News is information about current events that is communicated by the mass media, such as newspapers, radio and television. It may also be conveyed through personal communication or the Internet. News can be about politics, culture, economics, science or sport. News stories are usually written to inform, although they can entertain as well.
The main criteria for a story to be considered newsworthy are that it is new, unusual, interesting or significant. In addition, it is important that the news is relevant to people, either in the location of the event or its impact on their lives. The same event happening in two different places can have very different news values, for example a coup in your country is likely to be much more significant than one in the neighbouring country.
A good news article will begin with a headline which captures the attention of readers. It will then include a brief summary of the story in what is known as a nut graph. This will contain the answers to who, what, when, where and why. It should then provide more detail about the news item, including quotes from sources and a chronology of events. It is often helpful to read the nut graph out loud to check for clarity and to see if it is interesting.
Once you have a strong lead and a nut graph, think about the best way to present your story. Traditionally, newspapers put the most important information at the top of the article above the fold, which refers to the crease that appears in the paper when it is folded. This ensures that those who are reading in a hurry will see the most important points first. This approach is also useful when writing for the Internet, where people may be scanning rather than reading paragraphs at a time.
Generally, it is the people who make news, especially when their actions are controversial or of high interest. However, news about natural events such as hurricanes, bush fires and earthquakes can also be of interest. Likewise, news about business is important to many people and this can be reported on in newspapers or on business channels. News about the arts is also important to some people and this can be reported on in magazines or in the local press.