ABSTRACT
This chapter explains how to prepare and write news features about people, organizations, and issues. It also explores how to adapt feature article to various opportunities in online media. News feature articles have a role in other areas of public relations, such as with internal magazines, newsletters and similar publications, and with websites, blogs, social media sites, online newsrooms and other online opportunities. News features are different from news stories in that they have an ending. Biographical narratives, personal profiles, personal interviews and interview transcripts are four different kinds of writing approaches lend to writing about people. A backgrounder or background news feature is a factual piece that provides a backdrop to a product or service associated with an organization or explains the context of a situation affecting the organization. The chapter provides several steps toward developing an effective how-to article, both for use as a feature for newspapers or magazines or for an internal publication or website.
