How to Write Good News

News is information about current events, which can be disseminated by different media sources such as print, television and radio. It can also be transmitted via electronic communication channels such as the internet and social media.

News can be controversial and can influence public opinion and behaviour. The impact of the news depends on the way it is presented and the context in which it is viewed. Some forms of news, such as celebrity gossip and sports scores, may be regarded as more entertaining than others, such as serious international conflict or natural disasters.

A good news article will be short and to the point. It should include all of the relevant facts, but in a way that is easy for readers to understand. It should also not contain personal opinions or bias. If a writer wants to write an article about a certain subject, they should research it thoroughly and be aware of how the subject will be received by the audience they are writing for.

In order to determine what is newsworthy, journalists have come up with a number of criteria that help them decide which stories will be published. These are known as the six news values: newness, unusualness, relevance, significance, impact and people. While these newsworthiness factors are largely subjective, they do provide a framework for evaluating a story.

The first step in creating a news story is to find out what is happening. This can be done by interviewing people who are involved in the event or scouring the internet for related information. When gathering information, it is important to get primary sources, which are sources that are directly related to the topic. For example, if you are reporting on a fire, a primary source would be the person who was in the building that was destroyed. Secondary sources, on the other hand, are pieces of information collected from other sources. A secondary source would be a fire report from another news source or the cat owner’s medical history from the vet.

Once you have your source material, it is time to put it all together. A good news story will start with a dramatic anecdote or surprising fact to grab the reader’s attention. It will then go on to describe the event and give the reader a sense of what has happened. This section is often referred to as the “nut graph,” or the main idea of the news story. It will answer the questions: who, what, when, where and why.

Once you have your news story complete, it is important to proofread it. It is also important to make sure that the work complies with any ethical guidelines set out by the news organization for which you are writing. In addition, you should always cite your sources. This will ensure that your information is accurate and will keep your readers interested. This is especially important if you are writing for a mass-appeal publication or website.