A news article should be brief so that it can be read quickly, clear so that it can be understood easily, picturesque so that it will be remembered, and above all accurate so that it can be trusted. It must be impartial, without prejudice or favouritism and should not contain personal opinion. It should detail any events in chronological order and include the facts from your research and quotes from people who you interviewed. Lastly, it should be interesting.
Generally, any story that is unusual, interesting, significant and about people can be news. Unusual events such as earthquakes, floods or riots are likely to make the most impression, but even normal, everyday happenings can be interesting news if they have not been reported before. Events that happen on a large scale or involve famous people will also get more attention.
When deciding whether something is newsworthy, journalists will consider the importance of the event to their readers. They will also look at how well the news can be presented in order to catch the audience’s attention and hold it. If the news is very important, it will be given top priority in a bulletin or on Page One of the newspaper; lesser news will be given less coverage or will appear later in the paper.
In a world of ever-increasing information, it can be difficult to keep track of what is happening. But by developing a strategy and finding reliable sources, it is possible to stay on top of the latest news.
Firstly, it is important to understand your demographic. The majority of newspaper articles are geared towards a specific audience. This might be based on the area in which they are written or the topic of the article itself. For example, a newspaper article on a school function will likely be of interest to parents of children at the school. A story on zoning laws in a commercial area will likely appeal to business owners.
In the past, many newspapers focused on hard news, such as crime and war. However, the advent of television and other mass media has meant that softer news is now more popular. This can include celebrity news, weather reports, sports updates and entertainment news.
The best news stories are those that make the reader say, ‘Gee Whiz’! This is not often achieved, but it should be a target for every journalist. If you can achieve this, your audience will be sure to want to share the news with others. This is what makes news such a powerful tool for communication. As such, it is vital to be able to read, listen and watch the news on a regular basis in order to stay ahead of the game. This way, you can make informed decisions about your future.