News is a way to keep up with what’s happening in the world. It is more than just a list of facts – it’s a way to inform and engage with the public. It draws from culturally-shared values, has a motive to sell, and is often simplified to make it more dramatic and interesting.

Writing a good news article requires research, an understanding of audience, and a solid plan to present the story. The first step is to identify your audience and what your goal is for the article. Then, you can write your lead which will tell the reader what the article is about. This leads into the body of the article where you will give all of the details about what happened, who was involved, and why it’s important.

While many people believe that most of the time, newspapers and television only report the truth, this is not necessarily true. In fact, most of what makes the news is determined by the gatekeepers in media who decide what stories are considered “newsworthy.” This process, while largely subjective, is not totally arbitrary. There are a set of basic characteristics that most people, even those outside the media business, understand as newsworthy. These are timeliness, drama, consequence, proximity, and narrative.