A news feature combines a hard news article with softer, more magazine-style writing. The result is an article that educates and entertains, while also providing a human touch to hard-hitting issues. It may focus on a person, such as an author, singer or entrepreneur; a group of people; a location, such as a particular town; or a topic, such as homelessness, crime, poverty or injustice. A news feature can also be a spot piece, focusing on a particular aspect of the bigger story; or it can be seasonal or a lifestyle piece (think cooking, fashion and leisure).
A good news feature is well researched. It should include as many facts as possible. For example, if it claims there is a meth epidemic in a town, the article should provide arrest statistics from police and treatment numbers from hospitals and drug counselors. It is also helpful to give a larger-scale perspective, such as how many towns are experiencing the same problem.
If the topic is a personal or business matter, it can be helpful to have the subject read the piece before publication. This allows the subject to review it and ensure that names are spelled correctly and that the information is accurate.
It is important to check for grammatical errors and to use editing tools like Grammarly or Hemingwayapp. It is also a good idea to have the article reviewed by an editor.