What is a News Feature?

News feature is a genre of journalism that takes a more in-depth look at a particular topic than a regular news story. It often takes on a more human-interest angle and explores how issues affect people in real life by using descriptive language, narrative structure, and creative storytelling. It is commonly used in magazines, newspapers, and online.

Unlike a regular news article, which tends to be time-sensitive, a news feature can take longer to research and write. For this reason, it is important to choose an interesting angle and stick with it throughout the piece to ensure it will keep readers engaged.

To help with this, it is useful to break the subject down into smaller elements that can be more easily researched and presented to readers. This helps to avoid becoming overwhelmed by the amount of information that needs to be included and can also help you focus on capturing an audience’s attention through the use of creative ledes.

For example, this Sky News news feature on WNBA star, Skylar Diggins’s work with Water Aid uses a mix of images and video to showcase the impact that her efforts have had. It also includes a short personal anecdote to engage readers and add a relatable dimension to the story.

When asked what the purpose of a news feature is, editors and journalists will often say that it entertains while informing. While there are many different definitions of a news feature, they all agree that it is an informative piece that explores a particular topic in more detail than a standard news article.

What is a Special Report?

A special report is a customized financial report that deviates from the standard formats of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. These unique reports often address specific information needs while maintaining professional standards and clarity. They may also be used to demonstrate compliance with certain aspects of a contractual agreement or regulatory provisions related to audited financial statements. Examples of special reporting are cash receipts/disbursements reports and tax basis financial statements.

In journalism, the term special report can be used to refer to an in-depth investigation of a subject. These in-depth pieces are often written about subjects such as alleged wrongdoing or corruption, and can help increase the journalist’s credibility and provide valuable insight into complex subjects for their audience.

The term special report can also be used in academia to describe a research paper that presents the results of a systematic investigation to a scholarly audience. These papers should include a literature review that analyzes existing knowledge in the field of study, as well as first-hand verifiable information on the subject being investigated. These documents should be clearly structured with relevant headings and sections, and should utilize graphs to enhance their readability and clarity.

In television, the term special report refers to a news program that focuses on breaking political news from the nation’s capitol. The show was originally anchored by Brit Hume until his retirement in 2008, and is now hosted by Bret Baier. The program has received recognition for its in-depth coverage of political stories and incisive discussion of the impact of Washington on Americans.