Contents
What is a feature?
A feature (feature story, feature article) is an emotionally rich journalistic piece that highlights events or personalities from an original perspective. Such articles are intended not only to convey information but also to stir the imagination and emotions of the reader. They can tell about significant events, such as the colonization of Siberia, focusing on human stories and experiences. For example, the author may present the story of a specific family, describing their life in Siberia in the 16th-17th centuries through archival photographs and interviews with descendants.
The main feature of a feature is that, despite using facts and data, the author is not shy about expressing their opinion and sharing emotions. Usually, such articles appear in response to current events but can also explore deeper themes related to specific individuals or historical periods.
Why use a feature?
Features play an important role in journalism, serving several key purposes:
- Standing out among other media: They help capture the attention of readers who already know about the news and offer them a different perspective.
- Entertaining the audience: The emotional component and engaging plots make features similar to works of fiction, which helps maintain the reader's interest.
- Creating evergreen content: Such materials often touch on themes that remain relevant and interesting for a long time, even if they were initially linked to a specific event.
What types of features are there?
There are several types of features that can be used in journalism:
- News feature: A piece directly or indirectly related to a news event (e.g., “Children rescued a dog: what the passengers were doing the day before the plane crash”).
- Human-interest story: A story about a person based on human interest, often subjective (e.g., “The world's first programmer Ada Lovelace”).
- In-depth profile: An emotional biography where the facts are selected by the author at their discretion rather than by significance (e.g., “Ivan the Terrible: a biography through correspondence with the English queen”).
How to write a feature: basic principles
Writing a feature requires adherence to several basic principles:
- In-depth research of the topic: It is important to base the piece on real facts and events, even if the text contains subjective opinion.
- Choosing unusual details: Vivid details help create an atmosphere and engage the reader in the story.
- Expressing one's opinion: The author should share their thoughts and emotions, creating a closeness with the reader.
- Adding colorful illustrations: Photographs and graphics enrich the text and help convey the atmosphere of the story.
- Keeping interesting elements a secret: The element of surprise can hold the readers' attention, creating intrigue and prompting them to read the piece to the end.
How does a feature differ from other genres?
A feature lies at the intersection of journalism and literary fiction, and it can be difficult to distinguish it from other forms of journalism. However, the main differences are as follows:
- News report: Objective and concise language focused on facts.
- Feature: Emotional and subjective language that may include literary techniques.
- Story: A fictional narrative based on the author's imagination.
Thus, features represent a unique genre that allows for a blend of reality and creativity, making them an important part of the modern journalistic landscape.