News is a form of communication that is used to convey information about current events, often in the form of text or graphics. This type of writing can be published on a variety of media, including newspapers, magazines, television and radio.
Generally speaking, news stories have characteristics that are understood by all audiences: timeliness, drama, consequence, proximity and narrative. These characteristics are based on the values that people hold about how and why they should receive their news, and they can help you create more effective articles for your audience.
Timeliness
The most important aspect of writing a news story is to keep the content brief and concise. If you try to write a lengthy story with too many words or tangents, it can be difficult for your readers to follow. Also, be sure to stick to the five Ws: who, what, where, when and why.
Proximity
When an event is close to a large number of people, it will likely make the news. This could be because of a natural disaster, such as a hurricane or earthquake; it could be because of a terrorist attack, such as an airplane crash; it could be because of a public dispute, such as a political election or a school shooting; it may also be because the event is affecting a large group of people or their livelihoods.
Consequence
The main purpose of a news story is to inform the reader about a recent event, especially one that is causing a lot of attention. This can be in the form of a news report, an opinion piece or a feature article.
It is common for news reports to be very short and to only include the most important facts. This is because a news report often gets reported right after an event takes place and it is usually very fast-paced.
Drama
Usually, the most dramatic news is also the most likely to be covered. This is because news organizations want to sell their news by making it as exciting and interesting as possible.
This is done by using anecdotes, interviews and quotes to create a dynamic, compelling story that is entertaining and informative for the readers. This helps to draw in and engage the reader’s attention, so they will read the entire article.
Narrative
The most engaging news is usually the most dramatic, so it’s important to keep your storytelling in a story format that is entertaining and engaging for your readers. This could be in the form of an opinion piece, a report on a recent event, or a feature article about a topic.
In addition to these features, the most effective news articles will often include quotes from sources that are credible and reliable. This will not only help to establish your credibility as a writer, but will also allow you to provide additional information about the topic or people involved in the story.