Press features
Press features: what they are and how they get published
Last updated: November 2026. Published by Ace Branding.
A press feature is a story-driven article in a publication about a person or business, written to give readers real value rather than announce a single piece of news.
Ace Branding offers guaranteed publishing in over 800 publications across the US and worldwide. Its press features are written about you or your company using your own story, and nothing is submitted until you approve the final draft. This page explains how press features differ from press releases and how the process runs.
What is the difference between a press feature and a press release?
A press release announces news in a fixed format and is sent to editors; a press feature is a published article that tells a story in depth. Releases ask for coverage. Features are the coverage.
For thought leaders, features usually carry more weight because they explain how you think, not just what happened. Ace Branding's goal for every feature is that it provides value to the reader, not just your name in a headline.
What is a journalism feature?
A journalism feature is a longer article that explores people, ideas, or trends using narrative, quotes, and context. Unlike a news story, it is not tied to a single breaking event. That room to explain is exactly what makes features useful for thought leaders.
In an Ace Branding press feature, the topics are chosen by you. Ace Branding states that the topics covered depend on the topics you would like to discuss, and the article is built from an interview with a member of its editorial staff.
Features of a good press release
If you do need a press release, these are the features of a press release that editors expect to see. Use them when you have real news, such as a launch, a partnership, or a milestone.
- A specific headline that states the news
- A dateline with city and date
- An opening paragraph that answers who, what, when, where, and why
- A quote from a real person involved
- Supporting facts and context
- A short boilerplate about the company
- Media contact details
- Three hash marks (###) to mark the end
What does ### mean in journalism? Three hash marks centered below a press release tell the editor the release has ended. Some writers use "-30-" instead.
How Ace Branding publishes a press feature: 7 steps
Ace Branding follows the same seven steps for every article. The key safeguard is step three: the editing cycle continues until your team approves the final draft.
- 1Complete the press questionnaire and schedule an interviewThe questionnaire takes about 6 minutes. A member of the editorial staff then interviews you.
- 2Editorial staff writes the first draftThe writer builds a rough draft from your interview and your story.
- 3The editing cycle runs until your team approves the final draftYou review and edit. Nothing moves forward without your approval.
- 4The final draft goes to the contributor
- 5The contributor submits it for approval with the publication
- 6Once approved, the publication publishes the article
- 7Once published, the link goes live
What is the purpose of the press?
The purpose of the press is to inform the public, explain events, hold power to account, and give a platform to voices worth hearing. The word "press" comes from the printing press; Gutenberg's movable type made it possible to print many identical copies quickly, which is why printed news became "the press".
Today the press includes newspapers, magazines, news websites, broadcast news, and many podcasts. When an outlet features you, its readers borrow their trust in the outlet and extend it to you. That borrowed trust is the reason press features matter for thought leaders.
Note for searchers: if you were looking for the Focus Features press site or drill press features, this page is about media press features for thought leaders, not film studios or workshop tools.
Press features questions
What is a journalism feature?
A journalism feature is a longer, story-driven article that explores people, ideas, or trends instead of breaking news. Features use narrative, quotes, and context, which is why they suit thought leaders: they leave room to explain how you think and why your work matters.
What does ### mean in journalism?
Three hash marks (###) centered below a press release signal the end of the release. Editors use the mark to know nothing further follows. Some writers use "-30-" for the same purpose. It is a formatting convention for press releases, not something that appears in a published feature.
What are the features of a good press release?
A good press release has a clear headline, a dateline, an opening paragraph that answers who, what, when, where, and why, a quote from a real person, supporting details, a short company boilerplate, media contact details, and ### at the end. A press release announces news; a press feature tells a story.
How to do a press release?
Start with one real piece of news, write a specific headline, answer the five Ws in the first paragraph, add a quote, then supporting facts, a boilerplate, and contact details, and end with ###. If your goal is credibility rather than an announcement, a press feature written from an interview may serve you better.
What does the press include?
The press includes newspapers, magazines, news websites, wire services, broadcast TV and radio news, and, in practice, many podcasts. Ace Branding works across three of these: press features in publications, podcast tours, and regional TV appearances.
Do I approve the article before it publishes?
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 until you approve it, so you keep full control over your brand narrative.
What are four types of media?
Four commonly cited types of media are print, broadcast, digital or online, and outdoor. PR professionals also sort coverage into earned, owned, paid, and shared media. Press features, podcast tours, and TV appearances span print and digital, audio, and broadcast.
Get your story into press features
Talk with Ace Branding about guaranteed publishing in over 800 publications, with full approval of every draft.
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