News is information about events that affect a wide range of people, from the most important to the least. It may be communicated verbally, in writing or through the media. News may be a simple summary of facts or a complex analysis with an opinion. It can also be a commentary or editorial.
What is interesting News will vary according to the cultures of different societies, but there are some common elements. A story is more likely to be newsworthy if it is new, unusual, interesting, significant and about people. If a story satisfies all or most of these criteria, it is probably very good news indeed.
A good news article should be short, concise and well written. It should be based on factual information from sources that have been vetted. It should not include the writer’s own opinions. It is usually best to let the subject of the story do the talking.
For example, if a company has just replaced its CEO, it would be great to get a quote from the new person about their plans for the future. Likewise, an interview with a local politician or business leader is a good way to get an idea of how that person feels about the topic at hand.
Many people enjoy reading news stories for the entertainment value they provide. If a story has an element of humour, this can be very effective in attracting readers or listeners. However, the primary purpose of news is to inform and educate. If an event is not directly relevant to the interests of a newspaper, radio or television audience, it is unlikely to make the grade as news.
The content of a news article will also be affected by its timeliness. This is why large media outlets tend to focus on current events. They know that timeliness is a driving force in what will attract their audiences.
In addition to deciding what is important, writers must also decide who the target audience is for their articles. Often this will be obvious, based on the location of the newspaper or radio station, for instance. However, the demographic can be narrowed down further based on the topic of the news article itself. For example, a school news story might be geared toward parents of children in that school.
The news is what happens in society, whether it is a government coup, the discovery of a new antibiotic or a celebrity scandal. People are interested in what is happening to others, the world around them and the lives of famous persons. People are also interested in the weather and the effects of it on their daily life – droughts, floods, snowstorms, hurricanes and tornadoes. People are also interested in health issues, such as traditional remedies, medical research, hospitals and clinics. And everyone is interested in sex, even though it is not generally discussed openly.