News is information about current events that is of interest to a broad public. It is transmitted over the radio, television and the internet as well as being printed in newspapers. Its primary function is to inform the public about events that are happening locally, nationally and internationally. It can also educate the public by explaining complex topics in an easy to understand manner.
Several different elements are used to determine the “newsworthiness” of a story. These include timeliness, prominence and impact. Timeliness is important because people want to be kept up-to-date with what is happening in the world. The importance of an event is determined by how much impact it will have on the people who are affected by it. For example, a car crash that results in serious injuries to a number of people will have more of an impact than a minor traffic accident that causes only a few scratches. The impact of an event can be further defined by the way it is received by the general public. For example, if an event is controversial, it will receive more attention than an event that is not. This is because people will want to hear the opposing viewpoints in order to form their own opinion about the issue.
A good headline for a news article is essential in attracting the reader’s attention. It should be snappy and concise, and follow Associated Press style guidelines (unless your publication specifies something else). In addition, the lead paragraph in a news article should provide an overview of the main points in the story, including who, what, when, where and how. A good lead will also pique the readers’ curiosity so that they will continue to read the article.
Most people agree that the purpose of news media – newspapers, magazines, radio and television – is to inform and educate their readers, listeners or viewers. This does not mean that it is the job of news media to entertain them – that is the job of entertainment media such as music, drama and cartoons on radio and television or crossword and puzzles in newspapers.
When writing a news article, it is important to keep in mind who you are writing for. While market research can help journalists determine what type of information is most desirable for their audience, it is still up to the journalist to decide what constitutes a “newsworthy” event. It is not possible to have a completely unbiased news article, however, since every piece of information will be filtered through the prejudices and beliefs of the journalist and the news outlet. To counter this, many websites are available that give details about the bias of various sources of information and suggest ways to find information outside one’s own bias bubble.