News is information about current events that are deemed important enough to share with the general public. It can be found in newspapers, magazines, television, radio and online. Some people find it helpful to subscribe to a few good news sources so they can stay on top of things. This can help them sift through the many negative pieces that tend to dominate the news cycle, and it can also provide a few positive news stories to balance out the bad ones.
What is considered newsworthy will differ from one society to the next. Generally speaking, though, it is about people and the things they do or have done. If a man wakes up, goes to work and catches the bus, this is not newsworthy, but if the same man is involved in a space flight or has discovered a new cure for cancer, then these are very much newsworthy.
A good way to tell whether something is newsworthy is to ask the questions ‘who, what, where, when, why and how?’ If the answer to all of these is ‘yes’, then the story should be published.
In addition to the five Ws, a good piece of news will include supporting evidence. This can be quotes from people who have been affected, opinions of experts or other information that demonstrates the significance of the event. A good way to get ideas for this is to read other news articles and see how they end, or watch a few news stations and shows and see how they present their stories.
News should be written with a specific audience in mind. This will often be determined by location – a newspaper in Kansas City, for example, will likely have a different demographic than one in London. The audience can also be narrowed down by subject matter – a story about a local school function will not be of interest to parents in the same area, but an article on the latest commercial real estate zoning laws might be.
Another thing to consider when writing news is the use of jargon. Using technical terms in an article can make it seem uncomprehensible to those not in the know, and it can create a barrier between readers and the writer. It is helpful to use jargon only when absolutely necessary and to explain it to those who do not understand it.
Finally, it is a good idea to have someone else look over an article before submitting it as news copy. This will ensure that all of the facts are correct and that it meets the standards of the publication. It is also a good idea to proofread for typos and grammatical errors before submitting any piece of news. This will ensure that the publication looks its best when it hits the shelves.