News is the current information about what is happening in the world. People consume news through various sources, such as the Internet, television, radio and newspapers. Often the news contains facts about events, but it also often includes opinions and interpretations of those events.
The main goal of news writing is to provide information to the public. News articles should be written in a way that is concise, clear and accurate. This information should be unbiased so that readers can make their own opinions about the news. It is also important that the reader understands the significance of the news and any possible implications.
Often the news is about people, because the things that happen to them have the most impact on their lives. However, news about non-human events can be very interesting and significant too. For example, a cyclone, bush fire, drought or volcanic eruption can all make big news.
The news is usually reported by journalists, but it can be written by anyone who knows the facts of the story. It is usually edited and then written in a suitable style for the newspaper or magazine where it will be published. Once it is written, it is laid out on dummy pages for approval by the chief editor and then sent to be printed. It may be published on a daily, weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis depending upon the size and frequency of the newspaper or magazine.
It is important that the writer of a news article is aware of bias. Bias is when the writer or journalist has a view about an issue that is different from the majority of opinion. This can affect the way a story is presented or how much attention it gets. It is not the same as an agenda, which is when a publication sets out to promote a particular political or social cause.
A good news article will have a strong lead paragraph that attracts the reader and keeps their attention. This is generally done by including what is known as the five Ws; who, what, where, when and why. It should also include all the relevant details that are needed to fully inform the reader.
After the lead, there will be a brief explanation of the facts of the story. This will be followed by any quotes that are needed to give the reader more insight into the event or issue being covered. Finally, the news article will conclude with a restatement of the lead paragraph or a statement about any future developments that might occur relating to the topic.
People read the news because they want to be informed about the world around them. The amount of news that is available today has increased dramatically thanks to the Internet and 24-hour news stations. This means that there is more competition for the attention of the public, so it is important that news stories are well written and accurate.