News is information about an event that is important or interesting to a wide audience. It can be about war, government, politics, education, health, the economy, business, fashion, entertainment and sport. The news can be positive or negative.
It is important that a news article is accurate and not biased. It is also important to have a clear structure so that the reader knows what they are reading about and why it is significant. For example, a piece about a natural disaster should begin with an interesting or shocking headline followed by a paragraph outlining the details of the incident. This is then followed by another paragraph explaining the significance of the event.
The internet and 24-hour news stations mean that people are now exposed to five times more news than they were in 1986. While this is good for keeping citizens informed, it can also lead to a huge amount of information overload. People can become immune to sensational news and may tune out when a story begins to repeat itself.
Some examples of news stories include:
Crime: Any kind of criminal activity makes the news, whether it is a road traffic accident, break and enter, robbery, forgery or murder. However, more serious crimes generally make larger news headlines.
Politics: Elections, referendums and cabinet appointments are all political newsworthy events. Government crackdowns and revolutions are also often reported. Government proclamations concerning royal ceremonies, laws and taxes are also of interest to the news media.
Business: The fortunes made and lost by companies, the rise of new businesses and the success of established ones are all newsworthy events. Economic crises and wage rises are also common topics of news stories.
The environment: Changing weather patterns, new scientific discoveries and the impact of human activities on the world around us all feature in the news.
Fashion and entertainment: Whether it is the latest designer fashion, celebrity gossip or the results of a sporting event, news about these topics will always grab attention. It is important to note that although celebrity gossip and sporting results can be newsworthy, they are not considered objective journalism.
When writing a news article it is important to use adjectives sparingly and only when they are necessary. Using too many adjectives can detract from the readability of an article and can cause the reader to lose interest. If possible, choose active verbs instead of passive verbs. For example, ‘Dr Jones studied malaria using this equipment’ is more effective than ‘this equipment was used to study malaria’. Similarly, avoid cliched or overused phrases such as ‘brilliant’, ‘amazing’ and’remarkable’.