News is information about events that happen or that are important. It is usually published in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. It is usually written to inform or educate people, but it can also entertain them. People can learn a lot about the world from news stories, and they can use it to decide how to vote in elections or make decisions about their lives. News is also used by governments to control their populations and to influence foreign countries.
A good news story is new, unusual, interesting, significant and about people. It should also be as up-to-date as possible. It does not necessarily need to entertain – that is the job of other media – music and drama on radio and TV, and cartoons and crosswords in newspapers. However, it should always aim to be fair and accurate. The more these criteria are met, the stronger the news value of a story.
People make the world go round, and so it is not surprising that news often revolves around them. The most common news stories include war, politics, education, health and the environment. But many other things can be newsworthy, including the weather, natural disasters, accidents, and even fashion, sport and celebrity gossip.
One of the biggest problems when writing a news article is getting it to be interesting and relevant. It is important to be aware of what people are interested in, and to try to appeal to that. If a story is not of interest, it will probably not be read or listened to.
Some stories are more important than others, but it is difficult to judge which is the most important. It is often a matter of opinion, and what is important to one person may not be important to another. For example, a man’s death may be big news in his home town, but it is unlikely to affect the lives of people living hundreds of miles away.
Often, the most interesting part of a news story is the lead or opening paragraph. This is often written in a dramatic way to grab the reader’s attention, and it should answer the questions who, what, when, where and why. It should also tell readers what is likely to follow, and it is sometimes helpful if the writer includes some background information.
Once the lead has been written, it is usually necessary to write a “nut graph” which explains what the news story is really about. This can be as simple as a single sentence, and should answer the questions who, what, when, how and why. It is important that the nut graph is clear, concise and easy to understand, because it will help readers decide whether or not they want to read the rest of the news story. It is also a good idea to have someone else read the story before it is published, to check that it is accurate and that the facts are correct.