News is information about something that has happened recently. It can be about events, politics or people. It also includes opinions and features. News can be published in newspapers, magazines or on television or radio. It can also be found online. The information in a news story must be true and can be verified. It should also be interesting and informative. A good piece of news will be brief so that it is read, clear and picturesque so that people remember it, and above all accurate so that it guides us.
It is often argued that the purpose of journalism is to teach and illuminate; but it can only do that to the extent that people are determined to use it for those purposes. If the instrument of journalism is misused it can become propaganda and may not be useful in the furtherance of truth or understanding. This is particularly true when the press is subject to government pressures.
The nature of the news varies from society to society. In some societies the behaviour of animals and plants may be newsworthy, but in others this is not the case. In general, though, news is a record of what people do or say; it is only the unusual that makes the headlines.
It can be difficult to write a news article that is both factual and interesting. In addition, the content needs to be concise, or readers will lose interest. It is important to know your audience and what kind of news they are interested in, so you can tailor the article to them. In addition, it is essential to check the facts thoroughly before submitting it for publication. This will ensure that it is free from errors, such as misspellings or grammatical mistakes.
When writing a news article, it is best to begin with the most exciting information first. This is called a lede in journalism jargon and it will draw the reader in. Once the reader has been hooked, they will be more inclined to keep reading.
Finally, it is important to cite the sources of your information in a news story. This can be done by using direct quotes or paraphrasing. It is also a good idea to include a link to the source of the information in the article.
Many people get their news from TV or radio, although the internet is now a popular way to find out about events. There are also websites that offer a variety of different types of news, from breaking stories to modern perspectives on historical events. However, some of these sources may be misleading or biased, so it is important to choose carefully.