News is a mass media form that conveys current and interesting events to the public. It presents the events in a fast manner and is objective. News reports have many aspects: they include the main facts, but also opinions and quotes from people involved in the story, and often provide additional information, such as contact information or further background information. News can be published in a variety of media, including newspapers, magazines, radio and television, but it is often published on the Internet as well.
Almost any event can be a source of news. However, certain things are more likely to be interesting than others. Some of these are events which are unusual or unexpected. They may also involve important or famous people. Other events are of concern to the general population – such as war, government policy, education, health, weather, traffic or crime.
The type of news reported varies with culture. For example, in some countries, religion is a major interest, and so news about religious events or activities will be prominent. In other cultures, political news is of more importance, and so will be stories about politicians or political leaders. Sports events and celebrity news are often big items of news as well.
Writing a news article can be challenging, but there are some basic rules which can help. One is to start with the most important information. This is called “writing above the fold.” The term “fold” refers to the crease in a newspaper where the front page is folded over. When writing a news article for print, this means making sure that the most important information is placed at the top of the article, so that if people only read the first paragraph, they will have a good understanding of the story. When writing an online news article, it is important to keep in mind that most people read only the first few lines of a story before they decide whether to continue reading.
Another tip for writing a news article is to keep it short. People are often pressed for time, and if your news article is too long or contains a lot of tangents, they might lose interest before reaching the end. It is also important to know your audience when writing a news article. If your audience is made up of experts in a particular field, you may be able to report on an unusual or interesting event which will interest them.
Some of the most important factors in determining the newsworthiness of an event are its timing and the impact it will have on the world. For example, a terrorist attack is more newsworthy than a burglary. In addition, a major disaster is more newsworthy than a minor inconvenience. For example, a hurricane or earthquake is more likely to cause widespread destruction and loss of life than a fire or flood which affects only a small area.