Definition

Noun: A feature article is a special, prominent, and often lengthy piece of writing in a newspaper, magazine, or online publication. Unlike standard news reports, it focuses on providing in-depth analysis, human interest, background, or entertainment on a specific topic, person, event, or trend.

Usage

A feature article is a distinct journalistic format. It is used when a writer or publication wants to explore a subject in detail, tell a compelling story, or provide context beyond the basic facts of a news event. It is designed to engage readers more deeply.

Examples

• The Sunday magazine includes a feature article about the life of a deep-sea explorer.
• She wrote a brilliant feature article on the impact of social media on local communities.
• The editor asked him to develop his short report into a full feature article.

Advanced Usage

• "to run a feature (article) on": This phrasal verb is commonly used in journalism to mean to publish a feature article about a specific subject.
  • The newspaper decided to run a feature on the city's architectural history.

Variants and Related Words

• Feature (noun): Often used as a shorter form of "feature article" in editorial contexts.
  • He writes one major feature per month for the magazine.
• Feature story (noun): A synonym for feature article.
• Feature writer (noun): A journalist who specializes in writing feature articles.

Synonyms

• In-depth article
• Magazine piece
• Cover story (when it is the main article featured on the cover)

Related Phrases

• Human-interest feature: A type of feature article that focuses on a personal or emotional story about individuals or groups.
• News feature: An article that uses a recent news event as a starting point for a broader, more analytical exploration.

Noun

1. a special or prominent article in a newspaper or magazine
   • they ran a feature on retirement planning