News is information about current events that are relevant to an audience. Whether the information is a simple report on a local sporting event or an in-depth investigation of a political scandal, it must be presented accurately and concisely to attract readers’ attention and keep them engaged. In addition, it should be written in a way that inspires the audience to act or react in a positive manner. This can be accomplished through using a number of different approaches to news writing, including the Mirror Model, Organizational Model and the Bargaining Model.
When it comes to determining what constitutes news, everyone makes judgment calls at some point. What is important to one person may not be important to another, but in any case, it is up to the reader to decide what they want to read and what they do not.
A typical news story will begin with a few words that are exciting or surprising, in journalism jargon this is called the lede. After the lead, there is often a paragraph or two of background information. This can include a little history about the topic, what is happening now and why it matters.
Next comes the main part of the story, this is where you provide the five Ws (who, what, when, where and why). The best news stories are those that answer these questions with clarity. They also include any facts that are particularly significant or that will help the reader understand what is going on. Finally, the article should include a summary of the main points and if applicable any quotations from people involved in the story.
Generally speaking, the best source for a news story is an expert on the subject matter. However, if the expert is unavailable, secondary sources are acceptable. These sources can range from academics to everyday citizens who have a unique perspective on the topic being covered. Regardless of the type of source you choose, remember to disclose that you are a journalist and be sure to ask for quotes with clear attribution.
In addition to being informative, a well-written news story should be entertaining, especially for an online audience. This can be achieved by using appropriate verbiage and avoiding the use of excessive adjectives or hyperbole. For example, instead of saying “this equipment is used to study malaria,” say something like “this equipment is essential for researching malaria.” It is also a good idea to have a second set of eyes look over your work before it is published. This can help catch any grammar mistakes and typos that might be overlooked in a rush to get the story out. This can be done by a colleague or even by an automated editing program.