News is the information about events of interest to the public obtained from all moments and places and presented accurately and rapidly in accordance with certain ethical rules. The purpose of news is to inform the public, thus contributing to its social and cultural development.
News may be reported either by professional journalists or by citizens using the Internet and other communication technologies. The economic model which subsidizes professional journalism is under severe strain, and the role of new media, blogs and specialty news sites is becoming increasingly important.
A variety of factors determine whether a particular event is newsworthy. Among these are impact, proximity and relevance, involvement of elite countries or persons, degree of surprise and magnitude. The fact that an event is a novelty also makes it newsworthy, but this is less important than its effect on society or its ability to capture people’s attention and imagination.
It is important to remember that the news audience is often very diverse and may have differing interests. News stories should be written with this in mind, and writers should attempt to provide a range of perspectives on the topic.
A good news story should be short so that people can read it, clear so that they can understand it, picturesque so that they will appreciate it and accurate so that they will be guided by it. It should not be sensational or inflammatory, as this is likely to be more annoying than informative.
When writing a news article, it is important to be aware of what information is already being reported by other sources and to avoid repetition. This is especially important if the story involves breaking news or is an exclusive.
If you are unsure about how to approach the topic, consider seeking out expert opinion. This could include asking for technical commentary, or interviewing people who have a personal connection to the topic. You should always disclose that you are a journalist when conducting interviews, but be careful about overstepping your boundaries.
It is also important to think about what the subject matter of your story will be and who the intended audience is. If you are a small business, it might be useful to target your news to other businesses in the area, or you may be able to find a niche within the general community for your article. A good way to decide who your audience is will be to look at your competitors and try to understand what their readers want to hear about. This will help you to create your own unique brand of news.
