News is information about current events that affect people. It is usually reported in newspapers, magazines, radio or television. It can also be found on the Internet. There is a wide range of subjects that can be covered in news stories, from disasters and war to crime and weather. The purpose of news is to inform, educate and entertain. Entertainment may be provided by music and drama programs on television, or crosswords and puzzles in a newspaper.
A good news article begins with a catchy headline that grabs the reader’s attention. This is called a lede and can be achieved by using a dramatic anecdote, a fact or something surprising. The lede should be followed by a nut graph which explains what the story is about and why it is important to readers. The nut graph should answer the questions who, what, when, where and why. It is often useful to include quotes from sources that support the main points in the news story.
The most important news stories are put above the fold of a newspaper or on page one of a magazine. This is because most people do not read all of a publication and so the most important stories will be seen first. If you are writing a newspaper story online, you will want to make sure that the most interesting or important information is at the top of the page so that the reader will continue reading.
Most news stories are about people because human activity is what makes the world go around. However, non-human events can also make the news if they are significant enough. Examples of this are earthquakes, cyclones and bush fires. Weather conditions such as floods, drought and high or low temperatures can also be newsworthy if they disrupt normal life.
Crime is always newsworthy, whether it is a road traffic offence, robbery, murder, forgery or a terrorist attack. However, more serious crimes and unusual crimes tend to get the most attention. Money matters also make the news. These can involve enormous sums of money such as mergers and takeovers, but they can also be about small amounts such as a little girl giving her only ten cents to a fund-raising event.
Health issues and disasters are also newsworthy if they impact large numbers of people. If a new vaccine becomes available, this is worth reporting. If there is a shortage of food or fuel, these will also be reported.
Fake news stories are a problem because they can mislead and cause panic and social conflict. It is important to only read reputable news sources. News articles should be written in an objective style and include information from several different sources. This helps readers to form their own opinions about a topic rather than just being told what to think by a single source. A good news article will be balanced and unbiased, but this is not always possible when the author has a personal stake in the outcome of the story.