News is anything that informs or educates. It is a genre of journalism that is usually found in newspapers and magazines, on television, radio or the Internet. News media is a powerful tool in shaping political and cultural narratives, and it is important that its gatekeepers are aware of how to use this power in a responsible manner.
There are some basic characteristics that all news stories share. These include timeliness, drama, consequence, proximity and narrative. The main objective of any good news article is to provide accurate information in a clear and concise way. It is also essential that the writer be able to write about the topic in an interesting and captivating manner. It is helpful to read other news articles or watch news broadcasts to get a sense of the tone and style that works well with this type of writing.
The timeliness of a story is its ability to relate current events. People are interested in hearing about things that happen right now, or within a short period of time. It does not do much good to cover something that happened a week ago; the community has already moved on and is talking about something else. This is why most news articles focus on the present.
Most people would agree that a good news story should make them say, “Gee Whiz!” It should be exciting, interesting and entertaining. However, most people would also agree that it is not the job of news to entertain. This can be done in other ways such as through music and drama programs, cartoons and crossword puzzles in a newspaper.
Many of the events that are reported in news are dramatic. They involve a struggle between good and evil, or at least between different groups of people. This is because humans are naturally drawn to stories that have a high degree of conflict and tension. For example, a robbery at a convenience store will likely grab the attention of most people because it involves the possible loss of life and property. The key to drama in a news story is to have clearly identifiable good and bad characters or situations.
People are also interested in hearing about famous people, whether they are in the sports arena or in politics. It is particularly interesting when these people do or say something that goes against society’s generally accepted norms. For example, a famous person who falls from grace or becomes involved in scandal makes the news.
In addition to being interesting, most people want to know about how a certain event or situation might affect them personally. This is why it is often interesting to hear about the impact of weather on agriculture, on businesses and on people’s daily lives. It is also important that news be accurate and factual, which can be difficult in an era of partisan journalism and fake news. It is essential that the writer research any given subject thoroughly before reporting it as news.