News is a piece of information that has been reported on by a journalist. The information can be about events that have recently happened, or it could also be about things that are going on in the world right now. It is the job of the journalist to write in a way that is interesting and informative for their audience.
Different societies have different views on what makes a good news story, but there are some basic criteria that all news stories should meet. The information should be new, unusual, interesting and significant. It should also involve people and be understandable.
In order to decide whether something is newsworthy, you need to ask yourself the five Ws: who, what, where, when and why. This will help you to narrow down the topics you want to write about. Once you have established the dominant point of your news article, write a snappy headline to grab the reader’s attention. This is especially important if the news is breaking and you are competing with other publications for their audience’s attention.
After deciding on your headline, begin writing your news article by putting down the most important information first in what is known as a lead paragraph. It should include the key information and a byline (the name of the writer). If you are unsure how to write a headline, look at other articles in your publication for inspiration or ask a more senior member of staff for advice.
The next part of your news article should include all the other important information about the subject. This can be in the form of quotes from people involved in the story or from experts in the field. It is essential to note where you have got the information from, as it is against the law to publish false or misleading information. It is a good idea to write a “works cited” page at the end of your article, indicating where you have got the information from.
It is also important to remember that it is the job of newspapers, radio and television to inform their audiences. It is not their job to entertain them, although some do try to do this by adding a little bit of entertainment value – music and drama on radio; cartoons and crosswords in newspapers. If you are unable to make your news interesting or entertaining, then it is likely that your audience will not bother to read it or listen to it.
Be wary of reading too much news, as it can be harmful to your mental health. Too much news can lead to stress, fatigue and sleep loss. Strive for balance in your news consumption to ensure that you have enough energy to take action and serve your community.