Feature story

Definition

A feature story is a detailed piece of journalism that goes beyond hard news to provide a deeper look into a specific topic, event, or person. It focuses on human interest angles, providing context, background, and often emotional elements that engage the audience. Feature stories are usually longer than standard news articles and can include narrative techniques, character development, and descriptive language to create a vivid picture for readers or viewers.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Feature stories often utilize creative storytelling techniques to engage the audience, such as anecdotes, quotes, and descriptive details.
2. They can cover a wide range of topics, including profiles of individuals, explorations of social issues, or highlights of community events.
3. Feature stories are typically published in magazines or included in special segments of news broadcasts, offering a break from traditional hard news.
4. Unlike breaking news, which prioritizes timeliness and factual reporting, feature stories allow for more narrative depth and exploration of subject matter.
5. Writers of feature stories often conduct extensive interviews and research to provide a well-rounded perspective on their chosen topic.

Review Questions

• How does a feature story differ from traditional news articles in terms of writing style and content?
  • Feature stories differ from traditional news articles primarily in their writing style and depth of content. While hard news focuses on delivering quick facts and key information about current events, feature stories allow for narrative techniques and emotional engagement. They delve into human interest aspects, provide context and background, and often incorporate storytelling elements like anecdotes and detailed descriptions to create a more immersive experience for the audience.
• Discuss the role of leads in feature stories and how they can be crafted differently than leads in hard news.
  • Leads in feature stories serve to hook the reader with a compelling opening that sets the tone for the rest of the piece. Unlike hard news leads that prioritize essential facts—who, what, when, where—feature leads may start with a vivid scene, an intriguing quote, or a striking fact to capture interest. This approach helps to draw readers in emotionally and prepares them for the narrative depth that follows in the feature story.
• Evaluate how the inclusion of feature stories in a newscast can enhance viewer engagement and understanding of broader issues.
  • Including feature stories in a newscast can significantly enhance viewer engagement by providing depth and context to broader issues. These stories often address social problems or human experiences that resonate with audiences on a personal level. By presenting information through compelling narratives and relatable characters, feature stories encourage viewers to connect emotionally with the content. This deeper connection fosters greater understanding and empathy towards complex issues that may otherwise be overlooked in standard hard news reporting.

Related terms

Lead: The opening sentence or paragraph of a news article that summarizes the most important aspects of the story and grabs the reader's attention.

Soft News: A style of journalism that focuses on human interest stories, entertainment, or lifestyle topics rather than hard news.

In-depth Reporting: A comprehensive examination of a particular topic or issue that includes extensive research, interviews, and background information.