News is information about a recently changed situation or an event. It is often delivered by the media – newspapers, magazines, radio and television – and can also be found on the Internet. News is typically based on first-hand information but it can also be based on hearsay or a mixture of both. The purpose of news is to inform and educate the public but it can also be a source of entertainment for readers, listeners or viewers.
When writing news articles it is important to know your audience. Most news articles are geared toward a particular demographic. This demographic can be based on location, but it is often narrowed down further based on the topic of the article. For example, if you are writing an article about an incident that happened in Kansas City, your audience would probably be primarily people who live or work in the area. If you are writing an article about zoning laws, your audience might be primarily business owners.
Creating a news story begins with researching the topic of the article extensively. In addition to researching the basic facts, a good news article should include quotations from people involved in or affected by the event. This can add credibility to the article and may help to maintain reader interest. When quoting people, it is important to use their full names and titles when possible.
Once you have a handle on the basic facts of the story, you can begin to focus on the five Ws – who, what, when, where and why. The who section should contain the main details of the story, the what section should contain information about the impact of the story and the when and where sections should include dates, times or locations.
The most common topics for news are war, government, politics, education, health and the environment, but any issue can become news if it is of sufficient interest or importance. Animals, natural disasters, weather conditions and sporting events are common sources of news.
Other common issues are economic, such as wage increases, food prices, budget deficits and the price of oil. Crime is always of interest, whether it involves road traffic offences, break and enter, forgery or murder. However, more serious crimes are generally more newsworthy than minor ones.
Keeping up with the news is vital to any citizenry. However, it is important to remember that much of the news we receive is biased and skewed. Many media outlets, especially in the United States, tend to focus on negative stories, which can lead to a news cycle that is disproportionately negative. It is therefore important to balance hard-hitting news with positive sources of light and levity. This can be done by following sites like Good News Movement and Tank’s Good News, as well as tuning into local stations that air news from a variety of viewpoints. This will ensure that you are obtaining a balanced perspective of the world around you.