What Is News?
News is a term that describes current events, or information that has just happened. The main goal of any news article is to inform and educate people about things that are happening around them. It is also important to note that the way a story is written can affect how people will react to it. This is why it is a good idea to listen to a variety of news broadcasts, read several newspapers and even visit a few websites. Doing so will allow you to have a better understanding of the different ways in which news is presented and may help you to become more open-minded about what is really going on around you.
A news item typically begins with a headline, or title, that is designed to grab the reader’s attention and provide a preview of what is to come. The headline should be concise and include the major points of the story. It should be punctuated using Associated Press style guidelines, unless your publication specifies something else. After the headline is the byline, which is usually written to identify you as the author of the piece. Following this is the lead, which is an introductory paragraph that provides a summary of what is to be found in the rest of the news article.
The next part of the article is the body, which is where the details of the story are contained. This is the meat of the article, and it should be well written. It should give an accurate and fair description of the story without resorting to sensationalism or bias. It is also important to use appropriate quotes throughout the body of the article, and to be sure to attribute them properly.
While the details of a particular story can vary depending on the perspective of the writer and how the story is told, there are some basic characteristics that are common to all stories: timeliness, drama, consequence and proximity. When it comes to deciding what is newsworthy, the gatekeepers of the media make their judgments based on these and other factors.
Items that make the news tend to affect a large number of people. This is why a stock market crash, for example, often makes the news, as it will likely result in many investors losing money and possibly their jobs. Other examples of newsworthy events would be a bombing, a natural disaster or any crime that has a significant impact on the public. Even a small amount of money can be newsworthy, such as the little girl who donated only ten cents to a charity event.