News is the information that tells you what is happening in the world. It can be found in newspapers, magazines, television and the Internet. In the past people tended to get their news from network television anchors or local newspaper columnists, but as time goes on more and more people are turning to new sources for their news. They are watching online video, checking social media sites and listening to podcasts. It is important for readers to be aware of the wide variety of options available to them.
In some cases it is hard to tell the difference between what is really newsworthy and what is a biased interpretation of a story by someone who has an agenda. It is common for commercial interests to influence news stories, as it is important for advertisers to have a large audience to deliver their message to. This may be seen in the amount of time devoted to political debates or the way that sports results are reported.
Generally speaking, the more controversial a news item is, the more likely it is to generate interest. Controversy creates interest because people like to follow arguments, charges and counter-charges. Prominence is another factor that makes things newsworthy. People are interested in hearing about famous persons and their personal lives. Events that are current and relevant also make newsworthy.
One method for evaluating the strength of a news story is to consider the five W’s: Who, What, Where, When and Why. A story that answers all these questions and is accompanied by eye-catching photographs is likely to be considered worthy of publication.
It is important to remember that when writing a news article you aren’t aiming to write a history of the event, but rather to give an account of what is happening in the moment. It is important to keep in mind that while your goal is to inform the public of what is occurring, it should be done with a certain degree of objectivity.
The next step in writing a good news story is to organize the facts and decide what information is important to include. It is a good idea to use Associated Press style guidelines for the headline and byline, especially if your publication specifies something different. The lead should summarize the main points of the article and introduce the reader to the topic. The rest of the article should provide more detail on the subject.
Some writers add quotes to their news articles to help the reader relate to the story. It is a good idea to cite the name of the source and the author’s last name. It is also helpful to cite any sources you used for your research in the footnotes. If you have any photos to go with the article, it is a good idea to caption them. A news article should not be too wordy, and it is best to use a simple style of writing that is easy to read.