News is information about current events, written in such a way as to make it interesting and significant to a wide audience. It is not about the weather, the price of bread or the birth of a new pet, although these may be included in the news. It is about things which are important to us, whether it be a murder or a war, a flood or an earthquake. It should be told clearly so that we can understand it, picturesquely so that we can appreciate it and accurately so that we can guide ourselves by it.
The first consideration when writing an article of this type is who you are writing for. This may seem obvious, but it is a very important point.
It is essential that you understand who you are writing for in order to write good News. The purpose of most newspapers, magazines and broadcasters is to inform people about the world in which they live. This can be done in a variety of ways, but it is important that the information is presented to the intended audience in such a way that they will want to read or listen to it.
This means that the “5 W’s” – who, what, where, when and why must be answered. It also means that the information should be new. People do not want to read about the same old events over and over again; they are interested in things which have happened that are unusual, significant or of interest. It does not necessarily mean that something which has happened a few days ago cannot be news, but it is more likely that the event will only have news value if some of its facts are revealed for the first time, such as in a report by a newspaper or an interview with a person who has been able to give new information.
Some information is of particular interest because it has a direct bearing on people’s lives. For example, the outbreak of an insect plague which threatens to destroy the harvest is news because it is of direct concern to those who produce food. It is important that this type of information is reported as quickly as possible in order to minimise the damage which can be done to the economy.
Other types of information which make news are the occurrences of crime, which could include road traffic offences, break and enter or even robbery; medical advances, which could include breakthroughs in surgery or medicine; and money matters, which might involve large sums or small. People are interested in the fortunes made and lost, school fees and taxes, unemployment, crop prices and compensation claims. This type of information is usually published in a newspaper or on the Internet. It is often accompanied by an opinion piece which expresses the writer’s view of the subject. This information is usually given on Page One of the newspaper or at the top of a web site.