News is information about recent events or happenings which is conveyed via newspapers, magazines, radio, television and the internet. It includes the weather, sports, crime, war, politics, education and business. Historically, it was conveyed orally and written down in books.
A story is newsworthy if it is new, unusual, interesting or significant. An event can also be a good story if it involves people or affects people in some way. The relative importance of the people or effect will vary between societies. For example, the fact that a farm wall has collapsed killing both a cow and a pig will have different news value in two different societies, depending upon the relative importance of cows and pigs.
It is the job of journalists to inform and educate their readers, listeners or viewers. Entertainment can come from other areas – music and drama on the radio, cartoons and crosswords in newspapers.
The best stories are those which have a strong lead. A good lead will capture the reader’s attention and make them want to read more. The lead should include many of the key elements which will give the reader a taste of what is to follow and provide a grounding in the facts. It is a good idea to write the lead following AP style unless your publication specifies something else. It is also important to ensure that the article is ‘above the fold’ – the line where the newspaper is folded in half, which will help the reader decide whether to continue reading.
