News is information about current affairs/events or an announcement of an important development. It is often written in newspaper articles, broadcast on radio and television or posted on websites. News is important because it informs people about what is happening in their lives and the world. It can also educate and entertain them. Entertainment can come from other areas such as music, drama, crosswords and cartoons but it is the job of news to tell people what is going on in their world so that they can make informed choices.
In order to grab the attention of readers, news should start with a dramatic anecdote, surprising fact or a headline. This is known as the “lede” or the “nut graph.” It should answer the questions who, what, when, where and why. It should also place the news in context – i.e., why is this news important now?
A good story has a combination of the following five qualities: It is new, unusual, interesting, significant and about people. An example of a good news story is an insect eating crops that are important to people. This is news because it is affecting their food supply and could have a serious impact on their lives.
Local news stories are about events that affect a particular community or region. They may also involve local politicians or sports heroes. National newspapers cover major events from around the country or the world. They have a wider audience than local newspapers and should appeal to the majority of people.