A news feature is a piece that uses creativity and research to provide an interesting and detailed take on a subject. These types of articles can be found in the main news, or “A” section, as well as local news, or “B” sections. News features combine hard-news topics with a more traditional journalistic writing style to create a story that educates and engages readers. These articles are not necessarily time-sensitive, and they may have a longer shelf life than breaking news.
To write a successful news feature, you’ll want to choose your subject carefully and plan your article out accordingly. Typically, these stories are long-form pieces that take a deeper look at a specific topic and use interviewing and storytelling to give readers in-depth information on that subject.
Often, these stories are about people, and they seek to humanize a subject or give a new perspective on an existing issue. They can also take a look behind the scenes at an event, industry or location.
As you prepare to write a news feature, be sure to contact any sources early and often. If they don’t respond to your initial emails or phone calls, be politely persistent and keep asking if there’s any other way you can reach them. Also, be sure to double-check spelling and other details before you finalize your story for publication. This will help prevent embarrassing mistakes from slipping through the cracks, and it’s a good idea to run your work through a free grammar and spell checker like Grammarly or Hemingwayapp, as well.