News is a type of information that informs the reader about current events. It may also contain analysis or opinion about those events. It is usually presented in a journalistic format, such as articles and radio or television news broadcasts. It may be written for the general public, or it may be for a specific audience, such as business executives. News is most often distributed through newspapers, magazines, radio and television, but the Internet has become an important source as well.
News articles should be informative, but they can also entertain. This can be done by using humour or including interviews with people who are affected by the news story in some way. This allows the reader to learn more about the topic from a more personal angle and can help them to connect with the event.
The most common subjects for news stories are war, government, politics, education, health, weather and sports. The news media also includes a wide variety of other topics, such as lifestyle, fashion, entertainment, and the environment.
Many people are interested in the activities of famous people, so news about them can be a source of interest. However, some of this type of news can be sensationalist and may have a negative effect on the reputation of the person involved. This is something that the journalist needs to balance when writing news about famous people.
A good news article should be based on facts and be free from bias. It should also be concise and clearly written. When an article is written, the writer should consider who the intended audience is and what their expectations are for complexity of the story. It is also important to have a good lead, which should be interesting and capture the attention of the reader. This is usually done with a dramatic anecdote or a surprising fact.
When deciding whether or not a particular story is newsworthy, the writer should look at how new it is, how unusual it is, and if it is significant. The writer should also consider whether or not the story is likely to affect the lives of the readers, listeners or viewers. For example, a coup in the next door country would be considered to be very newsworthy.
Some types of news, such as weather forecasts and evaluations of local services, are not generally considered to be newsworthy. These types of items are included in many newspapers and broadcasts as a way to fill space.
Even if an event is not newsworthy, it can still be reported if it is unusual or strange. For example, an insect that has never been seen before could be a big piece of news if it is discovered in a remote part of the world where no one else has ever seen it before. However, the same insect being found on a plant that it has not previously eaten would probably only be of interest to scientists.