A featured story is a piece of longform non-fiction that covers a single topic in depth. These articles explore a person, place, or idea by using storytelling tools like descriptions and quotes to create vivid imagery for readers. Unlike hard news stories, which focus on events and facts, feature stories put people at the center of their narratives.
From a strategic communication perspective, featured pieces are useful for increasing the visibility of your client or organization to your target audience. They also provide an opportunity to get creative with your content. For example, instead of an article on a company’s new CEO, a more effective way to reach your key audiences would be with an interview with the new executive.
Feature stories are the bread and butter of journalism, but the best ones do more than inform. They dig deeper, exploring complexities and challenging assumptions to pull readers into a richer narrative. They take the time to research and ask the right questions, but they also go beyond the expert interviews. They incorporate unexpected voices that reveal contradictions and tensions within a narrative.
The result is a piece of content that keeps readers engaged, makes an impact, and stays with them long after the last word has been read. This requires meticulous reporting and careful structuring. It is what separates a good story from an unforgettable one.