A news feature is a non-fiction piece of writing that takes on a specific topic and can be found in newspapers, magazines and online. It differs from a straight news report mainly in that it presents the information through a narrative story and uses creativity and subjectivity to make an emotional connection with readers.
It is often longer than a news article and can run from 1,000 to 5,000 words. It can be written about a wide variety of topics including travel, food, culture, science and technology, business or the arts. It can also explore a newsworthy event in more depth than a news story and can be written in a narrative style with a plot and characters.
The key to a great news feature is finding a well-researched, interesting topic that will engage and inform readers. For example, if the subject is crime, narrow it down to one particular type of crime in your community, or poverty – choose a particular kind, like single mothers who can’t feed their kids. Then use the rest of your resources to find facts and expert input on how that issue affects your community.
A good news story also uses a nut graph to explain the main point of the article, but it should not rely solely on bare statistics. Adding context by giving information about the size of a problem or similar issues in other communities can help your reader connect with your story on a more personal level.
