How Do You Write A Feature News Story?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  1. Do your research. Feature stories need more than straight facts and sensory details—they need evidence. …
  2. Have a compelling headline. …
  3. Open with intrigue. …
  4. Connect the dots. …
  5. Make sure it pays off.

Is it possible to write a news feature story?


It is quite possible to write a feature story in the style of a news story

. Nevertheless, features do tend to take a more narrative approach, perhaps using opening paragraphs as scene-setting narrative hooks instead of the delivery of the most important facts.

How do you start a feature story?

Start your feature

with a bang as a way to draw attention

. How are you going to hook your audience? Don’t just concentrate on facts in the paragraph; make the reader want to continue reading. The opening paragraph should also set the stage for the rest of the story.

What is a feature story example?

Examples of feature stories include

news features, profiles, spot features, trend stories, and live-ins

. Feature stories can be found in the main news section of a newspaper, especially if they profile a person or group currently in the news.

How do you structure a feature story?

  1. Introduction. Set the scene. Bring it to life. …
  2. Body text. Having got your readers hooked at the start, keep them reading. …
  3. Conclusion. Create a satisfactory ending so that the reader understands that the story has reached a conclusion.

What are the elements of a feature story?

  • Personality Profiles.
  • Human Interest Stories.
  • Trend Stories.
  • In-depth Stories.
  • Backgrounders.
  • BASICALLY ANYTHING SOFT NEWS(rarely hard news)

What are the types of features?

  • News Feature. …
  • Informative Feature. …
  • Personality Sketches. …
  • Personal Experience Story. …
  • Human Interest Feature Story. …
  • Historical Feature. …
  • Interpretative Feature. …
  • Popularized Scientific Feature.

What are the steps to write a feature story?

  1. Choose an interesting, newsworthy subject.
  2. Schedule a convenient, in-person interview.
  3. Choose your quotes.
  4. Write your draft.
  5. Ask for approval/clarification before publishing.
  6. Move forward.

What is a feature in a story?

A feature is

a longer piece of writing than a news story

. Features come in many different types and are widely used in magazines, newspapers and online. A feature will often cover an issue in greater depth than a news story would do; or it might look at an ongoing story from a different angle.

How long is a feature story?

They usually average

between 300-500 words

. Feature stories are often more wordy and they have a creative structure. Feature stories can be more than 2000 words.

How do you write a feature story on someone?

  1. Read other profiles. To know how to write a profile essay, read how other writers do it. …
  2. Do your prep work. …
  3. Create an outline. …
  4. Interview your subject. …
  5. Observe your subject in their environment. …
  6. Start with a strong lede. …
  7. Incorporate direct quotes. …
  8. Tell a story.

How do you end a feature story?

  1. Reiterate the Main Point. Tetra Images/Getty Images. …
  2. Summarize Succinctly. Summarizing is different than reiterating. …
  3. Answer Potential Questions. …
  4. Send Readers Elsewhere. …
  5. Issue a Challenge. …
  6. Point to the Future. …
  7. Make a New Connection. …
  8. Wrap up a Scenario.

How do you identify feature stories?

Feature stories are distinguished from

hard

news stories, which are straightforward, factual accounts of important happenings or events—just the facts. Feature stories often involve elements of hard news, but they are intended to give readers more descriptions and details.

What are the qualities of a good feature writer?

  1. Attention to Detail. Great writers are observers, always taking mental notes and noting subtle changes around them. …
  2. Discipline.
  3. Clarity. …
  4. Strong Vocabulary. …
  5. Open to Changes. …
  6. Passion for Reading. …
  7. Strive for These Qualities.

How do you lay out a feature article?

While it may vary depending on your topic, a feature article should always include a headline, introduction, the main

body and a concluding paragraph

. Highlights the main idea of the article. Includes keywords (for online articles). Provoke the reader’s interest by making an unusual statement.

What is a good feature story?

Feature stories generally have a

strong narrative line

. … Feature stories combine facts and opinion, with a focus on the human interest side of the story. While they can report news, the news content is not of primary importance. • Feature stories both educate and entertain.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.