News is information about current events that have occurred or will occur soon. This information is delivered to the public through a variety of media, including print, television, radio, internet and mobile devices. Often, the news is reported by journalists who may or may not have a particular bias toward the information they present. The goal of news is to inform the public about what has happened and why it has happened.
What makes something newsworthy is based on a variety of factors, but timeliness is usually the key factor. It does not do the public any good to learn about an event that took place a week ago. This is why large news sources tend to focus on current events and try to be first with the news.
Another aspect of news is that it must be unusual, interesting and significant. This also varies from society to society. For example, a dog bites a man is not newsworthy in one society, but it could be newsworthy in another. In general, however, it is people who make news, and what they do or say affects others.
It is important to note that although journalists attempt to be fair, they are influenced by an internal system of beliefs and prejudices. These are tempered by the news values stressed by their profession, but they are still present.
A third factor that determines whether a news story is worthy is its effect on the audience. It is important to remember that, while the audience for a news article is not necessarily restricted to a specific group of people, it must be broad enough to include the majority of the community. This is why it is often important to get quotes from the individuals involved in the story and use those quotes in the news article.
As the amount of information that can be gathered and disseminated increases, so does the need for news organizations to find ways to keep their audiences engaged. The best way to do this is by creating news stories that are both informative and entertaining.
Writing a good news story takes a great deal of research. A journalist must be able to identify the most important points and then determine how to organize those points into a logical news article. In addition, it is necessary to ensure that the news article is concise and easy to read. Long tangents and winding sentences can cause the reader to lose interest in the story, so it is important to eliminate unnecessary information.
Finally, it is important to remember that the writer of a news article should not inject his or her own opinion into the piece. This can be difficult, especially when the topic is personal or involves a particular individual. However, it is important to provide enough information that the reader can form his or her own opinion. Ultimately, a good news article will inform the reader without bias.