How to Write a News Story

The news is the events and information that affect the lives of people. The news can be about a political event, a natural disaster, a crime or an accident. People usually get the news from newspapers, radio and TV. They also can find the news on the Internet. The news can be inspiring, but it can also be boring or bad.

A news article is a written report of current events. It often includes photos or video footage of the event. The main purpose of a news story is to inform people. The news is meant to make people aware of what is happening in their community and the world. It can also be a way to express an opinion about a particular issue.

What makes a story newsworthy? The classic definition is “dog bites man.” However, this is not universal. A cow biting a pig will probably not be news in every society, for instance, whereas a man biting a dog will be news everywhere. Newsworthiness may also depend on whether the event is familiar and local, or if it involves violence and scandal. People are also interested in stories about famous people. They are especially interested in stories about those who fall from grace, lose money or become involved in conflict. People are also interested in their health, so news about medical research and hospitals, diseases, diet and exercise are of interest to them. They are also interested in sex, although they may not be willing to talk about it openly.

When writing a news story, the first thing to do is to come up with a catchy headline. This is important because it attracts the attention of readers and grabs their interest. The headline should be short and direct. It should not contain any exaggerations or hyperbole. It should contain the main facts of the story and include a date or time to show that it is recent.

Once the headline is decided upon, the main body of the news article begins. The lead paragraph should give the most important fact first, then each subsequent paragraph should provide less important information. This technique makes the news article easy to read and understand. It is similar to the way a novel is structured.

After the main facts are listed, the writer should then include any additional information that might be helpful to readers. This can include contact information, quotes from interviews, or background information. The writer should also check all facts to avoid misinformation or omissions. This is particularly important when the article is being published professionally or for school.

The last step is to write a good concluding paragraph that summarizes the main points of the news article and suggests any future developments that may be relevant. This can be accomplished by restating the leading statement (thesis) or providing a timeline of the event. It is a good idea to read other news articles for examples of this, or watch a news program or station and observe how they wrap up their stories.