News is the information about current events and affairs that are reported by media such as newspapers, magazines and radio. It can also be found in other forms such as films and television.
The content of News can differ depending on the audience for whom it is intended and the medium in which it is presented. For example, a newspaper article about a local event will have a different focus and tone than one about a worldwide phenomenon. In addition, the type of news that is reported may change according to the time of day, as breaking news updates are often delivered through a variety of media outlets simultaneously.
A good news story should capture the attention of the reader in a way that is quick and easy to understand. This is usually done through a dramatic anecdote, a surprising fact or a headline that highlights the major point of the story. The first paragraph is known as the lede and should be designed to answer the questions: what, when, who, where and why. It should also place the new developments in context by explaining how they relate to other issues of interest.
If the lead fails to grab readers’ attention, it is likely that the rest of the news article will fail to keep their interest. This is why it is important for the lead to be as snappy as possible. A well-written headline is also a necessity for an effective news article. It should be short and to the point, avoiding overly sensational language. It should also be punctuated using Associated Press style guidelines unless the publication specifies something else. The headline should include the main subject of the story and be followed by the name of the writer – this is called the byline.
The most newsworthy stories are those that meet five criteria – they are new, unusual, interesting and significant and involve people. But even these are not necessarily enough to make a story newsworthy; it depends on the context in which the news is happening and the reaction of the public to it. A coup d’etat in the country next door is big news but a local insect killing crops is not.
