Whatever the topic, you'll need to start with an open mind and be willing to read widely and interview a range of people who represent all points of view. Clips from other media can give useful background, but should never be relied upon as sources. To research a profile, you'll probably need to spend a substantial amount of time with the subject in a variety of settings. The goal on all articles is to gather a rich mix of concrete information, fresh insights and vivid anecdotes. When interviewing sources, please routinely alert them that we may ask them to be photographed, and that they will be contacted by a fact-checker to verify that the article is accurate.
Thoughtful analysis is a crucial element of successful magazine articles.
The theme should then inform all your decisions about how to structure the story, which material to include and what to leave out. Provide some fresh truth or insight, and prove it. Answer the reader's every question and leave her feeling enlightened. Bring your story alive with abundant anecdotes and vivid detail. Use quotes judiciously, paraphrasing where necessary and never substituting a source's words for your own judgment.