A news feature is an in-depth story that goes beyond the typical news article. It needs to hold the audience’s attention, keep them listening and inspire them to talk about it. It also needs to be based on accurate facts, with new insights and unique anecdotes.
The news angle often reappears at the end of a news feature to tie everything together and bring it full circle. For example, the story of the baby survivor at the start of a feature about air travel safety might end with talking about what passengers should do to be safe.
In fact, a news feature might be about anything that fits into the criteria of what is newsworthy. But, a news article may not automatically qualify as a news feature, so think carefully about the topic and how you will develop it for maximum impact.
The audience must come first when you decide on the topic of your news feature. It is also important to keep them front of mind all the way through the planning and production process.
Narration
Radio and television are all about people, so the right talent is critical for a news feature. A great narrator will help to make the most of your interviewees and add a personal touch to your broadcast. The narrator will also be responsible for reading the text of your news feature. Sometimes it will be impossible to get a person’s voice for some reason. In this case you might choose to get someone else – like an actor – to ‘voice’ their words or read them yourself, as long as the listener understands that you are not hearing a live voice from the actual person being interviewed.
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