News is a current affairs or event that impacts on the lives of people and communities. The News can affect you personally (like Covid-19) or indirectly (such as the way your local government makes decisions that impact your daily life). It is important to stay up-to-date with what is happening in the world, even if it doesn’t directly affect you. The News is an instrument that can teach and illuminate if it is used to those ends.
It is important to have a clear understanding of the Five Ws (who, what, where, when and why) about the news you are covering. This ensures that you have a strong base of fact and can effectively communicate the key details about the news to your readership. Once you have a solid foundation of facts, you can then begin to explore the story and its significance more deeply through your research. You might decide to interview primary sources or explore the history of the news to give the article a greater context.
People: The actions of famous people or ordinary people who do things that are significant to society make news. This is especially true when it involves things that go against societal norms or morality. Celebrity gossip and news about divorces, scandals, break-ups and deaths also make the News.
Nature: Weather, natural disasters and other environmental events are newsworthy. They have a major impact on our everyday lives and can cause widespread panic or fear. These stories are also often very photogenic and can make great visuals.
Crime: Any type of criminal act can be newsworthy, including road traffic offences, robberies, murders, forgery, rape and fraud. However, more serious crimes or unusual crimes are more likely to be headline grabbing and have a greater impact on society.
Money: Stories about fortunes made and lost as well as philanthropy and business are interesting to many readers. They are particularly popular when they have a social element to them and can be very inspirational as well.
Other: Unlike local News, national publications cover a wider range of events that have a bigger impact on the population as a whole. This includes sporting events, entertainment and political developments. This is because national News publications are aimed at a broader audience and must appeal to the majority of people.
When preparing to write a News article, it is important to remember that the most effective and engaging articles are those that tell a story. This could be through the use of quotes, photographs, video or infographics. It is also important to identify the dominant point of your story and then follow this up with additional information. For example, if you are reporting on an incident that has caused a lot of damage or disruption, include details of the aftermath and the effects it has had on people’s lives. Finally, it is important to remember that the News is not about changing the world; it is about informing and illuminating it.