News is information about current events and is the basis of most news programs and newspapers. It is often presented in a way that makes it seem dramatic, and is intended to make people want to know more about the topic.
The most important characteristic of news is that it is current and not history. That is why many news programs and papers feature phrases like breaking news,>> or live>>, which means that they are reporting on something that happened recently.
Another important characteristic of news is that it has to be accurate. This is why it is so important to proofread all of the information that you include in your news article. It is also important to ensure that your writing is consistent in style and tone.
Most people believe that the purpose of news media is to inform, educate and entertain. This is true of newspaper and magazine articles, radio and television news programs as well as music and drama programs on radio and cartoons and crossword puzzles in newspapers.
However, the fact is that some of the information in these articles is not accurate, and sometimes it is used for purposes other than to provide facts. This is called ‘bias’. This can be a problem for news organizations, because they need to appeal to as wide an audience as possible.
In some commercial media, such as television and radio, there are sometimes conflicts between the gatekeepers who choose what goes on their programs, and the advertisers who pay for those programs. For example, a grocery story chain might threaten to pull its advertising from a local TV news program if the gatekeepers decide that a story about the company’s problems should be on the news line-up that night.
Typically, most of the stories we hear about are dramatic and have identifiable good and bad characters or situations. This is because news is based on values and culturally shared ideas. For example, if a person walks their dog to school and a baby tiger is found abandoned on the side of the road, that is a good news story because it includes a dramatic event, and has consequences that affect us all.
Some other types of news stories are about crime, money and public issues. These can be anything from school fees to the Budget, taxes and food prices to wage rises and compensation claims.
Other kinds of news include sports, entertainment and culture. These are more interesting because they are not always about people.
Depending on what kind of news you are writing about, it is important to research the topic extensively and understand it well. This means learning about the topic in depth, and interviewing sources who can provide insight from their experiences. For example, a technical expert in your topic might offer insight from his or her perspective and experience, or an everyday person who has a personal connection to the topic could share anecdotes about their lives.