News is information that explains what is happening around the world or in local communities. It often involves stories about politics, crime, sports, or weather. It can also include articles about health, religion, or business. In many societies, people depend on the media to keep them up to date on current events and to provide a voice for their concerns. News is an important part of democracy, as citizens need to know what is going on in their government and their community to participate effectively in civic life.

To write a news article, start by researching the topic and sourcing the five Ws — who, what, where, when and why. Obtaining quotes from sources is a great way to add credibility and verity to your story. It is also helpful to have a clear understanding of the timeline of events so that you can correctly sum up what happened and why it is newsworthy.

Choose a newsworthy topic that is relevant and interesting to your audience. Then, identify the main facts about the story and include them in the body of your news article. You should also add any other relevant details that will help your readers understand the event. This may include contact information, additional facts about the event, or quotes from interviews with people involved in the story.

A good news story will grab reader attention and make them want to read more. It should be a combination of fact and drama that is engaging for the reader. It should also have a point of view that will allow the reader to engage with the story on an emotional level. For example, a story about a politician scandal is likely to provoke an emotional response in the reader.

If you are not able to capture the interest of the reader, they will not tune in to watch or read your story. Avoid lengthy tangents and winding sentences that will detract from the article’s overall impact. Also, remove any filler that does not contribute to the result of the story.

Most news articles are about people. This is because most of the things that change our world are caused by human actions and reactions. However, non-human events can be newsworthy as well, such as a hurricane, bush fire, or volcanic eruption.

It is important to stay up to date on the latest news at all levels, including international, national and regional. In addition, it is useful to have a broad knowledge of ongoing issues and debates. A good way to stay informed is through enewsletters that provide a daily summary of top news stories or podcasts such as The Skimm and Today Explained. If you are a visual learner, try websites that produce video news reports or infographics such as Vice and Vox. Lastly, don’t forget about social media. News sites on Facebook and Instagram can be a great source of news, especially when they are curated by trusted sources.