By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
These skills will help you craft compelling stories that engage your audience and support your workplace’s success!
Broadcast journalism thrives on storytelling that informs, engages, and influences public opinion across Kenya’s diverse media landscape. Feature stories are a vital part of this storytelling, offering depth, context, and human interest beyond the immediacy of breaking news. Understanding what features are and how to identify compelling feature story ideas equips journalists to produce content that resonates with audiences and adds value to the broadcast. This chapter lays the foundation by defining features and exploring their essential characteristics within the Kenyan broadcast environment.
Features in broadcast journalism differ significantly from standard news reports. They provide a more detailed, narrative-driven exploration of a topic, often focusing on human interest, background, or analysis. Recognizing the meaning of features is crucial for journalists aiming to craft stories that capture audience attention through rich storytelling and emotional appeal.
Features are extended journalistic pieces that delve deeper into a subject than typical news reports. Unlike news which focuses on immediacy and facts, features emphasize storytelling, context, and insight. In Kenyan broadcast media, features often highlight social issues, cultural narratives, or profiles of individuals and communities, enabling audiences to connect emotionally and intellectually with the content.
Features are usually structured around a central theme or idea, weaving interviews, observations, and descriptive language to provide a comprehensive view. For example, a feature on urban youth unemployment might include personal stories, expert opinions, and statistical data, creating a layered narrative that informs and engages viewers beyond headline news.
Identifying features requires understanding their distinguishing traits compared to standard news. Features are characterised by:
Features explore the background and implications of a topic extensively, providing a richer context than news bulletins. For instance, a feature on the impact of drought on farmers in Turkana would include personal testimonies, agricultural expert insights, and historical data on climate patterns.
Features employ storytelling techniques such as character development, descriptive imagery, and emotional appeal to engage the audience. This narrative approach helps viewers relate to the story on a personal level.
While news strives for objectivity, features allow for more subjective interpretation, offering analysis and commentary to deepen understanding.
Features are typically longer, allowing time to develop themes and explore multiple perspectives. This contrasts with the brief and concise nature of news bulletins.
Features often spotlight individuals or communities, making abstract issues tangible and relatable. A feature on the rehabilitation of former prisoners by a Nairobi NGO would bring human faces to social reintegration efforts.
Kenyan broadcast journalists produce various types of feature stories that serve different purposes and audiences. Recognising these types helps journalists select the right approach for their story ideas.
These focus on personal stories that evoke empathy or inspiration. For example, a feature on a teacher in a rural school innovating with limited resources highlights dedication and challenges in education.
These provide detailed explanations or background on complex issues such as healthcare policies or economic reforms, helping audiences understand topics beyond headlines.
Profiles spotlight individuals or groups, exploring their lives, achievements, or challenges. A profile of a county governor’s initiatives to improve infrastructure would illustrate leadership impact.
These explore past events or anniversaries relevant to current issues, like a documentary-style feature on Kenya’s independence celebrations and their contemporary significance.
Though more common in print, investigative features are adapted for broadcast to uncover hidden facts or abuses, such as exposing corruption in local government procurement processes.
Features enrich broadcast journalism by providing context, depth, and emotional resonance that news alone cannot achieve. They enable broadcasters to connect with diverse audiences across Kenya, fostering understanding and dialogue on critical issues.
Features also contribute to the broadcaster’s brand by showcasing journalistic creativity and commitment to public service. For example, a feature series on mental health awareness aired by a national broadcaster can influence public attitudes and policy discussions.
Furthermore, features provide opportunities for multi-platform storytelling, integrating video, audio, and digital content to reach audiences beyond traditional broadcasts.
Create a free account to open more of this chapter.
Free: practical guides, quick cards, workplace scenarios and more.
Create a free accountFeature stories are a distinct form of journalism that focus on in-depth exploration of topics beyond breaking news, offering readers a richer understanding. Their nature is more descriptive and narrative, often highlighting human interest angles and providing context that engages emotions and imagination. Key characteristics of feature stories include detailed descriptions, a strong narrative voice, and a clear focus on storytelling that captures the audience’s attention. Ideas for feature stories can be sourced from a variety of places such as everyday events, interviews, observations, and research, which provide ample material for compelling content. A good feature writer possesses qualities like curiosity, creativity, strong observation skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences. Feature exercises serve important functions by enhancing writing skills, encouraging critical thinking, and helping writers develop the ability to craft engaging and informative stories that resonate with readers. Together, these elements define the essence of feature writing and guide the process of generating meaningful story ideas.
At the start of this chapter we promised you would be able to:
Tick each one you can genuinely do.
So, are you there yet?
You're competent when you can confidently do 50% or more of what this chapter promised.
Sign in to record how you're doing.