News is the information about current events, affairs and incidents that take place in society. It is reported and broadcasted by the mass media such as newspapers, magazines, radio and television. It can also be spread through social networking sites and the Internet.
The news aims to inform, educate and entertain. It should be accurate, although it does not have to be factual. It can contain opinions, analysis and commentary as long as the facts are not compromised. It should not have an obvious bias, but it should be fair and impartial. It is the job of the news to provide a balance, and it should not be sensational or inflammatory. It should be entertaining, but that can come from other sources – music and drama on the radio, cartoons in the newspaper or crossword puzzles on TV.
A news article should begin with a headline that grabs the reader’s attention and includes the key points of the story. It should then present the information in a clear and concise way, using the inverted pyramid format. The most important information should be presented first, above the fold (in print journalism, this refers to the crease that would be visible on the paper if it was folded). This is often done by beginning with a dramatic anecdote or an interesting fact. It should then go on to detail the who, what, where, when and why of the new developments.
Local news articles should concentrate on what is happening in the local area. They should cover the community, local businesses and organisations and wider issues that affect the region such as health and transport. They should not focus on national or international stories unless they have an impact on the community. National and international papers have a bigger audience, so they can afford to cover more extensive stories, such as major crises or wars.
It is important to keep in mind that news is about people and the things they do, not about ideas or theories. As such, it can vary greatly between societies. For example, in some cultures, it may be newsworthy that a man bites a dog. However, in other cultures this may not be considered newsworthy at all.
It is a good idea to talk with people you respect about where they get their news. They can help you find a source that suits your needs. If they are a good English speaker, try asking them about which newspapers and news apps they use. Alternatively, you can look at online reviews and ratings of different news sources to find the ones that suit your tastes. Once you have found a few that you enjoy, stick with them. This will ensure that you don’t miss any of the latest developments in your favourite topics! You can even sign up for enewsletters that deliver important stories directly to your inbox. This is a great option for those who spend most of their time on their phone or tablet.