News is information about current events. It may be reported in newspapers, magazines, radio, television or online. People have been sharing and reporting news since ancient times, through word of mouth or written documents such as letters, diaries and papyrus. Technological developments have enabled news to be rapidly broadcast and spread worldwide. News stories can include any type of event or activity, but often involve politics, crime, business, war, natural disasters and celebrity gossip.
There are many different ways of writing an article or story, but when it comes to News there are some things that all writers need to keep in mind. A news article must be accurate, interesting and concise. It is also important that it does not contain the writer’s opinions, and that it provides enough facts for readers to form their own opinion. This is why it is so important for journalists to research their topic well, and to use primary sources, such as interviews with eye-witnesses or those who were directly involved in the event or news story.
A good news article will start with a strong lead, or a headline that grabs the attention of the reader. It will then detail the facts of the event or news story, organising them in chronological order. It will also feature quotes from primary and secondary sources, and should contain a strong conclusion, usually a restatement of the lead. A well-written news article will also be proof read, and proofed for accuracy, consistency of style and tone, and appropriate formatting.
In order to decide what is newsworthy, it is helpful to consider the five Ws: Who, What, When, Where and Why. A story that is new, unusual, interesting, significant and about people will be very newsworthy. The fact that it happened at a certain time and place is also very important, as is whether it has a potential impact on the lives of the people who are affected by it. For example, a coup in your neighbour’s country will be much bigger news than a coup in the city next door, even though they are both essentially the same event.
The size and significance of an event determines where it will appear in the newspaper, magazine or on the radio, and whether it will be reported at all. It will also be decided how much detail to include in the report. Generally speaking, the more significant or unusual an event is, the more important it will be and the more detail that will be included in the news report.
A variety of models have been developed to explain how news is selected and framed, but no single model accounts for all decisions. In general, however, the selection of news is determined by how much of an impact it will have, how sensational or interesting it is and whether or not it involves violence or scandal. A wide range of social and cultural factors influence these judgments.