News is a periodical publication or broadcasting that provides current information about events, activities and things in the world. It usually includes a combination of hard news and features. It can also cover politics, crime, business and the environment, as well as celebrity gossip. It is important that the facts in a news article are correct and unbiased. It is also important to avoid adding the personal opinion of the writer, especially if it is not relevant to the story.
People are interested in the way that other people live, which is why celebrity news is often popular. Famous people are often a focus of news stories, especially when they do things that are unusual or break the law. Crime is also a big news item, whether it is a road traffic accident, burglary or murder. Economic news is also often important, such as interest rates, inflation, wage rises, food prices and the budget. People are also interested in health, which is why many newspapers and television programmes include news about medical research, diseases, hospitals and clinics, drugs, diet and exercise.
Most people believe that the main purpose of news is to inform. However, it is often used to entertain as well – music and drama programmes on radio or TV; or cartoons and crosswords in a newspaper. News can also provide a record of historical events.
When writing a news article, it is essential to grab the reader’s attention with the most important information at the beginning of the story. This is known as the ‘inverted pyramid’ style of writing. The less important information can be included in the body of the article, with a summary at the end to tell the reader what they have just read. It is always a good idea to let someone else read your article before it is published, especially if you are an editor. An extra pair of eyes can help to catch spelling or grammatical mistakes that you might have missed.
Once you have written your article, it is a good idea to include any other important details about the topic. These can include contact details, additional facts about the subject, quotes from interviews and any other information that will help readers understand the situation better. It is also important to identify any opposing viewpoints or people who are not happy with the situation.
When writing a news article, it is important to include quotes from the people involved in the story. This can add a human element to the article and give it more credibility. If possible, it is also a good idea to have the interviewees sign off their quotes. This can prevent them from claiming that the writer has changed or misquoted them. It is also important to check the accuracy of all the information in your article before it is published. In addition to checking for grammatical and spelling errors, it is also a good idea to fact-check your article with other sources.