What Is News?

News is current and important information that can be broadcast on television, printed in a newspaper or online, or even yelled across the room. It can be about a disaster in a far away place, or something that happens in the local community. It can also be a story about a celebrity, or about an interesting person or event.

In order for something to be considered newsworthy, it must be new, unusual, interesting, significant or about people. The more of these criteria that a story meets, the more likely it is to be newsworthy. It is also important that a story be relevant to the audience. News about a celebrity’s latest personal tragedy is unlikely to interest most people, but an earthquake or a war in another country may be of more concern to them.

It is also necessary that a story be factual and that it is presented in an objective manner. The writer should always try to refrain from expressing his or her own opinions, and should instead present the facts of the story. This is especially important in a news article, where a reporter must be able to clearly attribute the information they are reporting to a source. This source could be an interview, a public statement or even a written report by a police officer.

The news is a reflection of the world around us, and it influences our views and decisions. It is therefore important to keep up with current events, even if they don’t affect us directly. This is particularly true if the government or other powerful groups are making choices that might hurt other people or damage the environment.

There are many different sources for news, and it is important to check them out carefully before accepting them as unbiased. Some websites offer ratings of various sources, looking at their consistency in providing factual and verifiable information. These sites can be a good starting point for people who are concerned about the bias in their news sources.

A well written news article begins with a catchy and pertinent headline that is easy to read. Then, it presents a summary of the main points of the story, and concludes with a byline (the name of the author), often including a link to the publication where the article was originally published.

If possible, it is a good idea for a journalist to interview the subject of the news in order to obtain quotes and to get a firsthand account of the information. This can help to give the article more depth and make it more interesting. It is also a good idea to include a date at the end of the article, indicating when the news occurred.

If you are interested in writing news articles, it is essential that you understand the criteria for what makes a newsworthy story and that you are aware of your own biases. A good way to avoid this is to regularly read news from a number of sources and to compare them against each other.