human-interest story

American  

[hyoo-muhn-in-ter-ist, -trist, yoo-] / ˈhyu mənˈɪn tər ɪst, -trɪst, ˈyu- /

noun

1. a story or report, as in a newspaper or on a newscast, designed to engage attention and sympathy by enabling one to identify readily with the people, problems, and situations described.

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Etymology

Origin of human-interest story

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

This lack of practical detail means this documentary plays as a human-interest story, built from predictable beats of adversity and triumph.

From New York Times • Aug. 12, 2021

The Sunday March 7 issue dedicated two-thirds of the cover page and an additional double-page spread to a human-interest story about a male skateboarder.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2021

Bobby, Eddy and David are the subjects of Wardle’s new film Three Identical Strangers, an extraordinary documentary that starts as a feel-good human-interest story and, by the end, has you questioning the nature of existence.

From The Guardian • Jun. 28, 2018

Do as We Say A New York Times editorial begins with a human-interest story:

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 10, 2015

One sent in a stringer to nose around The Coffee Pot Cafe for a human-interest story since it was August, a slow month for news.

From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck