What makes a good feature story?

  When you watch a feature story on the news, it can be captivating. An inspiring story about a blind man who kayaked an entire river, a long-lost child returning home, some stories just give you a warm and fuzzy feeling. But why do the stories do this? What makes you want to cry, laugh, or cheer? What makes a good feature story?
  The first thing that you need when creating a successful feature story is a good topic. Obviously, the topic must be something interesting, otherwise no one will care. For example, a blind man kayaking the entire length of the colorado river is a great story that would inspire people. No one would want to hear a story about a little kid who dropped his ice cream.
  Making sure you get good footage is one of the most important things when making a feature story. Footage of the activity or topic that you are talking about is imperative. When the footage relates to what you're talking about, the viewers are more interested.
  As with any film, you want to have good lighting and sound. There needs to be enough light that you can see, but not so much that the glare blinds the camera. On the same note, a little bit of natural noise is welcome, but too much overpowers your voice-overs and leaves your viewers confused.
  An effective voice-over is another important part of creating a feature story. A voice-over can introduce a topic, transfer a viewer's attention to a new part of the topic, and end the feature story on a high note. Voice-overs keep your viewers interested, and they can be used to articulate an unclear part of the story. Also, they are often used to explain what the person in the story may be talking about, as putting the creator of the feature story is considered unprofessional.
  These are good things to do when creating a good feature story. Remember, if the video is too long, the viewers may lose interest. Try to keep it as brief and concise as possible.