Millions of people read media articles everyday, both in print and online, but many don’t realise that they are consuming two different types. News stories have a different purpose to features and require different skills, with journalists shaping how they structure and report a story.

Hot off the press

News stories let the public know what is happening, reporting on current events in a concise way, giving accurate facts in a quick and efficient way.

Trained journalists know the fundamentals of a new story are based on six questions – namely Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. Following this framework ensures that a news report covers the key details of an event. When studying for a journalism degree, students learn these rules, as well as how to write longer pieces, or features. For an idea of what is involved in a journalism degree, colleges such as https://schoolofjournalism.co.uk/ have syllabuses you can look at. A news article follows what is called an inverted pyramid structure, putting all the most important information at the start and keeps the tone objective and straightforward.

Deeper dive

Feature writing is based on different rules and offers a deeper dive into a topic. A feature article picks up on a particular detail of a news story, person or event and explores it at length.

They normally feature quotes and use literary devices and emotional cues to not just tell the reader facts, but to show them. They are more reflective and tend to use a narrative style which engages the reader.