What Is News?

News is information that tells us what is happening in the world around us. It can be about war, government, politics, education, the economy, health, sports or entertainment. It can also be about natural disasters, environmental problems or terrorism. News is usually told through newspapers, magazines, television, radio or the Internet.

When writing a news article it is important to know your audience. This will dictate what type of language and tone to use in the piece. In addition, it will help you decide what to write about and how much detail to include. It is also important to understand the concept of timeliness. News articles need to be written as soon as possible after an event occurs. Otherwise, they will be irrelevant by the time the piece is published.

Some events make the news because they are unusual or because they affect many people. For example, a man walking his baby tigers to school would be newsworthy because it is not something that happens every day and it raises concerns about the welfare of animals. Another example is when the stock market fluctuates and many investors lose money, causing the company to go bankrupt and workers to lose their jobs. These types of events are likely to be reported on in the news because they have a broad impact on society.

Often the most interesting news stories are about people and how they relate to each other. This type of news is usually more likely to be reported in the major media outlets because it is likely to spark interest among readers. It is also likely to have a significant influence on politicians because it will raise questions about the policies of those in power.

The news is often about the past but it can also be about the future. For example, a major political scandal may be breaking and the details of the investigation will be a big part of the news. This is because the public wants to be informed about what is going on in their country and their government.

While there are many theories about what makes a good story, most journalists believe that a successful news article should be new, interesting, relevant and significant. The classic saying is “dog bites man” – not news; but “man bites dog” – now that’s news! The definition of what is considered news will vary from one society to the next. For example, a man sleeping on his neighbour’s roof is not news in a western society but it will be news in a society that eats dogs for dinner!