News feature is a journalistic genre in which the writer seeks to tell human stories with an emphasis on emotion and imagination. It can take a variety of forms but must be presented in a way that is entertaining and interesting to the audience for whom it is intended.
A typical newspaper story may be an adventure, a profile or a look at a specific issue. A good feature should be based on an extensive interview with the subject. The subject should be well informed and cooperative. If sources are difficult to talk to, they must be approached politely but firmly and the reporter should try to find other ways to get the information required.
Unlike the inverted pyramid lead of a hard news story, a feature lede needs to draw readers into the piece and set the scene. It is often written in the style of a short story, using strong verbs, personal words and active sentences. It should include a “kicker” at the end to keep readers interested in the whole article.
Many people complain that the media only tells bad news. This is partly because the majority of events which are newsworthy happen suddenly, and are usually unwelcome. A good feature can help to redress this imbalance by telling a story which puts current events in perspective. It can explain the social and historical background which makes them so unwelcome, and it can show that there are good things happening in the world as well as bad ones.