News is what happens in the world that a reader might find interesting or significant. Often it is about people, although events such as cyclones, bush fires, volcanic eruptions or earthquakes can also be newsworthy. It can be hard to know what makes news and what does not. A useful criterion is that a story must be new, unusual, interesting and significant. In addition it must be brief so that people will read it, clear so that it is easily understood, picturesquely written and above all accurate.
It is important that a news story is readable, as readers may lose interest quickly if it is too long and complicated. A good way to keep a reader’s attention is to use the inverted pyramid format: put the most important information at the beginning of the article and then follow up with other details. It is also important that the writer does not inject their own opinion into a news article, as this could distract from the facts and cause the reader to lose trust in the article.
The subject matter of a news article should be of interest to a wide range of people. It is helpful if the writer can get quotes from different people involved in the story, as this will give the reader more information on the topic and help them understand the issue from various angles. It is also important that the article is not biased and contains all the facts, so that the reader can make up their own mind about the issue.
In general, a good news story will be about something that captures the imagination. This might be violence or scandal, or it might be an event that is both shocking and highly resonant. It is also a good idea to try and find a story that is local, as this will be of more interest to readers than a story about an event that happens somewhere else in the world.
In some cases, a good way to make an ordinary story more interesting is to write it as a feature article. This type of article is more in-depth than straight reporting and takes a smaller aspect of the news, for example, the aftermath of a fire, and investigates it deeply. It is often more personalised and includes interviews with individuals involved. This style of news writing is often more controversial, as it is able to explore opinions and emotions that might be overlooked in a more straight report. It is also a useful tool for exploring topics that are not yet fully understood, as well as for drawing out further research. This can be done by highlighting the significance of an event or the implications that it might have for future events. This can be particularly effective when it is used to highlight issues of social justice, such as the rights of women or minorities. This allows the reader to engage on an emotional level with the news and encourage them to act as a result.