News is information about current events, typically delivered through word of mouth, printing, postal systems, broadcasting or other electronic communication. The content of News may be controversial or neutral, but it must be accurate and timely. In a News article, the most important facts are stated first so that readers get what they want as quickly as possible. This principle is known as “above the fold” because newspaper pages have a physical crease where the paper is folded in half, and it also applies to online writing, where the best stories are placed at the top of the page before viewers have to scroll down to see more of the article.
It is usually people who make the news, although natural events can also make headlines, such as a bush fire, cyclone or tsunami. When a story involves people, it is often about their actions or reactions to an event, their opinions and feelings. This is the case especially when a story is controversial. People are more likely to be interested in a story that impacts their lives directly, for example a school shooting, car crash or terrorist attack. The impact of the story is the main factor in its newsworthiness, although there are other criteria such as how unusual or significant the event is.
Another way to measure a news story’s newsworthiness is by looking at how many of the six criteria for news are met. It is often said that the more of these criteria a story meets, the more newsworthy it is. The criteria are: newness, impact, intrigue, violence and scandal and significance.
While market research helps determine what kind of information the public wants to receive, journalists still decide what stories to cover and which facts should be emphasized. It is a fine line between giving the public what they want and not distorting or misrepresenting information for commercial or political reasons.
A News article should have a snappy and informative headline that captures the reader’s interest. The lead sentence must clearly explain the subject of the article and include all of the major points in a concise way. The paragraphs within a News article should be arranged in the form of a pyramid, with the most important facts at the top and the less important ones at the bottom. The News article should conclude with a short and clear statement about the article’s subject and any potential future developments that might arise as a result of it.
When writing a News article, it is crucial to source all the relevant facts from reliable sources and to give full credit where it is due. In addition to the byline, the name of the person interviewed and the source should be clearly listed at the end of the story. This is to prevent accusations of plagiarism and maintain the integrity of the news article. This is particularly important for articles appearing in national publications, where the audience is wider than a local one.