Can time-consuming longform articles compete with quick-hit articles today? Recent analysis by the American Press Institute has found they can, in fact longform articles tend to receive a greater number of views and shares than non-longform articles.
But how do you master the craft? In an article on Ijnet, freelance journalist Christiana Bedei spoke to Brendan Spiegel, co-founder and editor, Narratively, and Natalie Orenstein, reporter, Berkleyside - also an award-winning longform storytelling reporter - about how to hold a readers' attention until the end of a longer article.
Spiegel emphasised the need to grab your readers' interest in the first few sentences.
"In a movie, the storyteller maybe has 30 minutes or so to get the viewer interested before they turn it off and watch something else. With a podcast, maybe you have five minutes. With an online article, you have one paragraph, max."
Free daily newsletter
If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).
