human-interest story

American  

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

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

human-interest story

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

Triumphal, patriotic music plays throughout, a cross between the soundtrack for a Summer Olympics human-interest story and the theme from “The West Wing.”

From New York Times ● May 28, 2013

I’d appeared as a feature on the ten o’clock news the night before, the little human-interest story they do between the weather and sports.

From "Lawn Boy Returns" by Gary Paulsen

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