News is information about events or people that have a strong impact on society.
Newspapers, radio, television and the Internet are media that provide news to consumers. The main functions of these media are to inform readers and influence public opinion.
The term “news” has been used since ancient times to describe government proclamations and public health issues such as diseases, famines, fires, floods and crime. Technological and social developments have made the spread of news easier, faster and more widely distributed.
How can we determine what is news?
The key is to understand the values that guide news making. These are known as the five Ws: who, what, when, where and why.
Models of news making can help to define what is news and how it influences readers. However, these models do not account for the content of print news and online media.
Stories are selected if they have a strong impact, incorporate violence and scandal, are familiar and local, and if they are timely. These features make news stories more interesting and relatable to readers.
A good tip is to begin your story with a compelling lede that captures the reader’s attention. Next, follow up with a few paragraphs that answer any questions your audience might have about the topic right away.
All the information in a news article should be attributed to the source where it was obtained. This includes court documents, interviews with sources, census reports and Web sites. It is essential that a reporter identifies where his or her material was obtained in order to avoid plagiarism.