News is information about a situation that has changed or is happening. It is usually presented in a way that will be interesting or surprising to the audience. News can be on any topic, but is usually about people and events that affect them.
Local news is important to cover, as it is what will most interest your community. Try to find out about interesting things that have happened recently and make sure your article is as up to date as possible. Trending stories – things that are currently polarizing people or causing social upheaval.
Crime: any crime can make news, but more serious crimes are often of greater interest. Forgery, robbery and murder are all big stories. Money: fortunes made and lost, school fees and taxes, budget decisions, food prices, wage rises and compensation claims all make for interesting stories.
Nature and technology make news, especially when they have a big impact on people. Cyclones, droughts, bush fires and earthquakes all have an effect on us and are therefore newsworthy.
The job of the news media is to inform and educate their readers, listeners or viewers. But they can also entertain them, and this is done through music and drama programs on radio and TV, or through newspaper cartoons and crossword puzzles. It is important that teens understand the difference between entertaining and informative news and that they learn to separate the two. They will probably be exposed to a lot of biased media and influencers, so teaching them how to filter this can help them become more informed citizens.