A news article is a short, informative piece about current events. It can be written for a newspaper, magazine or website and is often found on social media. News articles are usually written to inform, but can also be used to entertain or amuse. Writing a news article requires thorough research to ensure the information is accurate and up to date. The article must be concise and written in a formal tone. News articles should be unbiased and avoid bias or prejudice. The journalist should include a list of sources for the information and clearly attribute it where possible.
People are usually the centre of news stories, whether they are victims of an act of violence or a natural disaster. The actions of famous or notorious people can also make the news, particularly if they break laws, embarrass themselves or are involved in scandal. The weather is another subject of interest to the public – stories about extreme temperatures, droughts, floods or hurricanes are often widely reported.
The purpose of news, whether in newspapers, magazines or on radio or television is to educate and entertain. However, it is important to remember that the job of entertainment is best left to other areas – music and drama on radio and television; cartoons, crossword puzzles and advertisements in newspapers and magazines. It is the job of news to report the facts accurately and truthfully, and to provide a forum for discussion of the issues raised in the articles.
Some of the things that happen in the world every day do not make news – for example, a man wakes up, eats breakfast and goes to work on the bus. It is only when something unusual happens that it becomes interesting or significant enough to be reported in the media.
Most news stories are about people – what they do, what they say and how they look. This includes politicians, business people, sports stars and celebrities. People who are unemployed or in trouble can also be newsworthy if they appeal for help or try to raise money for charity.
Crime makes the news if it is unusual or serious – for example, robbery, burglary, murder or fraud. Other types of newsworthy crimes can be less serious, such as road traffic offences or minor thefts. Money matters are also of interest – stories about fortunes made and lost, school fees, taxes, budgets, food prices and compensation claims all make the news.
Many of the things that make news are also universal, so they will be of interest to most people regardless of their location or culture. For this reason, the world’s news is generally shared and understood across cultures. However, there are cultural differences in what constitutes a news story and how it is presented. For example, a celebrity’s death will make headlines in one country but not in others. This is partly due to the different cultural attitudes towards death and how it should be treated.