News is a report about something happening in the world. It can be about a war, natural disaster or social issue. The way we get our news has changed a lot in recent years. We used to get it mostly from television and newspapers, but now more people are getting their news from Facebook and other social media sites.
In general, a story becomes news if it is unexpected or unusual. It must also be significant, which means that it affects many people in a wide range of ways. Finally, it must be accessible – that is, people must be able to understand and relate to it.
Traditionally, trained journalists supplied most of the news in newspapers, radio and television. But the Internet has opened up the field to everyone who wants to supply news. Now it is possible for people who have no formal training to become suppliers and gatekeepers of information. People who used to write letters to the editor of a newspaper or call the local radio station with comments about a news story can now be reporters and editors. The ubiquity of the Internet has made news more available and more varied than ever before.
There are a number of models that try to explain what makes news. One model, known as the Mirror Model, argues that news should reflect reality so that readers can form their own opinions about it. Other models argue that news reflects the interests and anxieties of the audience and attempts to influence public opinion through the media.
For example, a person who is interested in eating may be more interested in stories about crops than those of insects. However, if an insect is threatening people’s food supply it becomes newsworthy. Similarly, famous men and women make the news when they lose their wealth or are involved in scandal. People are also concerned about their health, so they want to read about traditional remedies, medical research, diseases, hospitals and clinics, drugs, diet and exercise. People are interested in sex, even though they might not talk about it openly, so stories about romance, marriage, divorce and illicit relationships between members of opposite sexes are often newsworthy.
Another important factor in determining what is newsworthy is whether a story has a dramatic element. A classic example is “Dog bites man” versus “Man bites dog.” The former is not interesting or significant, but the latter is.
A good way to learn how to write a news article is to read examples. Then, when you write an article about a topic that interests you, keep these tips in mind. Make sure that you know your audience and publication well so that you can decide which details to include. It is best to put the most important information at the top of your article – above the fold, as it was once called in newspapers. This will help keep the reader interested and encourage them to continue reading your news item.