News is a summary of recent events, current affairs and developments that are relevant to an audience. This includes everything from breaking world and local events to celebrity gossip. It can be delivered via television, radio, the internet, or in print, and often includes a mix of these sources. News can be factual, opinionated or both, and it should always be sourced accurately. News articles often include quotes from experts in the field and other sources, with their names clearly attributed.
The classic definition of news is that it should be new, unusual, interesting, significant and about people. However, this definition is not universal. A man biting a dog will not be news in society where dogs are eaten, for example, but it will be in societies where that is not the case. The content of news will vary from society to society, too. For example, a coup d’etat in the next door country will be important to readers everywhere but may be less newsworthy in the home country where it occurs.
While the traditional news media is still an important source of news, more and more people are receiving their information from a wide range of sources online and on their mobile devices. In addition, many traditional news outlets are partnering with independent journalists and bloggers to create their own unique content. The boundaries between for-profit, public and non-profit media are blurring.
If you want to write a good news article, it is important to know your audience. This will help you decide what kind of information is most relevant to them and how to present it in the most compelling way. For instance, a story about a new technology will appeal to a different demographic than a story about a natural disaster.
You should also think about how you will structure your article. Consider the inverted pyramid model: start with the most important information, then add more detail as you go. This will ensure that even if your readers only read the headline or the first paragraph, they will have a good understanding of what is happening.
It is also important to note that every journalist and news outlet has biases, whether conscious or unconscious. This can affect what stories they choose to cover, how those stories are presented and how comprehensive the coverage is. This is why it is important to research the background of a news organization or individual reporter before consuming their work. This will give you a better sense of what to expect and how to evaluate the quality of their writing. It is also helpful to keep in mind that most publications are geared toward a specific demographic. This is especially true of the mass-appeal newspapers and television shows. For example, if a newspaper covers Kansas City, it will be targeted to residents of that community.