As the name suggests, a news feature is a piece of news reporting that presents current events and information with a more narrative style. It often involves a storyline and the use of story characters (like a fiction novel). It can be humorous, saddening, serious or light – but always truthful. It may highlight aspects of human nature – or the commonalities of people and cultures across the world.

It might be a good idea to decide before you start planning what kind of news feature you want to make. That will help to set the tone for the other factors that will go into making it. Obviously it will depend on the type of program you are producing and the audience for that program. But, in a general sense, your feature should appeal to the kinds of people who tune in to hear your news program.

Then you need to plan the content and format of your news feature – the ‘treatment’ – the way it will work. This will be influenced by the tone and format of the program it is to appear on, as well as the overall length you have in mind.

It will also influence the people you want to interview and where you are going to get the best access for research and recording. Remember that you will need to plan your production carefully for any time limitations imposed by the person who wants you to make the news feature or, if you are freelance, the broadcaster for whom you work.