News is information about a current event or development. It is generally based on factual reporting and often includes a degree of editorial judgment or analysis. The objective of the news media is to inform, educate and entertain their readers, listeners or viewers. The role of the journalist is to decide which facts are important to include and which should be given greater emphasis.
The first step to writing a news article is to research the topic thoroughly. News articles are often based on primary sources which come from individuals involved in the story. For example, if an article is about a cat saved from a fire, the reporter will interview the fire department and the owner of the cat to get their opinions on what happened. Secondary sources are also used to support a story, such as quotes from public statements or information from previous news coverage.
Once the research is complete, an outline can be developed for the news article. It is often helpful to use the upside down pyramid formula for outlining, where the most important information is at the top of the article and the least relevant is at the bottom. This helps people who only want to read the headlines or a brief summary of the article find what they are looking for quickly.
News articles should be written in simple, straightforward language. This allows the reader to understand the most important aspects of the article and avoids a sense of over-information.