A featured story goes beyond the usual news report by weaving in a fleshed out narrative to deliver a compelling and informative article. Often times, it will highlight a specific subject or location to give readers in-depth coverage that they normally would not receive from their favorite news outlet.
Whether you’re telling a human interest story or unpacking a complex issue, great features captivate readers from start to finish. Having strong reporting and storytelling skills are critical, but mastering structure is what really takes your feature to the next level. By dropping readers into a scene, posing questions they need to have answered, or saving a resonant quote for last, you can keep them engaged throughout your entire piece.
You can have the most amazing research and captivating quotes, but if you can’t keep your reader’s attention, they’ll lose interest before you know it. Make sure you’re using a mix of tools to tell your story, like embedded Tweets, photographs, and videos. This will help readers stay connected to your article and will help to reinforce the points you’re making with your own visuals.
Make sure you’re double-checking all your facts and details before you publish. You don’t want to publish a story with incorrect information about your subject! This includes checking how their name is spelled, the order of events in your article, and any other relevant information. Consider asking your interviewee to read through your article to make sure they feel represented accurately and fairly.
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