News is information about important events which are likely to interest people. This includes major political and business happenings, crime, war and disasters. It also covers health, education, fashion and entertainment. It is usually reported in a straightforward way without any personal bias. A journalist will research a topic extensively and write the story in a simple and understandable manner.
The word ‘News’ comes from the Latin verb ‘Novem’ meaning ‘new’. Traditionally, news has been delivered by word of mouth, although written documents such as newspapers have become increasingly common. In the modern world, radio and television are also important sources of news. People can also keep up to date by using the internet.
When writing a news article, the writer must consider what kind of information the reader wants to read. It is important that the writer focuses on what has happened and not what might happen in the future. It is also essential to write the story as quickly and accurately as possible.
A good news story should answer the questions: ‘What, when, who, where and why?’ The writer should also use the correct grammar and spelling. It is also important to include quotes from a variety of sources. This can help to add credibility to the article.
Generally, a news story will have a local focus. It is not a good idea to report on a major event that happened in another country because it will have little relevance to the readers of the newspaper or news broadcast. It is also not good practice to write about something that happened last week. By the time the newspaper is published, the community will already have moved on and will be talking about something else.
Events which are new and unusual make good news, but they must also be significant. For example, scientists may report that an insect has been found living on a plant which it did not previously inhabit. This is a new and unusual discovery, but it is unlikely to interest most people outside the scientific community.
Stories involving people are always interesting to read, but they must be relevant to the readers. For example, a coup d’etat in the neighbouring country is a major event, but it is not necessarily going to be of great interest to a newspaper readership in the country where it is taking place.
Money and money-related stories are also often of interest to newspaper readers. These might include fortunes made or lost, wage rises and budget issues. People in the public eye, such as celebrities and politicians, can also be the subject of news articles, especially if they lose their jobs or get involved in scandals. People are also interested in health news, including traditional remedies, medical research and diseases. They are also interested in health-related lifestyles, such as diet and exercise. Lastly, most societies are interested in sex news, even though many people do not talk about it openly.