Lesson: The Profile Piece

Here's a good example of a "profile" piece.

All Things Considered, December 11, 2007 · Yale University law student Isra Bhatty recently won a prestigious Rhodes scholarship.
When she's not hitting the books, Bhatty works as an English-Urdu translator for detainees at Guantanamo Bay. She's also a hip-hop artist and can be seen intercepting passes on a woman's football team — wearing her tye-dyed hijab.
Diane Orson of member station WNPR reports.

A story like this - about a person, or a group of people - includes a few key things:

1. A compelling story. It's not enough for someone just to be nice, or interesting. It's not enough for them to just be doing something "nice." We want to tell an important story that could affect a listener's life. Does someone have a unique experience? How is what they do "different?"

2. A good talker. Your key "stakeholder" in this story is the person you're profiling. What are they likely to talk about? What will they say? What would you like to GET them to say?

3. A thoughtful observer or "expert." A profile story falls apart if all we hear is the person we're profiling talking. We want someone from their life - or someone who knows their work - to give us an outsider's view.

4. A scene. Show this person at work, play or whatever they do. Show them in a setting that's not just a straight interview. The listener will take more away from you "showing" them than you "telling" them...

Write a focus statement for your piece that addresses these issues. Sell me on why it's a good story that listeners will care about. Tell me about the person you're profiling, and what they're likely to say, explain who else will be part of the story, and describe a scene you hope to capture.

Here's another listening example that might help give you ideas. It's from the oldest and most common type of profile: The obit. British science fiction novelist Arthur C. Clarke died Tuesday in Sri Lanka, where he lived for more than 50 years. He was 90 years old. NPR's Neda Ulaby reports on his life and career.

As you're listening to this piece - apply this series of listening practices. It's meant not only for editors, but reporters who want to give a self-critical listen as well.

One of the things we want our profile to have is a "scene" - a part of the script where sound can help to tell the story. A place where you're "showing" and not telling. Here's some information on how to "set the scene" in a radio piece.

Lastly, I want to draw your attention to this "statement of ethics" for broadcast reporting. It's important to keep rules like this in mind, when you're doing any story - especially one about an individual. You should always be concerned that your reporting meets some basic guidelines, even when the story isn't thought to be "controversial."