A news article is a piece of current information that informs the reader about a particular topic. It usually contains all the important facts about the topic, including how, when and where it occurred and who was involved. It can also contain quotes from people who were directly involved or affected by the event. The purpose of a news article is to give readers all the information they need to make up their own opinion about the subject. It is a good idea to avoid using any bias or opinions in a news article, as this can confuse the reader and reduce the effectiveness of the piece.
The content of a news story can vary widely, depending on the interests and values of the publisher. The choice of what to publish may be guided by market research, or it might be based on the writer’s own prejudices or beliefs. For example, a newspaper might have a policy of not publishing stories about certain groups of people unless there is evidence of their being treated unfairly.
Many things happen every day, but they do not all make the news. The occurrence of a new event must be unusual, significant or interesting in order to qualify as news. For example, if a man wakes up, goes to work and takes the bus, this does not make the news; but if a plane crashes into the White House and the President is killed, then this is definitely newsworthy.
Other factors which can affect the newsworthiness of an event include its proximity and how familiar it is to a reader. For example, a story about a celebrity who is in hospital for an illness will probably be more newsworthy than one about a politician being elected to office. It is also helpful if the writer can get the reaction of someone directly affected by the event, as this will enhance the interest and impact of the article.
The most effective way of achieving this is by interviewing the person concerned and letting them speak for themselves. However, this is not always possible, and a good alternative is to use a quote from their public statement, which will at least give the reader an impression of the person’s feelings about the situation.
A good news article will provide all the relevant information about a topic, and it should conclude with a restatement of the lead statement. It is also often useful to provide the reader with some prediction of future developments if this is appropriate, as this will help to keep the article alive and interesting for as long as possible. Lastly, the author of a news article should never be afraid to express their own opinions about the topic they are writing about, but it is essential that they present the information in an objective and impartial manner. This is especially true when they are presenting an opinion which contradicts the views of their peers.