A featured story is a selection of content that editors or curators highlight on a platform’s main page or section to draw attention to it. Feature stories are usually long, detailed articles that explore topics in more depth than the typical news report. Unlike hard news, which adheres to the inverted pyramid structure, a well-reported feature can tell a fuller story using anecdotes, context and background information.
Whether diving into a human-interest piece, unpacking a complex issue or taking readers behind the scenes, it’s important that your feature captivates from start to finish. To do this, it’s essential that you have a solid structure in place. This will not only keep your reader interested, but also ensure that every anecdote and statistic is fact-checked and adds value to the story.
The best features feel effortless to read, but they’re built on a foundation of meticulous reporting and careful structuring. This is what turns a good article into a great one—one that sticks with readers after they’ve moved on to the next headline.
In this video, journalism professors Anna Kuchment and Sara Keenan discuss the best practices for writing a featured story. They explore how to hook readers, how long is an ideal length for a feature article and what makes a good story worth sharing. They also provide tips for writing a strong lead and how to structure a story in a way that keeps readers engaged.