human interest

noun

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

human interest

noun

1. (in a newspaper story, news broadcasting, etc) reference to individuals and their emotions

Other Word Forms

• human-interest adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of human interest¹

First recorded in 1775–80

Example Sentences

Annie enjoys covering trends in human interest, LGBTQ+ issues and climate policy.

From Salon

Chloë Sevigny plays Edna, the host of a globe-trotting web series that seeks out human interest stories: Bolivian teenage exorcists, Mexican fashionistas in scimitar-shaped boots and now, a singer called Super Carlitos who dresses like a bunny and bops around a village called San Cristobal.

From Los Angeles Times

In this genre of the “all access” documentary, Freeman and Betts are about as good as it gets in attracting casual fans — the ones not interested in exit velocities or launch angles, but invested in human interest stories.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s just really hard because in some ways these are both human interest stories and legal stories.

From Slate

Thankfully, this is also true for those of us who enjoy a well-told saga about a more universal human interest: music.

From Los Angeles Times