News is information about important events or developments. It may be broadcast on television, printed in a newspaper or magazine, posted on the internet or yelled across the classroom. News is important because it teaches us about our world. It can also entertain us. Some news is serious while others are simply interesting. Whatever the case, news should be reported accurately and quickly.
A well-written news article begins with a clear, concise headline. This is followed by a “lead” that gives a preview of the story and includes many of the basic facts. The lead should include all of the five Ws: who, what, where, when and why. This will help readers decide if they want to read the entire news article or not.
It is often necessary to research your topic before writing a news article. This is especially true if you are writing for a large, general publication or website. It is also beneficial to know your demographic, if possible. If you are writing about a local issue, such as zoning laws in Kansas City, your audience will probably consist of people who live in the area.
An important aspect of writing news is deciding which details are the most important and which are not. Obviously, the more significant the information is, the more likely it is to be considered newsworthy. However, it is important to avoid reporting non-news as news. For example, a man’s daily routine of eating breakfast and taking the bus to work does not make for very exciting news.