Using the template_include filter in WordPress

gistfile1.aw

<?php
add_filter( 'template_include', 'ja_template_include' );
/**
 * Apply a template to all subcategories of a certain parent category.
 *
 * @author Jared Atchison
 * @link http://www.jaredatchison.com/2011/10/02/taking-advantage-of-the-template_include-filter/
 *
 * @param  string $template Existing path to template file
 * @return string           Potentially amended path to template file
 */
function ja_template_include( $template ) {

	// Parent category (News) ID
	$my_parent_category_id = 7;

	if ( ! is_category() )
		return $template;

	// Get category information
	$category_info = get_category( get_query_var( 'cat' ) );

	if ( $category_info->parent == $my_parent_category_id )
		return get_stylesheet_directory_uri() . '/subcategory-news.php';
		
	return $template;

}

@ericrasch - absolutely. If you look at http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/get_category you'll see that there are lots of properties available instead of parent on line 23 - it sounds as though you want to use slug.

Be aware however, that slugs can change (by un-informed but well-meaning clients), as can names, which is why it's usually safer to go with an ID, and add a comment for developers reading the code, as per my example.

Just created a fork that's more dynamic. In this version you hardcode the template file ('/subcategory-news.php') into the function.
You could also check if there's a file called 'subcategory-' + the parent category slug + .php in the theme folder and use that one (like I do in my fork).

I've forked to better handle the hierarchical order... see https://gist.github.com/sardbaba/5013763