News is information that is important to a particular audience and that has happened recently. It is usually published in a newspaper, magazine or on the Internet. News stories should be based on facts and include what is known as the ‘5 Ws’ – who, what, when, where and why.
The ‘golden rule’ for writing news is to get the most important facts and key points in the first paragraph. This is called the lead and it’s where readers are most likely to decide whether to keep reading or not. It is also important to avoid using adjectives that can sway the reader’s opinion such as “amazing” or “unbelievable”.
Timeliness is one of the most obvious aspects of news that makes it interesting and relevant. Large media sources tend to focus on current events because they know that this is what their audiences want to hear about.
Celebrities and people who are in the public eye make news because they are often of interest to the general public. This can be because they have done something famous or have a great deal of wealth. It can also be because they are in the news for a crime, scandal or controversy.
Society is interested in many things which may not seem like newsworthy events. These can range from a particular insect invading the crops to the decision of the Church to ordain women. It is interesting to note that the same events can be judged differently in different societies. For example, a farm wall collapsing and killing a cow but saving a pig is not newsworthy in a country where dogs are eaten for dinner, but will be of greater concern when the death of a human being is involved.