A featured story is a longform non-news piece that tells an in-depth, narratively driven account on a topic. It is often used to entertain, inspire or inform audiences. Some examples of featured stories include: personal profiles, human interest pieces, science communication, and data storytelling.
Like any other type of content, a well-written feature story requires research. A feature writer should fully immerse themselves in their subject matter and gather as much information as possible, from both primary and secondary sources. They should also conduct interviews and engage with their audience to gain an intimate understanding of their subject. This allows the feature writer to portray their subject in a unique, emotionally-charged manner. For example, if hard news reports that a thousand people are losing their jobs, a feature article might focus on one of those affected and show how they cope with the loss by creating art in their spare time.
Writing a great feature story requires a strong understanding of the 5Ws and 1H (who, what, when, where, why). It’s essential to have a clear narrative arc, beginning, middle, and end. The best way to do this is by establishing the hook early on. You can do this through anecdotes, quotes, and descriptive leads. The end should also provide closure or a thought-provoking message. For example, a recent New York Times feature article on military veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder ended with a heartwarming success story of a music program that helped them heal.