News is information about current events that affect or have affected a community. This includes things such as war, government, politics, education, health and the environment as well as sports and entertainment. In addition, news can also be an update on a company’s operations. Whether it’s a fire or a corporate merger, the best news articles are those that tell a story and capture the reader’s interest.
A good news article will highlight all of the main facts in a timely manner. This will allow readers to stay informed without being overwhelmed by information. It will also keep the story short enough that they can read it in one sitting. Finally, it will be interesting enough that they will want to share it with others.
Many theories about what makes a story newsworthy have been advanced over the years. Some of the most popular include:
Magnitude – a story’s perceived significance, either in terms of number of people involved or potential impact. Exceptionality – a story that is particularly noteworthy, unusual or surprising.
Relevance – a story’s perceived relevance to the audience, either in terms of its impact on them or its effect on a specific group or nation.
As the internet has expanded, so too have the ways in which we receive news. While it’s still possible for governments to shut down radio and television stations, it has become much more difficult to stop the flow of information on the web. This, in turn, has given rise to the citizen journalist, who can report on a situation without the risk of being arrested or having their equipment confiscated.