News feature is a journalistic piece that explores a topic in depth and covers it from multiple perspectives. The subject matter can be either hard or soft news, but a good feature article is all about engaging the reader. These pieces are often longer than a regular news story, requiring more research and a longer lead time to pull together.
Writing a news story requires the ability to convey verified facts in a concise, clear format. In contrast, a feature article may take more of a narrative approach to storytelling, and can include commentary or opinions from the writer. Whether you’re a journalist, a PR professional, or a business owner looking to communicate a message, understanding the difference between news and features can help you create content that is more effective in reaching your audience.
As with all forms of journalism, it’s important to have a clear goal in mind when writing a news feature. For example, you might aim to inform, inspire, or evoke empathy or anger.
When writing a news feature, it’s important to keep in mind that your readers will leave if they feel like the story is dragging on. According to writing expert Roy Peter Clark, you should be stingy with words, sentences, and paragraphs in your feature stories. This ensures that every detail you provide is necessary and enhances your readers’ experience. For example, a feature about a disaster can be made more interesting by adding details that humanize your sources and make them vested in the outcome of the event.