News is a collection of information that describes current events or situations. It usually reports on something that has happened recently, although it may also include things that have happened in the past. It should be accurate and objective. It can be written for a general audience or a specific group of people, such as students. News articles can also provide advice and recommendations on how to act in certain situations. They can also feature interviews with people who have experienced or witnessed the event.
News stories should be interesting and relevant. They should cover events that affect a large number of people or something that is of national importance. Unlike local papers, which tend to focus on the day-to-day activities of a small community, national papers often have a much wider audience and need to appeal to the interests of most people in the country. They can report on anything that might be of interest to the majority of the population, from political events and wars to weather and sport.
The first sentence of a news story should grab the reader’s attention and explain what is happening. This is known as a ‘lede’ or ‘lead’ and is very important in deciding whether the reader will continue reading the article. It can be achieved through a dramatic anecdote, a fact that is surprising or a quote that captures the reader’s imagination. A good lede will answer the questions who, what, when, where and why.
Once the reader has been hooked, the body of the article should follow. It should be clear and concise, avoiding the use of complex sentences and technical terms. It should contain facts and quotes from those who have been interviewed, but not the author’s opinions. It should be structured using the inverted pyramid format, putting the most important information at the beginning of the article and then following with details.
In addition to the main body of the article, a good news story will have a ‘nut graph’, which explains how the new development fits into the bigger picture. This can be one paragraph or several, and it will answer the questions who, what, when, who, why and how. It will put the new information in context and give readers an understanding of why it is important.
It is important to read a wide variety of news sources to ensure you have a balanced view of the world around you. While it is easy to get caught up in the hype of sensational news, if you are able to balance this with more cerebral publications such as the New York Times or Politico you will be better equipped to make informed decisions. This will help you avoid being trapped in a bubble of extreme conservative or liberal opinion. This is a very important part of being well-informed.