News is an event or piece of information that is reported in the media, either in print (magazines and newspapers) or broadcast on TV or radio. News is important to people because it helps them understand the world around them. News can also influence opinion on a topic or issue. People who write news articles are called journalists. They are expected to report the facts about an event in a neutral way without expressing their opinions.

Often, the first step in writing a news article is to research the topic. This can involve reading a wide variety of sources and compiling facts about the subject. Once the research is done, the journalist can start to draft an article. This should be done in a clear and concise manner. It should include the most relevant details about the topic and be accompanied by pictures or video footage where appropriate. The final version of the news article should be proofread for accurate information, consistent style and tone and proper formatting.

In general, a good news story will be new, unusual, interesting, significant and about people. It is possible, though, that the same event can have different news value depending on whether it is happening in one place and time compared with another. A cyclone occurring in one part of the world, for example, might be a big news story but not in another.

There are many different kinds of news stories:

Crime: People are always interested in crimes, whether they are robbery, burglary, murder or even road traffic offences. More serious or unusual crimes make bigger news than others. Money: People are interested in what rich and famous people do with their fortunes, how they spend them and even what they owe. It is not necessarily the size of the sum involved that makes it newsworthy, a small donation by a celebrity could be more interesting than a large one by a businessman.

Health: People are concerned about their health and are interested in stories about traditional remedies, medical research, diseases and hospitals. They are also interested in the health of celebrities, especially if they are ill or have had an accident. They are also interested in the health of animals and the environment.

People are interested in the changing world and what other people think about it. They are also interested in how the world works, and this is what drives the development of science and technology. News about the natural world is also popular, such as weather forecasts and reports on flora and fauna. Other areas of interest include wars, disasters and terrorism. The emergence of new media, such as blogs and internet news services, has made it easier for people to break their own stories. This is known as citizen journalism and can be particularly interesting if the original source is not a traditional news organisation. This has led to a growth of new sources for news, such as local websites and specialised news agencies.