News is information about a recently changed situation or a recent event. The purpose of news is to inform and educate. If the news can also be entertaining, that is a bonus. This is true of all forms of news – newspaper articles, radio reports, television shows and the internet.
People have been transporting news stories from one place to another for centuries – via verbal communication. Once the invention of the printing press allowed for mass production, it became possible to include more detail in a news article. This made it easier for people to stay informed about events in their lives and the world around them.
In order to produce an effective news article, the writer must gather as much information as possible about the subject matter in a timely manner. This can be done by researching the topic thoroughly and gathering quotes from sources that can provide insight to what is happening. The writer must then write a concise article that includes all of the pertinent information.
The shortest, most concise sentences are usually used in news writing, as this allows for more space to include the important details of the story. The article should not contain any opinions or commentary from the writer unless it is specifically necessary to the story. Generally, the writer will write in the third person. If the story is about a specific individual, it is helpful to include their full first name or initials and their occupation.
To decide if an event is worthy of being reported, it must meet at least some of the following criteria: It should be new, unusual, interesting, significant and about people. Some events may meet all of these criteria, but it is still up to the journalist to decide if the news is sufficiently important for his audience.
Different societies have different views of what is important and what makes good news. For example, a man biting a dog is news in most societies, but might not be news in others, where dogs are often eaten at feasts.
The most common topics for news coverage are war, crime, government, politics, education, health, business, the environment and the economy. However, other subjects such as fashion and entertainment can also be newsworthy.
Most people would agree that it is the responsibility of news outlets to report the facts and not to embellish or distort them. However, many would also argue that there is room for a degree of opinion in the news and that it should not be censored.
If an opinion or comment is included in a news story, it must be clearly labeled as such. It is also important to remember that the opinion or comment is being provided by a source, and it must be accurately credited. It is also a good idea to avoid using emotive language in news stories, as this can taint the reader’s view of the issue. If the reader feels manipulated, it is likely that they will no longer trust the source or the article and this can have a negative impact on their view of journalism as a whole.