In the two chapters of Feature Writing (Pape and Featherstone, 2006), Sue Featherstone and Susan Pape go into fine detail about the differences between news and features, and where the latter may be more appropriate in the world of media.

Firstly, it should be said, the authors of the book have more than sufficient training and experience for their word to be trusted. Both Pape and Featherstone are former journalists with years of in-field experience under their belts, working for newspapers and magazines. In addition to this, they now both teach at separate universities (Lakewater Press, n.d.). That said, one should always try and remain objective whilst consuming any text.

"Swap the straitjacket of news story writing" (Pape and Featherstone, 2006)

What is a feature? The first of the two chapters explores this in depth. The idea of 'anything that isn't news is a feature' is thrown around quite easily during these excerpts, however, focus is primarily on long-form pieces of journalism.  From reading the first chapter, it would seem that the feature is the older, more mature sibling of the news story.  Features are generally much longer, when compared to their news counterparts, as well as packed full of 'colour' (description, background, character etc...).  

However, it's clear from their writing that not any 1500 word article can be considered a feature.  For someone to want to read a feature, or start following certain individual feature writers, the text must be interesting.  As suggested on page 4, 'the journalist must ask him or herself if there is enough mileage in [the article] to sustain reader interest'.  This is where the similarities to news start to show.  Like news stories, a feature writer must consider the angle, peg, five w's, quotes and research.  Whilst more emphasis might be placed on research for features, it's clearly important that the writer doesn't become lazy when writing a feature article.  

Despite being the mature sibling of news, features are clearly more in need of motherly love.  They need to be crafted and cared for, maybe moreso than a news story because if it isn't, the reader will lose interest in the article and, arguably more importantly, the writer themselves.  

Similarly with news, Pape and Featherstone place huge emphasis on getting facts correct.  Whilst a feature writer might be under relaxed rules, facts will still be the strong backbone of the story.  If anything, a feature writer might have more lead-time and therefore has very little room to get facts wrong.  

In conclusion, Pape and Featherstone make it clear that features and news stories are different. They are appropriate at different times and for different stories, but they are both constructed with the same idea in mind; to educate, inform and/or entertain.  A feature has much more research in the foundations and an editor might be more lenient with how the writer constructs the article, but that shouldn't mean the journalist should become complacent when writing. 

Featherstone, Sue & Pape, Susan (2006) Feature Writing: A Practical Introduction. London: Sage Publications.

Lakewater Press (n.d.) Sue Featherstone and Susan Pape - Our Authors [Online].  Available from: <http://lakewaterpress.com/inde...> [Accessed 9th October 2020].