News is the information that reaches us about what is happening around the world, in our own country and sometimes in our own town. It may be delivered in the form of broadcasts on TV and radio, printed in newspapers and displayed on websites. It may be a report of current events or an analysis of historical happenings. News is often considered to be an essential part of the fabric of society, and it provides insight into a variety of issues that affect everyone in some way or another.
Often news articles cover people, which is one of the reasons why they are of interest to many readers. News often concerns things that affect us directly, like government decisions that influence the environment or our work lives or health matters such as a new virus outbreak. But news also covers things that are not as immediately impactful, but that have an impact in the long term such as a political crisis or social movement.
When writing a news article it is important to consider the ‘5 Ws’ (who, what, where, when and why). It is also important to include supporting evidence for your claims. This can be in the form of quotations or opinions from industry experts, which adds to the credibility of your article.
A good news article is often entertaining as well. It appeals to the voyeuristic side of human nature, whereby people are interested in what others are doing. The latest celebrity scandal, the newest fashion trends and who has won or lost an election are all examples of news stories that appeal to this type of reader interest.
Other times news articles are simply interesting because they contain a lot of information in a short space of time. This can be the case with weather reports, sports results and traffic updates. It is also the case with articles that discuss a range of different topics in an engaging way, such as interviews with politicians or scientists.
The information that makes the news is often subjective, and what is considered to be newsworthy in one society may not be so in another. In the modern world of globalisation, however, there are a greater number of international news outlets which are competing for the attention of the same worldwide audience. These include the big international broadcasters such as the BBC and the CNN, as well as regional and local news sources such as the Sydney Morning Herald and The San Diego Union Tribune.
Ultimately, the best way to write a news article is to know your audience. Most news articles are geared toward a specific demographic, and this is often apparent from the title itself or the location of the story. For example, a story about a local council meeting in Kansas City will be read mainly by residents of the city itself. However, other articles may be more general and may be aimed at a wider audience such as those covering the effects of climate change.