A featured story is a longer piece of non-fiction content that focuses on a specific subject in depth. It is more expansive than a news article and requires more research, fact-checking, and copyediting. But great features captivate readers and keep them engaged throughout the entire piece by telling a compelling narrative and delivering fascinating background information and quotes.
Unlike hard news, which delivers the most important details with precision and speed, a feature relies on deeper characterization and narrative structure to keep readers captivated throughout its duration. To capture reader attention, a good feature starts with an impactful lede that packs a punch or poses a question that readers need answered. Then, it reveals the context of the topic through interviews and background information with the help of visuals.
For example, this interactive NBC News feature takes an in-depth look at housing segregation in Detroit using a mix of maps, images, video, and interviews with citizens who grew up in the city’s segregated neighborhoods. Similarly, this Pioneers Post feature tells the story of how local families and small-scale farmers in Gambia stepped up to save their land from environmental degradation by using an immersive combination of images, data, and videos.
In the world of strategic communication, feature stories can be used to promote clients or organizations, allowing them to showcase their expertise or highlight unique accomplishments. Feature stories are also commonly used for human interest, in-depth profiles, and science communication. However, they are most often employed by media organisations to expand on and explore complex topics that go beyond the inverted pyramid style of news writing.