A news feature takes a topic of interest and combines journalistic skill with storytelling artistry to produce an entertaining, informative and thought-provoking piece. Often, these pieces are used to highlight human interest stories or to provide analysis and commentary on current events. When producing a news feature, consider the audience’s interests, expectations and needs throughout the planning and production process.
Identify the main points you want to make and choose an angle for your story. The angle can be the most important factor in whether a news feature will succeed.
Be creative when thinking of angles. Even seemingly straightforward subjects can have multiple news angles – for example, if everyone in a plane crash survived, the new angle might be about the miracle.
Gather facts and data to back up your point of view. Some evidence can be anecdotal – for example, a cop reporting that more homeless people are on the streets – but you should also get large-scale stats to validate your topic. This information can be found on government websites or by calling an agency that tracks statistics related to your issue.
Make a list of the people you want to interview and contact them early and often. If a potential source is reluctant to talk, be politely persistent. If they still won’t talk, ask for a reference instead. In addition, be sure to plan a budget for your story. This includes staff costs (including yours), travel, equipment and royalties/copyright fees.