News is current and interesting events about people, places and things. It has always been a crucial part of society, and now with the advent of social media, news can be spread worldwide in seconds. News can be a source of knowledge, entertainment, and leisure, and serves a vital purpose in fostering public debate, informing citizens, and holding those in power accountable.
The classic definition of News is that it should be new, unusual, interesting and significant. However, what is newsworthy differs from culture to culture. A man waking up, eating breakfast and taking the bus to work is not newsworthy in a country where dogs are eaten (although that might be a worthy subject for an article in itself!). Coups and other political events are certainly newsworthy, but a coup in a neighbouring country will be more important than one in your own nation.
When writing a News article, it is very important to know your audience. This will dictate the tone and voice of the article. It will also help you decide how much information to include, and whether or not it is appropriate to share your own opinion. A good way to avoid jarring your readership is to stick to the facts. Wherever possible, interview sources and use their words to make the point.
It is also important to keep paragraphs short, especially when writing online. The goal is to get the most important information above the fold, where readers can see it without scrolling down.