Paste a headline and a story to check them against what editors look for: a length of about 450 to 700 words, the company named no more than twice and never in the headline or opening, at least one quote, AP style for numbers, short paragraphs, and no hype words, promises or prices. It runs in your browser; nothing you paste is sent anywhere.
Want to know whether your story would run? Todd Simon, National PR Director, will tell you on a strategy call.
Book a call with ToddWhat it checks
- Length. In our sample of sponsored feature stories, the middle half ran from 468 to 712 words, so the target is roughly 450 to 700. More in how to write a feature story.
- Headline. Whether it is short, in sentence case, free of exclamation marks and free of the company name.
- Company mentions. Twice at most: when you introduce your expert, and in the closing line. Never in the opening paragraph.
- Quotes. At least one, from your expert.
- Words that read as advertising. Superlatives such as "best" and "leading", promises such as "guaranteed" and "cures", and prices or offers.
- Paragraphs and sentences. Paragraphs of more than three sentences, and very long sentences.
- AP number style. Figures under 10 and spelled-out numbers of 10 and up, which AP style handles the other way round. Ages written with "years old", percentages, dates and times are left alone.
- Photo. Whether the draft mentions a photo caption or credit.
What it cannot check
A tool cannot tell whether your advice is useful, whether your facts are right, or whether you hold the rights to your photo. It does not know a publisher's own limits, and its number check is a prompt to look, not a rule: AP style has exceptions it does not cover. Read the story aloud before you send it.
Need a starting point? Use the feature story template, or read the feature story examples.
Put the checker on your own site
You are welcome to embed the checker on your own site or in a client resource. Copy this code. Like the page, the embed runs in the visitor's browser and sends nothing.
Questions
Does the checker store my story?
No. It runs in your browser. Nothing you paste is sent to NewsUSA or anyone else, and nothing is saved when you leave the page.
Why does the checker count my company name?
Because a story that names the company in every paragraph reads as an ad, and editors cut it. Name the company twice at most: when you introduce your expert, and in the closing line.
Is this an AP style checker?
Only for numbers. It flags figures under 10 and spelled-out numbers of 10 and up, which AP style usually handles the other way round. It does not check titles, dates, state names or punctuation.
How this page was made
A tool, not a guide. The checks follow the house rules in the how to write a feature story guide, and the length target comes from NewsUSA's own sample of sponsored feature stories described there. Nothing you paste leaves your browser. NewsUSA figures (2,000+ US news sites within 30 days, live-only billing, the 2,637-site September 2026 campaign) come from NewsUSA and its campaign reports, which Todd Simon can show you on the call. How these guides are made.