The purpose of news – in newspapers, magazines and radio – is to inform and educate. However, it can also entertain – with drama and comedy on radio and television or crosswords and other fun puzzles in print.
People are interested in what is going on around them – wars, weather, celebrity, politics, crime, education and fashion. Government proclamations, laws, taxes and royal ceremonies are of interest as well as scandals and the way different societies deal with their differences.
Criminals, robberies and murder are always newsworthy. But so are accidents and fires, especially when the victims are young or old or from a minority group. Crimes with an unusual magnitude or the involvement of a famous person tend to be of greater interest.
All societies are interested in sex, and stories about it. But the nature of the interest varies between societies, as does how the news is judged to be of news value.
It is important to have a clear lede that sums up the most important aspects of a story. And it is important to follow this with a well-formed paragraph that explains a particular aspect of the topic – for example, why it happened or how it might affect the future.
An in-depth news article takes a smaller subject and researches it heavily. These are usually quite long articles, and they can take on many different forms. For instance, they can include interviews with individuals who have unique insight into a particular aspect of the topic or their personal experience. It is important that the reporter cites his or her sources, to give credit where it is due.