News is information about an event that has just happened, or about something that is happening now. News can be televised, printed in newspapers, posted online or even shouted across a classroom. It is important to know the difference between fact and opinion in news articles. Unless you are an expert on a topic, it is best to stick with facts and not your personal opinion in a news article.
News can be entertaining as well as informative. The more interesting a story is, the more attention it gets from people who might not otherwise be interested in the subject matter. This makes it a good idea to include some humor in a news article, as long as it does not detract from the overall tone of the piece. The first paragraph in a news story should summarize the dominant point and seize the reader’s interest. The rest of the paragraphs should then support the main idea and give further details. A news article should also provide a timeline of events, if appropriate.
Some things are always newsworthy, no matter where you live. Weather is always of interest, as are floods, fires and droughts. A sudden increase or decrease in the number of people living in a city is a news item, as are changes to traffic laws and the introduction of new trains. People want to know who is in power, who has won or lost an election and the results of sporting events. They also like to be informed about what is going on in other parts of the world.
Many societies are interested in the lives of famous men and women. They will talk about the lifestyles of politicians and celebrities, as well as how they dress, eat and look. If these people have a scandal, it is very newsworthy. The content of news will vary from society to society, though.
People are concerned about their health, so stories about traditional remedies, medical research, diseases and hospitals are of interest. They are also interested in stories about sex, even though they may not talk openly about it. A story about a man who slept with his girlfriend’s brother might be newsworthy.
The more specific and detailed a news item is, the more it will be of interest. For example, a story about the deaths of two people in a car crash is more newsworthy than one about a plane crash that killed hundreds.
News articles should be written in a clear, simple style with concise sentences. They should begin with the most important information and put it above the fold in a newspaper (the crease where the paper is folded). If the article is published on the internet, it should be above the scroll. In either case, readers should not have to work hard to get the information they need from an article. This approach reduces the likelihood that they will move on to other sources for their information.
