The news feature is a chance for a radio or television station to step back and view life in perspective, to relate current events to their wider social and historical context. It’s also a chance to share good news stories with your audience.
During the coronavirus pandemic thousands of journalists chose news angles – statistics of cases and death, announcements by governments, advice from experts, opinions by influential people – the list was endless. But some of the most interesting news angles came from human interest stories, for example sufferers and their families.
As with all news items, listeners will respond best to a story told from their own point of view. This is why a news feature can be more effective than a PR blast, even though both have their important and distinct roles in the media.
You should always plan a news feature with the audience in mind. If you know how many people will be interviewed, for example, this can help when choosing who to invite to take part and when you plan the recording and production of the interviewees. Similarly, if the feature will include weather and outdoor segments it is worth checking the forecasts as far ahead as possible to find the best days for recording outside.
Another key thing to consider when planning a news feature is the length. It’s very easy to go over the length limit for a news item and end up with an unwieldy feature.