News is the information that reaches the public via various media outlets – print, radio and television. It can also be delivered through the internet and social networking sites. It is a vital part of democracy, providing the public with factual information in order to make informed decisions. It is often referred to as the oxygen of democracy, as established democracies depend on an informed citizenry to thrive.
What is considered news varies from one country to another. Some of the criteria used to determine newsworthiness include relevance, impact, proximity, controversy, prominence and currency. Other factors may also be included such as timing, which is important in breaking stories, or whether the story is a tragedy or an event of interest to society at large.
A major goal of a news article is to inform and educate the audience. However, this does not mean that the news should be boring or dull. The entertainment aspect of a news story can come from other sources such as music and drama programs on radio, cartoons in newspapers or crossword puzzles on TV.
The news is not necessarily only about people, but it is mainly about the things that happen to people. This can be anything from war to natural disasters and the impact that they have on people’s lives. In addition to human events, some news stories can also be about inanimate objects and phenomena such as storms, fires or volcanoes.
A news article should be written in a clear and concise manner with the most important information at the forefront of the article. It should not contain the writer’s opinions or interpretations, and any quotes should be attributed to a reliable source. Using an inverted pyramid style, where the most important points are placed in the first paragraphs and then followed by less critical information, can help to engage the reader.
News reports do not change the world, but they can provide a first rough draft of history. The most important thing is that the information should be fair and accurate, not partisan or political.
The first step in writing a news article is to research the topic. It is important to gather as many facts as possible and to write them down in chronological order. Then, the author should create a headline that will catch the audience’s attention and briefly inform them about the subject. This should be followed by a well-written news article that contains the most important information at the beginning and then details any other relevant information.
In the age of the internet, it has become increasingly difficult to discern what is true and what is not. This has led to increased skepticism among the general public and many schools are teaching students how to find and evaluate claims on the internet. This way, they can stay away from sites that are promoting fake news or are simply obfuscating the truth. It is also advisable to subscribe to news aggregators to be updated on different issues in the world.