News feature is a type of non-fiction story that presents a newsworthy event or person through a narrative. Unlike a news piece which is time-sensitive, a feature story can be more long-form and relies on creativity and subjectivity to make an emotional connection with readers. Often, the topic is evergreen and can remain interesting to readers even a year or more in the future.
While fiction lets authors explore creativity and essays dive deep into analysis, the goal of news writing is to deliver verified information with speed and accuracy. From breaking news about global events to uplifting stories about local champions, the purpose is always the same: to inform and engage.
The best way to do that is through a news feature, which offers a chance to tell the bigger story of a particular newsworthy topic. Unlike a hard news article, which focuses on answering the five Ws and H (who, what, when, where, why, and how), a feature story uses storytelling to explain the issue or highlight a hero.
A good feature starts with a strong opening paragraph that grabs the reader’s attention and keeps them engaged. The lead should use a mix of second-person language and rhetorical questions to create an emotional connection with the reader. Then, the article can focus on telling the newsworthy topic in a narrative that is informed by research. The lead is also where the reader can learn about the reporter’s background and expertise on the subject matter.
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