A news feature is a longer, more in-depth piece of journalism than a regular news story. It can be written for print media, television and radio, but it can also appear online. Unlike an opinion piece, it does not seek to sway viewers or readers in a specific way, but rather explains the broader context of the news.
Typically, a news feature is not simply an overview of a broad topic; it also includes interviews with those directly involved in the event or issue. This can be a vital aspect of news features because they are, at heart, people stories. They are about those who have experienced a tragedy, suffered a loss or dealt with some other hardship.
It is important to remember that the audience of a news feature must come first when planning it, and must remain at the forefront throughout the production process. For example, if you are reporting on a local drug epidemic, be sure to include arrest statistics from the police and treatment numbers from drug counselors. It is important to have a local focus, but you should not shy away from the bigger picture either – if a certain type of crime or poverty occurs in your city, it may be interesting to include stats on how common that type of crime or poverty is nationwide too.
A good news feature is built on the back of great talent, but a great talent without a good treatment is useless. The treatment is a blueprint of the story you want to tell, helping guide you in gathering the different elements of your documentary together.
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