News is information about current events that has a wide impact. It often concerns politics, war, business or natural disasters. News is based on facts that are painstakingly gathered, verified and checked over again. But even so, truth is often elusive.
It’s important to read the news because, whether we know it or not, it shapes our lives. It’s especially important to stay aware of current events that occur in your city, state or country. The choices made by your elected officials directly affect how you live, so it’s good to keep up with those things. And if something is happening in your community that is affecting you or someone you care about, it’s always helpful to understand it so you can share with others and advocate on their behalf.
A news story must have a clear narrative, and it should include the five Ws: who, what, where, when and why. A good journalist will also identify patterns in the event. If a store closes, for example, it might be front-page news if it’s the first time in recent history that it’s happened, but not if it’s the fourth restaurant to shut on the block.
It’s also important to consider your audience when reading and writing the news. Most news articles are geared toward a specific demographic. Generally, that’s determined by location; for instance, a newspaper in Kansas City is going to be primarily for citizens of that town. However, other times the demographic is more specific and can be narrowed down based on the article’s topic.