Definition: A profile is a type of feature story and usually focuses on a person. Profile is a somewhat specific term for a story about a person and, usually, focuses on what's important or interesting about that person now.
Although profiles are usually of people, like a celebrity profile, a journalist can also profile an entity, like a sports team or a company.
Profiles are popular types of magazine stories but you will also see profiles in newspapers and other publications.
Also Known As: feature
Examples:
The journalist Gay Talese did a famous profile of Frank Sinatra, called "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold," and spoke to the singer's entourage since Sinatra would not grant an interview.