What Is News?
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News is the information we receive about what is happening in our world. It includes stories about war, government, politics, economics, education, health, the environment, entertainment and other topics that affect people’s lives.
There are many different types of news, but all share common characteristics that everyone understands. These include timeliness, drama, consequence, proximity and narrative.
Timeliness: This is a fundamental characteristic of news, and one that most gatekeepers take into account when they decide on the content of their reports. Whether we’re talking about a coup d’etat in our own country, a terrorist attack on the London Underground, or an earthquake in Chile, the news will be relevant to us at the time it happens.
Drama: Any event that causes people to react in dramatic ways is a good news story, whether it’s an election, a natural disaster or an outbreak of disease. We also like to hear about things that make people sad or angry, such as funerals for a dead loved one.
Context: Almost all news stories are about some kind of event or issue that affects a large number of people. This is usually true for political events or issues, such as elections, government budgets and tax increases. It’s also true for issues that affect a specific community or neighborhood, such as floods and road accidents.
Consequence: Most news stories have a consequence, either positive or negative, for the people involved. This is usually the case with political events, but it can also be the case for social or other issues.
Prominent people: The lives of famous men and women are very interesting, and they often feature in news stories. This is especially the case when they fall from power, lose their money or are involved in scandals.
Weather: The weather plays an important part in people’s everyday lives, and it makes news when there are unusually high or low temperatures or very little or much rain. It is also of interest when there are droughts or floods, and when there are crop diseases or food shortages.
Crime: Any crime is news, but more serious crimes and those that have an impact on people’s lives make the most headlines. Besides murder, we also hear about rape and corruption, break-and-enter and forgery.
Money: The rich plan feasts and the poor want enough to eat, so money is a big part of news. This includes the rise and fall of fortunes, school fees, taxes, the Budget, food prices and compensation claims.
Sex: All societies are interested in sex, and it is sometimes the subject of news stories. This is especially true of sex scandals, which are often the subject of newspapers and other media.
To write an effective news article, you’ll need to research the topic extensively. This will help you create a clear and concise article that is full of relevant and interesting facts. Once you’ve done this, it’s time to write your story. Begin with a well-crafted lead and follow a chronological order, putting the most important details first. This will ensure that your readers skim through the beginning section and find what they’re looking for. After your article has a strong lead, you can expand on the key facts to provide in-depth coverage of the topic.