Press features
A press feature is a published article about you, built from your story and expertise, that readers find when they search your name.
For thought leaders, press features are the written proof behind a reputation. Ace Branding offers guaranteed publishing in over 800 publications across the US and worldwide, writes each feature from an interview with the client, and does not submit anything for publishing until the client approves the final draft.
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You get a press feature by having your story written up as an article and published by an outlet. With Ace Branding, the path runs through a press questionnaire, an interview with the editorial staff, a draft you edit and approve, and then submission to a contributor who takes it through the publication's approval.
A press feature is different from a mention. A mention drops your name into someone else's story; a feature is about you. That is why features carry weight for thought leaders: a reader comes away knowing what you think and why it matters.
A journalism feature is a longer story that explores a person, idea, or trend in depth instead of reporting breaking news. Features use narrative, quotes, and background to explain why something matters. Profiles and interviews are the formats that suit thought leaders best, because they connect a person's story to the insight they offer.
Ace Branding writes articles about you or your company using your story. The topics depend on what you want to discuss. In the company's words, the goal is not just to see your name in a headline: the article should provide value to the reader. Clients it lists include Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Good Ranchers, Family First Life, and Ozzy Tyres.
The features of a good press release are a specific headline, a dateline, a lead paragraph that answers who, what, when, where, and why, at least one quote, supporting facts, a short boilerplate, and media contact details. Writers often end a release with ### to mark the end of the copy.
A press release asks journalists to cover you. A press feature is the coverage itself. Many thought leaders skip releases because they have an ongoing story to tell, not a single announcement.
| Point | Press release | Press feature |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Announces news to journalists | Tells your story to readers |
| Who reads it | Editors and reporters | The publication’s audience |
| Length and style | Short, factual, formulaic | Longer, narrative, with context |
| Where it ends up | Newswires and inboxes | A published article page |
| Your control | You write it; outlets decide whether to use it | With Ace Branding, you approve the final draft |
Ace Branding lists seven steps in its press process. Your approval sits at step three, before anything is submitted.
Questionnaire and interview
Complete the press questionnaire (about 6 minutes) and schedule an interview.
First draft
The editorial staff writes the first draft from your interview.
Editing until approval
Edits continue until your team approves the final draft.
Submit to contributor
The final draft goes to the contributor.
Publication approval
The contributor submits the article for approval with the publication.
Published
Once approved, the publication publishes the article.
Link goes live
Once published, the link goes live and is yours to share.
“The press” means the news media: newspapers, magazines, broadcasters, online news outlets, and the journalists and editors behind them. Other names for it include the media, the news media, and the fourth estate. Its functions are to inform, educate, interpret events, give a voice to people and ideas, entertain, and act as a watchdog.
Four commonly named types are print, broadcast, digital or online, and outdoor. Thought leader PR mostly uses the first three. Ace Branding works in online publications, on podcasts, and on regional TV.
Press features are the anchor of a thought leader PR plan because they are permanent, searchable, and linkable. Pair them with podcast tours for depth and regional TV appearances for video. Back to the thought leader PR guide.
For background on press release structure, see the Wikipedia article on news releases.
Short answers below. See all 52 thought leader PR questions
A press feature is a published article about a person or company, built around their story and expertise, in a news or magazine outlet. Unlike a short news brief, it gives readers context and value. Ace Branding writes features from an interview with the client and does not submit anything for publishing until the client approves the final draft.
More in the FAQ: What is a press feature?To do a press release, write a clear headline, put the who, what, when, where, and why in the first paragraph, add a quote from a spokesperson, include supporting facts, and finish with a short company boilerplate and a media contact. A press release announces news to journalists. A press feature is the finished article that readers actually see.
More in the FAQ: How to do a press release?In journalism, ### at the bottom of a press release signals the end of the document, telling editors there is no more copy to follow. Some writers use the number 30 for the same purpose. It is a newsroom formatting convention, not something readers of a published feature will ever see on the page.
More in the FAQ: What does ### mean in journalism?Common other names for the press are the media, the news media, journalists, the fourth estate, and the newspapers. In PR, people also talk about earned media, meaning coverage that appears as editorial content rather than as an ad. Each name points to the same idea: channels that tell an audience what is worth knowing.
More in the FAQ: What's another name for the press?Ace Branding writes the articles about you or your company using your story. The topics depend on what you would like to discuss, and the goal is not just to see your name in a headline but to give the reader real value. Writing starts from a press questionnaire and an interview with a member of the editorial staff.
More in the FAQ: How will the articles be written and what topics will be covered?Yes. With Ace Branding, a writer creates a rough draft from your interview and sends it to you for review and edits. The editing cycle continues until your team approves the final draft, and nothing is submitted for publishing before that approval, so you keep full control over your brand narrative.
More in the FAQ: Do I approve the article before it is published?Ace Branding does not publish a fixed timeline. Timing depends on how quickly your team approves the draft and on each publication's own approval, since the contributor submits the final draft and the publication approves it before the link goes live. Ask for a current estimate during your consultation.
More in the FAQ: How long does it take to get a press feature published?Talk with Ace Branding about guaranteed press features, written from your interview and published only after you approve.
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