News is any item of information about events which people find interesting or significant. It may be broadcast on television or radio, printed in newspapers and magazines, posted online, yelled across the school yard, or scribbled on a note passed around at work. It may be a story about war, natural disasters or political upheaval in another country, a celebrity’s death, a local community event or a tragic accident.
The classic definition of news is that it should be new, unusual, interesting, significant and about people. These criteria can be applied to any event or occurrence. However, it is also important to remember that what is newsworthy in one place or society might not be in another. A coup d’etat in the next county, for example, might be newsworthy in some places but not others. It is also important to remember that what makes newsworthy is often a function of how the events impact the audience.
Creating a news article can be difficult, as the writer must balance the need to report accurate facts with the need to be entertaining or interesting for readers. Keeping in mind the inverted pyramid structure of newspaper articles can help the writer achieve this balance. The first paragraph of a news article is often called the lead, and it should provide a preview or summary of the entire article. It should include the main points of the story and include the title of the article, as well as the byline of the writer (usually the name of the publication).
After the lead comes a section about background or context, which includes a brief description of the event or topic. This can be an explanation of why the event is significant, or it could provide background or historical perspective. It is important to make sure that the details of the event are accurate, and that there is a reference source for any quotes.
The third section of the news article is a story about the event itself, and it can include many different aspects. It should be as concise as possible, but it should still contain all of the necessary details about the event or topic. It is also important to include a picture of the event or topic, as this can be very appealing to readers.
The last section of a news article should include the sources for any quotes or information used in the article. These sources can be experts in the field, or they could be ordinary people who have a unique perspective on the topic. It is important to always be clear about who the sources are, as this will influence how the article is received by the reader or listener. For example, if the source is an expert, it should be made clear that they are providing technical commentary and analysis, as opposed to an anecdotal personal point of view. This will help to avoid any bias that might appear in the article.