News is the information that keeps people updated about current events. It is usually presented in the form of written articles or reports. It is also found on radio and television. News should be unbiased and should not contain the writer’s opinions. It should also be well researched and presented in a clear way.
Writing a News story requires a great deal of research. The writer must find facts that are true and that will be of interest to readers. The article should also include any relevant quotes from people involved in the story. Often the most interesting aspects of a story are the human elements. Stories about celebrities, animal rescues and other noteworthy activities can capture the interest of readers.
There are many different theories of what makes a news story, and most journalists make their own judgments about which events to cover and how much detail to give. They may be guided by market research, but it is still up to them to decide which of the many different angles on a story are most suitable. The decision is often made according to a set of criteria such as:
Crime: Any crime, whether robbery, break and enter, murder or assault, can make news, but accidents, fires and explosions are more likely to be reported if they involve a greater number of people or result in injury or death. Unusual crimes, crimes committed against children and the effect of crime on the community are more likely to be regarded as important than minor offences.
Money: All sorts of financial news is of interest, but the biggest items are those that affect large numbers of people. These might be the results of a bank or stock exchange collapse, unemployment figures, wage rises, food prices, inflation rates and compensation claims. The personal effects of money are also newsworthy – how much a celebrity has earned or lost, divorce cases and inheritance issues are all likely to be reported.
Entertainment: People are interested in celebrities, especially those of a certain age or from a particular field of endeavour. They also like to know what is happening in the arts – dance, theatre, cinema and carving – as well as sports results and weather forecasts.
A news story should always end with a good paragraph which sums up the main points of the article. It is also a good idea to restate the lead sentence (thesis) of the piece, and mention any future developments that might be expected from the topic. This is the best way to ensure that a reader will be satisfied with his or her reading, and will be willing to come back for more. This is especially important if the piece has been read on radio or television, where there is often limited time to fill. This can be achieved by using short, direct sentences, and not overusing adjectives such as brilliant, excellent and fantastic. Avoid using first names instead of initials on first reference unless there is a reason to do so.