News is information about events and things that are happening in the world. It can be about political affairs, wars and peace, social issues, natural disasters, sports or entertainment. News is usually delivered through newspapers, radio or television but can also be found on the internet. News is important for societies as it enables them to keep up with current affairs and make informed decisions. A free press is often called the oxygen of democracy, as democracies cannot exist without a well-informed public.
The type of news that makes the headlines differs between different countries and cultures but some common themes run through most news stories. They include famous people, scandals, health and money.
Prominent people are newsworthy because of their status in society, but they are also interesting if they fall out of favour or lose their wealth. Crime is always newsworthy, whether it is road traffic offences, burglaries, forgery, rape or murder. Health is a hugely popular topic for news stories, and it is not only major illness or disease that makes the headlines but also traditional remedies, research, hospitals and clinics.
Money matters are also of interest to the general public and this includes fortunes made and lost, tax cuts, the Budget, food prices, wage rises or compensation claims. However, it is not necessarily large sums of money that make the headlines; a little girl giving ten cents to a fund-raising event may attract more attention than a businessman who donates $100,000.
Some events that happen naturally are newsworthy, such as earthquakes, cyclones, droughts and floods. They are not only interesting but also significant because they affect a large number of people. However, they can also be boring if they occur regularly.
Other events that are not natural but which have a big impact on the lives of the public are also newsworthy, such as wars and revolutions. They are interesting because of the scale of the event and also because they usually cause controversy and tension.
A free press is important because it allows the public to stay informed and participate in democratic politics, but this can only work if journalists are willing to tell the truth and present it fairly and without bias. It is easy for governments to shut down the press, but it is harder for them to control the spread of information via the Internet.
When writing a news article, it is advisable to use the inverted pyramid format, placing the most critical information at the beginning of the story. This will allow the reader to decide if they want to read the whole story or not. The opening paragraphs should contain facts from your research, and quotes from people who have been interviewed. Avoid putting your own opinions into the article. It is a good idea to have your editor read the article, as they will be able to catch any grammatical or spelling errors that you might have missed.