A news feature – also called a “hard news” story in print media and documentary in broadcasting – is a chance to go deeper into issues that you cover elsewhere in your newspaper or program. A newspaper that only had features and no hard news would seem shallow and not up to the job of shedding light on society’s problems.
Unlike most hard news stories, a news feature will often involve real people and their personal experiences with an event or issue. The human element makes for a good hook. Listeners and viewers will relate to the story and imagine how they themselves might be affected by it. You can make a good impression on your audience by using simple words and avoiding technical or difficult ones. Personal words such as “you,” “we” and a direct quote from the person being profiled add interest. A “story arc” keeps the reader or viewer engaged by adding, building up and changing elements of the story.
For a news feature, you will need to do more research and background work than for hard news. You will need to check with experts in the field, as well as with libraries and the Internet for previous articles, books and other information about the subject. For example, if you are doing a story on crime, it is important to have statistics about the number of crimes and their locations. And if you are doing a story on drugs, interview a drug expert or police officer to get their point of view and quotes.