News is information about events that are important to a particular audience. It is often published in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. News stories are about people and their actions, but they can also be about non-human events such as cyclones, bush fires or volcanic eruptions. The most common goal of news is to inform and educate the audience. However, it is sometimes necessary to entertain the audience as well. This can be done through music and drama on the radio, or with cartoons and crossword puzzles in newspapers.
News articles should be concise and clear. Long tangents and winding sentences can make readers lose interest. To keep your reader’s attention, begin with a short but snappy headline and then follow with the most important facts in an inverted pyramid format. You should not include your own opinions in the article, but you can quote sources to add credibility and help readers understand how a certain event might impact them.
Often, the most interesting aspects of a story are those that connect with the audience’s emotions. This can be achieved by including an element of conflict, such as disagreements or rivalries. Alternatively, you could add a bit of humour to the story, as humans are always interested in being amused.
The most common topics for news reports are war, politics, education, health and the environment. However, other subjects that can be reported on are entertainment, fashion, business and sport. It is also common for government proclamations to be reported on in the news, such as royal ceremonies, laws, taxes and public health.
