How to Write a News Article
News is information about current events. People pass on this information by word of mouth, written word (paper and books), printing, postal systems, broadcasting and electronic communication. News is usually reported by professional journalists, although it may be generated by amateurs too. This is known as citizen journalism.
When writing a news article it is useful to start by thinking about the audience. Who is your audience and what do they want out of the news you are reporting? This will help to keep your article focused and concise. It is also important to consider the ‘5 W’s’ when reporting on an event: Who, What, Where, When and Why. It is also helpful to include quotes from a variety of sources to add weight and credence to your report.
Once you have identified your audience and the ‘5 W’s’ you can then begin to find your story. A good place to start is by looking at other newspaper articles on similar topics, this will give you a feel for what is expected in the form of a news article. You can then begin to brainstorm your own story by asking yourself questions such as what the main facts of the story are, how interesting or unusual are these facts and why is this a newsworthy event. Once you have compiled your list of main facts you should then write an introduction to your article, this should be short and snappy in order to catch the reader’s attention. Next you should pool your facts into “buckets” based on their order of importance and then write the body of your article. Finally you should finish off your news article by including a brief conclusion that sums up what the article is all about.
There are a number of different types of news available, from celebrity gossip to politics and war. However, the most common type of news is weather. It is always important to keep up with the latest news as it can affect us all in some way. Many people use newspapers, television and radio to get their daily dose of news, and some even have their favorite source.
It is worth pointing out that the definition of what is considered news can vary from one society to another. For example, if a man gets up in the morning, has breakfast and goes to work on the bus every day then this would not be newsworthy as it is an ordinary and everyday event. However, if a coup d’etat takes place in the neighbouring country then this is likely to be a very big news item.
It is also worth pointing out that it is very difficult to shut down the flow of information from the Internet. This means that in cases of government crackdowns or revolutions, the Internet has often become a major way of communicating news to the outside world. It is a powerful tool that can be used by both citizens and journalists alike to report on what is going on in their country or around the world.