News is a written report of current events. It is usually published in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. It should be factual, but it can also entertain and educate its readers/listeners/viewers. Often, the most interesting and important news is the kind that shocks or surprises its audience.
It is sometimes said that “a dog bites a man” is not news, but “man bites a dog” is news. This shows that what is considered newsworthy depends on the culture and beliefs of a particular society. However, it can be expected that most societies are interested in stories about famous people, their activities and their personal relationships. They are also interested in weather reports, food shortages and surpluses, disease, hospitals, schools and new products.
Some of the most exciting news stories involve wars, natural disasters and riots. These events can be terrifying for the viewers/listeners/readers and can change people’s lives. Other kinds of news stories are about business developments – a successful merger, for example, or the opening of a new branch of a company. These kinds of news stories are important to businesses, but they may not be as interesting for other viewers/listeners.
It can be difficult to write news stories that are both interesting and accurate. The information should be gathered quickly and presented in an objective manner. It is important to avoid embellishment, as this can distort the truth of the event and may lead to misinformation. A good piece of news will have an attention-grabbing headline, followed by a detailed story of the event, including quotes and background information on why it is interesting.
As well as writing the facts of the story, the writer must consider the tone and style. This will depend on the genre of the news article, which may be either serious or humorous. It is also important to think about how the story will be illustrated – the use of photographs or videos is common, but it is possible for an article to be entirely textual.
The main aim of news is to inform, not to entertain. This can be done in a number of ways, but most effectively by concentrating on the things that are unique or unusual, and by providing details which help the reader to understand the significance of an event. By doing this, the story will capture the interest and imagination of its viewers.