News is the report of events that are new or of interest to readers, listeners or viewers. It is one of the main functions of a newspaper, magazine or radio station, along with providing entertainment and education.
Traditionally, the main factors in deciding what is newsworthy are: novelty; timeliness; relevance; significance and impact. However, it is important to remember that not everything that happens is newsworthy and that the way something is reported can also influence whether it becomes news.
It is also worth remembering that the role of news in society has changed since Galtung and Ruge published their original work. It is now not just journalists who are selecting and disseminating news, audiences are actively involved in the process as well (see Phillips 2012).
When writing a News article, it is important to consider the audience. What is the reader interested in and what will keep them reading? The information should be presented in a clear, concise and understandable manner. This is best achieved using the inverted pyramid format where the most important facts are placed at the top of the article and supporting information is then added below. The writer should avoid expressing their own opinions.
It is important to research the topic thoroughly. The information should be sourced from a range of sources and include quotes from those involved in the story where appropriate. It is also important to check for accuracy and consistency. The article should be free of errors such as typos and grammatical mistakes.