News is information about current affairs/events that affect people. It can be told in many ways: through newspaper articles, radio or television programmes, or via the internet.
It’s often about people, because they are the ones who change the world around us. But it can also be about non-human things such as natural disasters, war, weather conditions and disease outbreaks. It’s also about food, drink and money – food shortages, inflation, salary increases, the price of fuel or the launch of a new product.
The things that make the news depend on what’s important to society at a particular time. So it’s not surprising that different countries have slightly different definitions of what makes news. In general, however, it is what affects or concerns the majority of a population that is most likely to be newsworthy.
When writing a news article you need to be aware of your audience, this will dictate the style and tone you use and how much detail you include. Asking yourself the five W’s (who, what, when, where and why) can help you find your voice and shape your story. It is also important to check your facts, a bad fact can detract from the credibility of your article. You can do this by interviewing sources, checking court documents or by watching news stations and shows. When you have a good grasp of your audience you can then create a compelling news story that keeps the reader interested and informed.