News is a written or spoken account of events which are new, unusual, interesting and significant. The news must also be credible and not tainted by bias. In addition, it must be able to be transmitted quickly and easily. News stories may be published in newspapers, magazines or on radio and television. They can also be read on the Internet or by mobile phone. In most societies, it is a major function of the media to inform and educate their readers, listeners or viewers. However, news can also entertain. This is usually done through music and drama on radio or television, cartoons in newspapers and crosswords in magazines.
The selection of what makes news is a difficult and often subjective process. The decision depends on the relative importance of a subject in a particular society and on the interests and priorities of the audience. For example, while a bug may not be of great significance to people in cities, it might be a real problem for peasant farmers who depend on their crops for survival. It might therefore be newsworthy to report on a pest outbreak.
Other factors which influence what is reported include the speed at which a story can be written, how easy it is to verify and how dramatic or sensational it is. It is important for journalists to be aware of these factors and not let them compromise the accuracy or reliability of their work.
A newspaper article consists of an introduction, which is the headline, a main body and a byline. A headline should be short, catchy and informative. It should follow Associated Press style guidelines, unless the publication specifies otherwise. The byline should contain the writer’s name. A photo of the writer or a drawing which illustrates the article might also be included in the news report.
The main body of a news report is the core part of the story. The journalist should try to cover all the major points of the story without being boring or overstating a point. The byline should be placed at the top of the main body, and all the facts should be listed in order of importance. This allows the reader to decide which of the facts are most relevant and will be most interesting.
It is a good idea to keep abreast of what is going on around you in the world of news, by reading several different newspapers and listening to a variety of broadcasts, on both radio and TV. A balanced diet of the good and bad news will help you to maintain perspective on your life and the world in general. It is also a good idea to follow positive news sources such as the Good News Movement and Tank’s Good News. These can help to counterbalance the overwhelming amount of bad news in the media. You might also want to set up alerts for a number of local outlets and specialized blogs which focus on particular topics.