A news story is a piece of information about current events, often published in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. The information can be both factual and subjective. The word ‘news’ is derived from the Latin words for “new”. People are interested in news stories because they want to keep up with what is going on around them. Generally, the more interesting, significant or shocking the news is, the more interest it generates.
The definition of what constitutes news is not fixed, and there are many different theories about it. Some people argue that news should reflect reality and be accurate, while others believe that it should influence public opinion and encourage action.
Regardless of the definition, a good news article should begin with a snappy headline that grabs the reader’s attention. The article should then include a byline, which is the name of the writer. It is usually written at the top of the article, followed by the date and location where the news happened.
Most news articles are geared toward a specific demographic. This can be obvious if the news is about a local event, such as a football game or a school function. It can also be determined by looking at the topic of the news, such as zoning laws or the effect of an earthquake on the surrounding area.
It is important to be aware of the demographic when writing a news article, as this will help determine how much personal opinion to include in the story. It is often best to let the subjects of the news speak for themselves, so interviewing them or including their quotes in the story is a great way to do this.
When writing a news article, it is important to be concise. A long, winding story will lose the interest of readers, so be sure to remove any tangents or unnecessary details that don’t add to the story.
There are five criteria that are used to decide whether something is newsworthy: it must be new, unusual, interesting, significant and about people. The assassination of Mrs Gandhi, for example, is all of these things, but it would not make the news if it were the murder of an ordinary man.
Some people believe that it is not the responsibility of the news media to inform the public, but rather to entertain them. This is a dangerous line to cross, as entertaining news stories may not always be factual and can lead to sensationalism. It is best to stick with the facts when writing a news article and use quotes from sources that have been vetted for accuracy. This will ensure that your news is both informative and entertaining.