News is a way to report on events in our society. Whether it’s about war, politics, crime or weather events, people need to be informed in order to govern their societies properly. Generally, news is reported in the form of an article in newspapers or magazines. However, it can also be seen on TV and radio or published online. News articles should be written concisely, clearly, picturesquely and accurately to keep readers interested.
The most important news stories are ‘hard’ news, which are what usually makes it to the front page of a newspaper or appear first on the Web site. They are usually significant, controversial and have a major impact. A ‘hard’ news story might be about a natural disaster or business collapse that has wide repercussions, for example.
Other types of news include celebrity and entertainment stories. These are often less ‘hard’ than ‘hard’ news but still attract large readerships because of the human interest. They can be about a famous person or an event that is unusual or unexpected.
Sometimes, a news item’s importance lies in the fact that it breaks a pattern. For example, if a restaurant closes because of the faltering economy, that might be front-page news but it becomes less interesting if it is the fourth restaurant to do so on the same block in recent weeks. This type of ‘breaking news’ is particularly important when it happens in countries with authoritarian governments, where a free press is essential for democracy.
In addition to hard news, journalists will often focus on human interest, entertainment and lifestyle topics. This is especially true of national newspapers that want to appeal to a wide audience. Local papers will be more focused on events that affect a small community. Regardless of the format, the best way to write a good news article is to put the most important information at the top of the piece above the “fold” (the crease in the paper or on the Web page before the reader has to scroll down). It is crucial for editors to consider their audience when writing an article and to make sure that it is relevant to them. Otherwise, it will not be read. It is also essential that an article be factually accurate and sourced well. Professional journalists are often better equipped to do this than amateur bloggers. This is because they have more access to reputable sources and are trained in reporting techniques. They also have greater expertise in evaluating the merits of a news item. This is one reason why many journalists prefer to work at established newspapers and magazines rather than at small, independent publications. However, it is also one of the reasons why the Internet has opened up new opportunities for citizen journalists to spread the word about the world’s news. In some cases, this has facilitated the escape of people from oppressive regimes and the emergence of democracy. In others, it has fueled protests against authoritarian rule and led to revolutions in various parts of the world.