A news article is about something that has happened recently and is relevant to the public. It should answer the questions: “What, when, who, where and why?” News articles can be written for newspapers, magazines, radio or television and are often based on research and factual information. The writer will also need to think about who the audience for the article is and what type of story they want to read.
The news may be about war, government, politics, education, health, the environment, business, fashion or entertainment. It can be serious or humorous and it is usually about people, places or things that are unusual. Government proclamations, royal ceremonies, laws, taxes and wages are common topics of news reports but it is also possible for a prank or a strange accident to make the headlines.
News has been reported since ancient times but the invention of print, photography and electronic communication has sped up the dissemination of the latest information. It is now possible for a revolution in a remote place to be transmitted around the world almost instantly. The internet is a major way that information about events can be disseminated and it is even possible for the ordinary citizen to become a journalist and report their own views on the news.
A good news article will start with a catchy headline that grabs the reader’s attention. This is called the lede or lead paragraph and it is important to keep in mind that readers have a lot of competing interests for their attention so it needs to be short, clear and interesting. It is also useful to include a quote from a source to add authority and credibility to the piece. The rest of the article should describe in chronological order the key points of the story, avoiding any opinions.
In some cases a news item will be more important than others and the significance of a particular event is judged by its timeliness, impact and relevance to current concerns. The biggest news stories are given prominence on front pages or in news bulletins and the rubbish is thrown away.
It is not always possible to be objective about what is newsworthy and it is often the opinion of journalists or editors that determines which events should be covered. This is because the mass media are not able to cover all of the world’s events and it is up to journalists to decide which events are worthy of coverage. It is a highly subjective process and the public are sometimes misled by the way the information they consume is filtered through the media. Nevertheless, the vast majority of news articles are accurate and provide the public with a good service. It is important not to be too reliant on the news though, as excessive consumption can cause stress, fatigue and insomnia. Striking a balance is important for your mental health and can help you to function as part of society and serve the community.
