News is information that is important and relevant to the public. It can be about people, events or something that affects the environment. It can be written for newspapers, radio or television.
A journalist aims to provide the latest news and keep readers up-to-date with what is happening in their community, country or world. It is their job to tell the truth and stand up against lies.
The nature of news has changed dramatically in the last century, due to the internet and 24-hour television channels. This has made citizens more informed, but also more distracted. Those who are not interested in all the facts, or those with short attention spans, may not be able to read long, complex news stories that take their time to understand.
To write a news article, you will need to know the subject of your story well. You should also do your research to find out the most important facts about the topic and who you will interview.
You should then write a news story in a clear, concise manner. Avoid using jargon that might confuse your reader.
It is essential that you write a good lead, as this is what sets the stage for the rest of the article. It should be short and to the point and introduce key points that you will follow up with in the body of your article.
Your main factual details should be listed in chronological order, beginning with the most important ones and then going down to the least significant ones. This is called the inverted pyramid format, and is a helpful way to organize your writing.
Having the main facts down first will help your reader understand what you are writing about, and will also make it easier for them to skip over information that is not important. Once you have outlined all of the major facts, be sure to include any additional information that your readers might need, such as contact numbers and quotes from interviews.
In addition, you should always make it a practice to get someone else to look over your article before you submit it. This will give you a second set of eyes and can catch any grammar or spelling mistakes that you might have missed.
Some journalists believe that they should aim for neutrality, avoiding any kind of bias or personal opinion. This approach is considered a professional one and is encouraged by the media industry, which has a legal duty to report factual and accurate information.
A journalist should also try to include information that is relevant to the news and that the audience will be able to relate to. This could be a local or global event, such as the birth of a baby or the death of an elderly person.
Another aspect of news that is often overlooked is the entertainment factor. While it is true that many people enjoy listening to music and drama programs on the radio or watching cartoons and crossword puzzles on the TV, this is not the purpose of a news report.