News presents current events that are interesting or significant to the public in a quick and accurate manner. It is usually presented in print (newspapers, magazines, books) or electronic media such as radio and TV. It may also be found online. News is about people and their actions as well as natural and unnatural occurrences. It can be about a war, a flood or a fire, but it is usually about something that affects people.
While the definition of news differs among writers, editors and audience members, there are some basic characteristics of news that are understood by everyone involved in the business of writing about news, as well as those who read and/or watch/listen to it on a regular basis. These include timeliness, drama, consequence and proximity.
A major factor in determining whether an event is newsworthy is whether it is new. If something has already happened, it cannot be reported as news. However, if it has not been previously reported, it can be news.
People are interested in things that have a direct impact on their lives, such as a disease outbreak or severe weather conditions. In addition, news is often reported about things that are related to food and money – how much a person earns or spends, the cost of a product or service and so on.
Similarly, the opinions of others are important to news stories, particularly those that involve politicians and religious leaders. People are also interested in what celebrities say, as this has an effect on their own lives and can influence their choices.
News is often reported in a way that is dramatic and has clearly identifiable good and bad characters or situations. This is because the news appeals to our sense of curiosity and our desire to know about events that could affect our lives in some way. The news also appeals to our sense of morality and our need to be informed.
Writing about news is challenging because the subject matter is constantly changing. The challenge lies in finding a unique angle to the story and then telling it in a way that will grab the attention of the reader. This is why it is so important to understand your audience – who are they, what do they care about and how can you best reach them?
In addition, it is always a good idea to let another pair of eyes read your finished article before submitting it for publication. This will help you catch any spelling or grammatical errors as well as make sure the article flows well. This is especially important if you are writing for a newspaper, where the top stories are placed above the fold (the term comes from the fact that a folded newspaper has a crease in it). Also, letting someone else read your story can help you decide if the article is compelling enough to publish and provide readers with what they want.