News is a means of communication about current events. It can be presented in many ways: through newspapers, magazines, radio and television, as well as online news sites. The main aim of news is to inform and educate its readers, listeners or viewers. It can also provide entertainment. This can be in the form of music or drama programs on radio or crossword puzzles in a newspaper.
The definition of news varies from one society to another, but there are some basic elements which all news should contain. It should be new, unusual, interesting and significant. Events that happen in the distant past or that are not of great importance are usually not newsworthy. For example, a man waking up and going to work on the bus does not make very interesting news. But if the bus is involved in a serious accident, that would be newsworthy.
There are a number of models which describe what makes news, such as the Mirror Model which states that news should reflect reality and be impartial. There is also the Political Model which states that news is a reflection of political pressures. Finally, there is the Professional Model which says that skilled peoples put events together for a particular audience and that this influences what the news is about.
The main reason that something is newsworthy is whether or not it affects the life of its audience. For example, a flood in the Netherlands does not affect most people, but if it is causing problems for people living in Amsterdam, then that becomes a news story. Similarly, an atomic bomb dropped on Japan has a very big impact on the lives of its audience, so that is a news story.
News stories should be informative and interesting to the reader, but they should not be overly technical or boring. This is why it is important to make sure that a news report contains only the information which is necessary. Too much detail can confuse the reader and make him or her lose interest in the article. Moreover, the use of too many technical terms can seem pretentious and may detract from the credibility of the news item.
The best source of news is primary sources, which are interviews with those directly involved in the story. For example, a reporter might interview a firefighter who saved a cat from a burning building. Secondary sources include information from other news outlets and from other individuals who have knowledge about the topic.
Having written the main body of a news story, it is important to proofread it carefully to make sure that the writing matches the tone and style of the publication it is intended for. In addition, the writer should check that all the facts are correct. It is also important to cite any sources used, so that credit can be given where it is due. This will help to prevent plagiarism. Once the final version of the news story is ready, it should be submitted through workflow.