News is current information about events that have happened, are happening or will happen. It is important for a society that it has an effective way of sharing news quickly and easily. In this way it can ensure that its citizens are aware of what is happening around them and can make informed decisions on a range of issues. News is usually delivered by newspapers, radio or television and can also be found online.
People are interested in news that affects them, especially if it is surprising or unusual. Some common news topics include war, politics, celebrity gossip, weather and crime. Government proclamations and laws are also a source of interest, as are health problems and natural disasters. It is important that the news is accurate and not biased in any way.
It is also important that the news does not detract from people’s everyday lives. This can be achieved by writing in a tone that is not overly dramatic or sensational and by using third person (he/she/it) rather than first person (I) pronouns when possible. People are also interested in stories that involve people they know or are related to. For example, an article about a friend’s new baby might be more interesting than an article about a friend’s divorce.
A good starting point for a news story is to research the five Ws: who, what, where, when and why. Once this is done, the writer can start to develop the story. It is important that the writer sources quotes from people who are directly involved in the event or issue, if possible. This will add a personal touch to the article and will help the reader to connect with the story on a deeper level.
Another thing to bear in mind when writing a news article is that the purpose of the media (newspapers, radio and television) is to inform and educate its audience, not entertain them. Entertainment comes from other areas of the media – music and drama on television and radio, and cartoons and crosswords in newspapers. If a news item has an element of humour, then this should be highlighted in the article.
The ‘news values’ model is a set of criteria that journalists use to decide what is newsworthy. However, it has been argued that these criteria cannot be objective since they are based on a mix of practical considerations and subjective, often unconscious influences.
The model was developed by Galtung and Ruge in the 1960s. It has been adapted to take into account the impact of rolling news, TV and digital media since then. Brighton and Foy (2007) argue that while there is still a place for the news value matrix, it fails to account for the complexity of the contemporary news environment. They propose a new set of criteria for the 21st century. These consider the social, cultural and political realities of the time and the audience. In addition, they consider the importance of the individual and their reaction to the news.
