News is any information that relates to current events and/or people. A good news article should be brief so that the reader will read it, clear so that the reader will appreciate it and picturesquely so that the reader will remember it. It should also be accurate and reliable so that the reader will be guided by it.
News articles are written to inform and educate readers about important/current happenings in the world and the impact they may have on their lives. They are usually published in newspapers or online and are generally written by professional journalists. They can be about any topic ranging from politics to sport to natural disasters. They can be about local, national or international news. National publications often have a broader readership than their local counterparts and will therefore focus on a wider range of topics that affect the whole population such as national security, economic issues and social/environmental problems.
The definition of what constitutes news is a matter of judgement and will differ in different societies. For example, if a farm wall collapses killing both a cow and a pig, it will be newsworthy to one society but not to another, because of the relative importance of those animals in their culture.
A journalist will decide what to include in a news story by using a set of criteria and will then write it accordingly. The most important points will be given first in the news bulletin or on Page One, with a greater level of detail, whilst lesser points will be included in less prominent places. This is because the journalist is trying to satisfy their audience by providing them with the information they believe that they require.
Once the journalist has decided upon what to include in their news article, they will need to research and collect information. This can be done by interviewing a variety of people who have knowledge of the subject, such as experts in the field or those who are directly affected. It is also possible to find out information from secondary sources, such as books or websites.
Once all the information has been collected, it must be sorted and prioritized. A good way to do this is by using the inverted pyramid structure. This will help the writer to focus on the most important aspects of their news article and leave out any irrelevant or unhelpful details. Finally, the news article must be edited and proofread carefully to avoid errors such as grammatical mistakes or factual inaccuracies. Often, a news article will feature quotes from a source that have further insight into the topic at hand. This can provide the reader with a more personal connection to the news story and make it more relatable. This can also increase the likelihood of the reader sharing the article with others. It is often suggested that writers read their articles out loud before they are submitted, as this can assist with sentence structure and phrasing as well as ensuring that all facts are correct.