A featured story is an article that gets highlighted in a widget to draw attention and encourage user engagement. This type of content can be newsworthy, informative, entertaining or more, and can be used for anything from showcasing new products to promoting a brand’s identity.
The heart of a feature story is human interest. A strong narrative approach and relatable subject matter allow readers to engage with the topic in a more emotional way, making it easier for them to retain information and understand its broader context. By focusing on personal experiences and emotions, you can create more engaging stories that will leave a lasting impression on your readers.
Oftentimes, the best features dive into a more complex topic and unpack issues that aren’t fully covered in the news. A great example of this is NBC’s immersive and interactive piece, Women in Chinese Propaganda, which takes readers on a deeper look into how the Chinese Communist Party depicted women during its early days. By combining illustrations, history and interviews with a compelling narrative structure, this piece takes an in-depth look at a historical event and offers more depth into its significance.
Although a feature article allows for more storytelling and descriptions than an objective, fact-based news story, it’s important to still be stingy with words. Readers can lose interest if the story drags, so it’s important to have a clear idea of what effect you want your piece to have and use every word strategically.
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