News is information about current events that have a public impact. It can include a wide range of topics, from war and politics to education and the environment, but it’s important to note that no news story is ever truly unbiased. The biases of both the journalist and the news outlet can affect everything from the choice of words to how comprehensive the news article is.
Whether you write news articles for a newspaper, magazine or radio show, it’s important to remember that the purpose of news is to inform and educate your readers, listeners or viewers. It’s not meant to entertain them – that’s what other types of media do (music and drama on radio, crossword puzzles in newspapers). However, that doesn’t mean your articles can’t be humorous.
A good news article starts with a snappy headline that concisely describes the topic while seizing your audience’s attention. If possible, try to use Associated Press style guidelines for the headline. The headline should also include a byline – the name of the writer, usually written in italics. The next paragraph, called the “lead”, summarizes the article and explains what’s new and why it’s important. It often answers the questions who, what, when, where and why, and places the new developments in context by explaining how they relate to past events or future possibilities.
After the lead, your news story should feature a summary of what happened and any relevant background information. It should also include the main points of the event, along with any relevant statistics or quotes. It’s best to avoid expressing your own opinions in news articles, but if you do have one it should be an informed opinion based on research and facts rather than speculation or emotion.
It’s also important to include a work cited page at the end of your article, especially if you’ve used other sources to gather information for your report. This will help your readers to verify the accuracy of your news and will allow them to find more information if they are interested.
A variety of resources exist for finding news stories, including aggregators and newspaper sites. Some of these are free, while others require a subscription. Examples of news aggregators include Google News and Yahoo News, while LexisNexis Academic and Proquest Historical Newspapers offer access to more archival news.