News is information about events in the world that is important or interesting. It can be broadcast on radio, television or in newspapers and magazines. It is also available on the internet and social media.
It is the responsibility of journalists to provide accurate and impartial information. However, it is also important that they do not skew the news by choosing only certain sides of an issue or by not allowing opposing viewpoints to be presented. The objective of news is to make people aware of the important issues that affect them and to help them understand what is going on in their world.
A lot of the time, news stories are about people because most things that happen in the world are caused by human beings. However, news can also be about non-human events such as a cyclone, bush fire, drought, volcanic eruption or earthquake. People’s reaction to these events makes them newsworthy.
In general, a good news story should start with a lead paragraph that focuses on the dominant point of the article. It should include the key elements of a news article – who, what, when, where and why. This should be followed by paragraphs that provide further details or put the event into a broader context. Finally, a conclusion paragraph should sum up the main points of the news story and provide any final details that are relevant.
The deciding factors that make something a news story are the same as for any other kind of writing: it must be new, interesting or significant to readers, and it must have some element of public interest. It is also important that the news does not contain any biased language or exaggerated claims.
While it is essential that people stay informed about what is happening in the world around them, over-exposure to the news can be harmful to their mental health. If they are constantly being exposed to negative, scary or upsetting news it may cause stress, anxiety, fatigue or even sleep loss. This will not help them to function well in society or serve their community.
Some governments and organisations try to control what their citizens hear about and see. However, the proliferation of the Internet has made it harder to stop the spread of news. This has helped to fuel a growth in citizen journalism and the ability for individuals to report on their local communities.
Increasingly, it is up to individuals to decide what news they want to consume. They can sign up to enewsletters that will deliver a tailored summary of the most important stories to their inbox. Or, if they prefer listening to news, there are plenty of podcasts and specialised websites to choose from such as The Guardian or BBC News. Finally, they can follow blogs or social media sites dedicated to reporting on current affairs. However they consume their news, it is essential that they make a conscious effort to stay up to date with what is happening in the world at all levels: international, governmental, regional and local.