News is information about events, things that are happening or things that have happened. It can also refer to an announcement from a person or company. News stories can be written in many different ways and may appear in newspapers, magazines, television or online. When writing a news story, it is important to keep in mind the audience that you are trying to reach. You want your article to be interesting to them, but you also need to make sure that it is accurate and doesn’t contain any erroneous information.
Often, the reason something is newsworthy is because it is new or unusual. This can be the case when scientists report that they have found an insect living on a plant it has never before eaten, for example. This discovery is a very interesting piece of information, but it would probably only merit a small paragraph in a general news broadcast or newspaper. However, if this insect is believed to be eating crops in areas where people live and are threatening the food supply, then it is likely to receive more attention.
Another factor that determines whether a news story is worthy of being reported is its timeliness. Most large media sources focus on current events because they know that people are most interested in this type of news. This is especially true of social media, where breaking news can spread quickly and be picked up by many different people.
A good way to tell a news story is to start with an intriguing headline, referred to as the lede. Readers have a lot of competition for their attention, so the lead needs to be able to grab it in some way. The lead should also include the basic facts of the story – who, what, when, where and why. This will help readers decide whether they want to read the rest of the story.
Once the basic facts are presented, it is important to include quotes from experts in the field to give credibility to the article. It is also a good idea to include photos or other visual aids, particularly when they can be related to the story in some way. It is important to avoid using slang or colloquial language, and it is best to cite all of your sources.
It is also a good idea to seek out news outlets that present all sides of an issue, as well as those that are skeptical of any claims being made. The internet makes it easy for inaccurate or biased information to be shared widely, and this can have a significant impact on how you perceive the world around you.