A news feature is an in-depth story that looks at a real-world subject. It can be about people, a place or event. The aim is to interest your audience enough to make them tune in, keep listening and inspire them to remember the story – or at least talk about it with friends and colleagues.

A good news feature starts with a well-researched premise. It then explores a number of angles, or issues, within that subject. Often the number of angles and issues will grow or change as you write your article, and this is why it is important to be very clear about what you want your final news feature to be before starting work.

In longer features, a storyteller must think about the overall’story arc’ – how it will start, develop, change and end. A story without an ‘arc’ will bore listeners and viewers very quickly and they are likely to switch off or change channel. A good news story will have rises and falls in pace, tone and emotion – and be able to convey the personalities of the people involved.

In many cases, particularly with a topic that involves travel, there will be practical considerations to take into account, such as seasons and weather. You may also need to plan for getting permission to access places or people that are normally out of bounds for journalists. You should always check the latest government travel advice before deciding on a location for your feature and be prepared to be flexible in the face of last minute changes.