create a well-rounded narrative. He also highlighted the need to adapt strategies when direct access to the subject is limited, such as in the case of prominent individuals.
