News is information about events in society, politics, business, the economy, health, education, entertainment or sport. It is often controversial or unusual and may include human interest stories, but it is not necessarily about famous people. It is not only the main facts that are newsworthy; how a story is presented can be just as important.
A good news article should be clear, concise and interesting to read. It should not contain the writer’s opinions, but rather present the facts of a situation as they occur. It should also be written in a way that will catch the reader’s attention – it is often best to use an inverted pyramid format, listing the most critical details first and then expanding on them as you move on. Using quotes is also an effective tool in a news article, and you should try to interview a wide variety of people involved in the story. Finally, it is essential to check the facts of a story before it is published. This is especially important if you are writing for a professional publication or even for school – incorrect facts can discredit an entire article.
Traditionally, news has been distributed through written or oral means. However, new technologies have increased the speed and influence of news. A person or organisation can now spread news almost instantly worldwide. Some common topics for news are war, government, politicians, celebrity, technology and the environment. Government proclamations concerning laws, taxes, royal ceremonies and public health have also been a source of news since ancient times.