News is information about current events that a journalist obtains, writes and then conveys to a readership in a timely manner. News articles cover a wide range of topics, including politics, wars, business, crime and natural disasters. They are important to societies because they inform citizens of the world around them and allow for democratic participation.
There are five criteria that are often used to judge whether a news story is worth reporting: impact, proximity, controversy, prominence and currency. For example, a coup in the next door country is a big news event but one that may not have much impact on readers, whereas a fire in a nearby home will be of interest to most people.
The writer of a news article should keep the intended audience in mind, as this will dictate the voice and tone of the piece. It is also important that the writer avoids imposing his or her opinion on the news and only provide factual information. It is a good idea to have the article read by someone else before submission, as they will be able to spot any spelling or grammatical errors that need to be corrected.
A good news story is unusual, interesting and significant. It should be something that would capture the attention of the average person in society, and preferably something that has not been covered in much detail before. Famous people make the news if they do things that go against accepted norms. Stories about health are newsworthy if they involve traditional remedies, medical research or hospitals. Stories about sex are interesting if they show behaviour that is not normally reported in the media.