A news feature is a longer story which takes a closer look at an aspect of a particular subject. It explores why, how and who, often presenting more than just the facts. It also examines how the story is affecting people’s lives.
Unlike breaking news stories which often have to be written quickly, a news feature can take a while to prepare and produce. Ideally the producer should allow time to incorporate final touches which can transform it from an ordinary piece into a great one.
An important point is the need to use the’show, don’t tell’ technique when writing a news feature. It is more engaging to describe a situation (“showing”) than to simply recount what happened (“telling”).
Often, the subject of a news feature will be of interest to many different audiences. It is therefore important to understand how each audience can be best reached through the medium being used – for example, radio, television or web.
Finally, a news feature will normally involve a team of people. It is worth establishing who will be working on the project, their roles and responsibilities and their budgets before beginning the work. This will include a ‘contingency’ element for any unforeseen expenses which may arise, such as additional staff, the hiring of equipment or copyright costs. It is worth planning the production schedule well ahead of the on-air deadline to allow time for this additional work.
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