News is a medium for reporting on current events and developments. It keeps the public informed about what’s going on locally, nationally and internationally. It can also help educate the public and explain complex issues and topics. News is available in many forms – print, radio and television, as well as online through websites like the world’s largest social network, Facebook.
When writing news, it’s important to consider who you’re writing for. Most newspapers, magazines and news blogs are geared toward a specific demographic. This is usually obvious based on location, but it can also be determined by the topic of the article. For example, a story about a new pest that’s attacking crops in Kansas City would be written for a Kansas City audience, while an article discussing the latest zoning laws might be written for a commercial real estate community.
It’s also important to consider how newsworthy the event or topic you’re covering is. While you may have your own opinion about what constitutes newsworthy, this is not the place for it in a news article. Unless you are an expert on the subject, it is best to leave your personal opinions out of your news articles, and instead let the subjects speak for themselves. Interviewing the subject of a news story is a good way to get their viewpoint, and can make the article more interesting for readers.
Generally, the more newsworthy an event or topic is, the more likely it will be to be reported on by news outlets. This is why big events, such as presidential elections or natural disasters, are often covered extensively by the media. Events with a wide impact, such as terrorist attacks or wars, are also frequently reported on because they have the potential to affect a large number of people worldwide.
If you’re unsure about whether or not an event is newsworthy, try asking yourself some questions. What would you say if you were asked to pick the most interesting news stories of the week? Would you choose a girl’s first day at school, a man marrying his daughter or a car killing an animal? Probably not. The reason is that these events are not unusual and do not happen very often.
Other factors that make an event newsworthy include a) controversy, b) currency and c) prominence. Controversies, for example, are newsworthy because they cause excitement and debate. Prominent people are newsworthy because they have a large influence on the lives of others. Similarly, things that are very unusual or unexpected can be newsworthy because they surprise and intrigue the public.