News is a way of informing the public of events, activities and issues going on in their local communities, countries and the world. It also educates and explains complex topics. News can be found in a variety of mediums, including newspapers, magazines, radio, television and the Internet.
Typically, events that make the news are ones that don’t happen every day and have some sort of significance beyond one person’s personal life. A walk to school, for example, wouldn’t be newsworthy, but the rescue of a litter of baby tigers would.
Another characteristic of newsworthy events is drama and consequence. News stories are more likely to be interesting if they involve violence or scandal, or if they are related to people who have a lot to lose, for example, terrorists.
The other major function of news is to serve as a watchdog by investigating and uncovering abuses of power and wrongdoing. This is a very important role that allows the public to hold government and business accountable.
A good way to become more familiar with the concept of news is to read a daily quality national newspaper, for example, The Guardian or the Times (in London) in print or in their digital edition formats. In addition, if you’re interested in the topic, consider turning on a cable TV news channel from time to time to see how they present some of the same stories as your regular newspaper.
News should never be boring, and it is up to the writer to keep it entertaining and relevant. The writer should research the topic extensively, and include both facts from his or her sources as well as quotes from the source of the information. It is a good idea to use the inverted pyramid format when writing a news article, putting the most critical information at the top and following it with supporting information.
It is important to avoid using too many adjectives when writing an article. They can often be misleading and confusing to the reader. For example, the words “brilliant” and “excellent” may have a negative connotation, so try to replace them with more descriptive phrases, such as “This equipment was used to study malaria.”
News can be found in a variety of media, including newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and the Internet. It is important to have multiple sources of news, because each has its own perspective and style. It is also a good idea to compare different media outlets, such as a national news website with a local TV station or the way a major newspaper covers an event.
