News is information about events, people and places that are of interest to a wide audience. It is generally delivered by a variety of media, including television, radio, newspapers and magazines. It is often updated, as new developments occur. News is also conveyed through social networks and other electronic means.
In the past, information was primarily transported through oral means. People would gather together to listen to speeches and rumours, or read printed material. Written news began to appear in the early modern period, with the development of printing and the invention of the press. This allowed news to be transmitted widely and quickly. The invention of radio, and later television, greatly increased the dissemination of news.
Today, news is broadcast around the world from a multitude of sources, some commercial and others state controlled. The internet has further expanded the availability and speed of news.
When writing a news article, it is important to know your audience. Depending on the topic, this may be obvious – for example, a story about a fire in a residential building will target homeowners. Other times the demographic will be more targeted based on the subject matter – for instance, a piece discussing zoning laws in a commercial area will target business owners.
Typical topics for news reports include war, politics, government, education, health, fashion, business, the environment and celebrity. Crimes (especially those of high profile) and disasters also make good news stories. Proclamations made by royalty, government, politicians and religious leaders are also dubbed news.
Some of the most interesting stories are those that are controversial or unusual. These can make great headlines and attract attention, but they are not always accurate. It is important to check facts and details before publishing an article, as this will help prevent the publication of false information.
Many industries and professions use jargon, which can act as a wall between those who understand the language and those who don’t. It is important to remember that news articles are aimed at the general public and not just colleagues, so that they must be able to be understood by non-specialists.
In order to be a newsworthy event, something must have happened that makes readers say “Gee Whiz!” It might be an unexpected discovery by scientists, such as an insect living on a plant it did not previously inhabit, or it could be a major political event. In either case, it must be presented clearly so that everyone can understand it, picturesquely so that they will appreciate it and, above all, accurately so that they can follow its guidance.
Often, news is defined by what is interesting rather than what is important. For example, while people might be interested in an insect eating a specific type of bush, they would not be interested in the fact that it is eating their food. However, if that same insect had destroyed their crops, it could become very serious news indeed.