News is information about current events, either actual or predicted. Throughout history, it has been an important medium for communication and for influencing public opinion. News stories can be about politics, wars, crime, technology, the economy, sports and the environment. They can also be about celebrities, social issues and other quirky or unusual events.
A news story must be based on reliable sources and must avoid embellishment or bias. It should be written in an unbiased and objective tone, and provide the reader with enough information to form their own opinions. This may be difficult if the article is about an event that affects a large number of people in a particular way, but the writer should try to present all sides of the argument fairly.
The headline of a news article should grab the attention of the reader and give them an idea of what the article is about. The lead paragraph should contain the main points of the news, and include what journalists call the 5 Ws: who, what, when, where and why. The lead should also include a hook to draw in the reader, such as an interesting quote or statistic. This is to ensure that people who are not interested in the whole piece can skip straight to the key points without reading the whole article.
After the lead paragraph, there should be a section that expands on the details of the news, giving more background information and exploring the wider context of the story. This can involve interviews with relevant people or a deeper analysis of the facts surrounding the event. For example, if a fire occurred in a residential building, an in-depth news piece would explore how the fire affected the residents, their lives and their property.
Finally, there should be a section that sums up the news and explains its relevance to a wider audience. This can be done by referencing experts in the field, or by using statistics to highlight how the news affects the general public. This is to ensure that people who aren’t directly involved in the event can still understand its impact. It is also a good idea to add a conclusion to the news article, which could be a restatement of the leading statement or an indication of what might happen next in relation to the subject. This is especially important if the article is likely to be read by a wide audience, rather than a specialist audience.