News articles inform the public about current events/issues and keep them updated on what is happening in their local communities, countries or internationally. They also serve as a medium for educating and explaining complex topics such as politics, science, economics, culture etc. News articles should be factual, not opinionated and should cite sources whenever possible.
In the case of newspaper articles, news values are determined by a number of factors including:
Exclusivity: The fact that something is new and that it is being reported first to a particular publication. This can be due to interviews, letters, investigations, surveys or polls.
Human interest: People are interested in what famous people do, how they look and their lives in general. It is especially interesting if these people fall from grace, lose money or become involved in scandals.
Crime: Any crime, whether it is a traffic accident, burglary or murder makes news. But some crimes are more serious and therefore get more prominence than others.
Money: The smallest sums of money make news, as well as the largest. This can be a story about school fees, taxes, the Budget, wage rises, compensation claims and so on.
People are interested in their health and what makes them healthy, so they are interested in stories about traditional remedies, medical research, diseases, hospitals and clinics, food, drugs and exercise. They are also interested in sex, even though it is not openly discussed in many societies.
