This document defines and describes feature articles. It states that a feature article is a prominent article in a newspaper or magazine that is designed to both entertain and inform readers about an event or aspect of life. It then lists some key characteristics of feature stories, such as being timely, permitting creative writing styles and structures, and focusing on novelty rather than standard news leads. Finally, it provides examples of different types of feature articles, such as historical articles, how-to guides, interviews, and articles on current trends.

1. Feature
Article

2. FEATURE ARTICLE
A special or prominent article in a newspaper
or magazine.
 A FEATURE STORY is a creative, sometimes
subjective article designed primarily to
entertain and to inform readers of an event,
a situation or an aspect of life.

3. CHARACTERISTICS
OF
FEATURE STORIES

4.  They are timely and related to a current news
event, they are likely to appeal more to
readers.
 May be written in any form and style. The
only criterion is that the form and style be
appropriate to the contents and purpose of
the story.
 They are factual, and require reporting.

5.  They permit the reporter to use his/her knowledge
and ingenuity to write a story original in ideas and
treatment.
 They rarely have news leads. Instead, they more often
have novelty leads.
 They usually strike the keynote in the opening
sentences, which permit the readers to come into
quick contact with the story and become interested.
 They usually are not cut in make-up. Thus, the
reporter may use any devices of the fiction writer:
suspense, dialogue, description, narration, climax, and
the like. The inverted pyramid does fit the purpose of a
feature story.

6. TYPES
OF
FEATURE

7. • Historical or commemorative articles
• Background articles
• Follow-up articles
• Seasonal features
• Travel writing ("travel feature" / "travel reportage" /
"travelogue")
• Specialized features ("How-to articles", "Service
journalism"): Science &technology, Health & wellbeing,
Home, Food, Fashion, Gardening.

8. • Interview/personality profiles
• Personal experience articles
• Human interest articles
• Reportage
• Trend stories (current trend, issues, controversies...)