News is information about current events and is usually reported in a newspaper, magazine or television. It can also be found on the internet or other electronic media. The purpose of news is to inform, educate and entertain readers. People have always sought out and shared information, however with the advent of modern communications it has become faster and easier to get the latest developments.
Many factors determine what is considered newsworthy. The prevailing political, social and economic climates can influence the amount of attention a story receives. Other factors can include the number of people affected by a given event or how significant the occurrence is. For example, a coup d’etat in one country might be big news, while the collapse of a farm wall killing a cow and a pig is not as newsworthy.
In order to be a good journalist, it is important to understand the factors that make up a news story. Keeping these in mind when writing an article can help you to produce more compelling and accurate stories. A well-written news article will capture the reader’s attention and leave them wanting more.
The first step in writing a news story is to decide who your audience is. This may be obvious if you are writing for a general news publication, but it is equally important if you are writing for a local or specialized audience. Then, determine what type of news will be most interest to that audience.
Once you have determined your audience, research the topic and gather all the pertinent information. It is best to interview the people involved in a story to get their own perspective on what happened. This will add a dimension to your story that would not otherwise be available. When interviewing, be sure to ask for a quote and cite the person by name, title and location. It is also recommended that you use third-person pronouns like ‘he’,’she’ or ‘it’ instead of first-person pronouns such as ‘I’.
A good news article will begin with a captivating headline that concisely informs readers of the main points. Next, a short introduction or nut graph will provide an overview of the news item. Finally, the body of the news story will cover all the relevant details including the who, what, when, where and why of the event. A good news article will also place the new development in a context by describing how it affects other issues, people or places.
The findings from a recent study on news values suggest that people choose the content they consume based on the gratifications it provides (Eilders, 2006). These gratifications include entertainment/diversion, maintaining and developing social connections, evoking emotion, and in-depth information. In addition, the research suggests that societal changes and ongoing technological developments impact how people select and retain news.