News is information that is reported by newspapers, broadcasters and the Internet. It typically includes current events and issues, but may also include historical perspectives.
News can be brief and a quick read or long, complicated and thought-provoking. Often it is reported immediately after an event happens. It may be news about a major event, like the death of an important person or a historic happening such as the formation of a country.
The news has changed dramatically in the past few decades. There are now 24-hour news channels on TV and the Internet, so people have many more choices for getting their news than there were in the past. However, that has made it more difficult for readers to understand what is going on in the world.
Depending on the medium, the decision about what becomes news is often made by gatekeepers, who are editors, reporters or managers within the organization. They sift through what is going on in the world and choose the stories that they believe are most important, relevant or interesting to their viewers.
In a newspaper, the top news stories are usually placed above the fold, meaning that they are the first stories to be printed on a page when the paper is folded in half. This order is also applied online, where the most important story is typically placed at the top of a webpage before the reader has to scroll down to find other stories.
Opinionated sources of news are another great option to keep up with breaking news. The opinion section of a newspaper, or the blog or article pages of a magazine are good places to find unbiased viewpoints on a topic.
You can also use news aggregator sites to gather multiple sources of news on a particular topic into one place. Some of these are free to use, while others require a subscription or a fee.
The information in a news article should be as concise and clear as possible. Including unnecessary filler can take away from the story and prevent people from reading it.
It is also a good idea to have an editor read your article before it goes out for publication. This extra set of eyes will ensure that your article is accurate and that there are no spelling or grammatical errors.
When writing a news article, make sure to use the “5 W’s”: Who, What, Where, Why and How. This will help you to focus your article and make it as interesting as possible for your readers.
Who is Your Audience?
Before you start writing your article, figure out who is your target audience and what they want to know. Knowing the age range and location of your audience can help you to decide how you will structure your article, including the voice and tone you will use.
What is Your Unique Point of View?
When a reporter asks you for information, they are looking for someone who is knowledgeable about a particular subject and can give them a unique perspective on it. You can provide them with this by highlighting your own knowledge and experience in the news, citing relevant sources and explaining why you feel what you say is important.