year 11 english (general)
feature articles
Source: Shutterstock
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What is a feature article?
What's the difference between a news and feature article?
Example of a news article
Tillett, A. (2009, July 9). Young indigenous hit by 14pc homeless rise. The West Australian, p. 4. |
Example of a feature article
Evans-Butler, B. (2018). Compassion and effective care. The West Australian, p. HEA19. |
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News Article |
Feature Article |
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A news story reports the facts about an event. |
A feature story explains the significance of an event. It offers analysis. |
Timing |
A news article is time-sensitive and of immediate interest. e.g. results of a football match results |
A feature article can be published at any point. The topic is usually of interest for a long period of time. |
Content |
A news story reports the facts: who, what, where, when, why, and how. It is usually written in a straightforward, short reporting style. |
A feature article is a human interest story about a person, event, or place. Rather than simply summarizing the subject, a feature article highlights one aspect or significance of the story. This kind of content gives you the chance to go in-depth on a story or at least one angle of that story. Its less formal style may take an odd twist or heartwarming angle at the end. |
Length |
News articles are short, averaging 100–400 words depending upon the type of news and where it is placed in the publication. They are meant to be digested quickly. |
Feature articles are longer and dig more deeply into the topic. Length varies for each publication, but a typical feature word count runs between 1,000–2,000 words. |
Structure |
A feature article uses a diamond structure where very few facts are presented. |
Source: Medium
Source: SchoolJournalism.org
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Where can I find examples of features articles?
Use the following sites to find examples of feature articles:
Here are some examples of feature articles on specific topics:
- Henley, J. (2019, June 3). 'It's a miracle': Helsinki's radical solution to homelessness. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/jun/03/its-a-miracle-helsinkis-radical-solution-to-homelessness
- Jewett, C. (2022, March 8). The loophole that's fueling a return to teenage vaping. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/08/health/vaping-fda-nicotine.html?searchResultPosition=17
- McShane, J. (2022, February 18). Here comes the... Broom? The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/18/style/bride-groom-nonbinary.html?searchResultPosition=23
What does a feature article look like?
Source: Stress Less Tutoring
Masthead |
The logo or identifying emblem located at the top of the page of the company you are writing the article for. |
Headline |
The title of the article itself. It should be punctual and compelling as to grab the reader’s attention. |
Subheading |
The subheading is under the headline and is smaller in size as compared to the headline. It is typically a short word, phrase or sentence that gives a brief introduction or ‘sneak peek’ into your article. |
By-line |
The by-line identifies the author of the article. |
Hook |
The hook is the first sentence of your introduction and should entice the reader to want to learn more about the topic being discussed. |
Image and Caption |
Photos are effective in quickly conveying a message to your target audience. They must be relevant to your article and should have short captions under them to provide context behind their use. Though they are useful, you should not overshadow your article with images. |
Source: Stress Less Tutoring
How do I write a feature article?
What are some design tips for creating a feature article?