Writing news focused content is an easy way to share information with your audience. There are many different types of news stories, but the one thing they all have in common is that they should be factual and interesting. News articles should avoid the author’s personal opinion, as this can detract from the reader’s perception of the story. Instead, let the subjects of the story do the talking for you by including quotes from them directly in your piece.
In the past, news was transmitted from place to place by word of mouth, but now it is available instantly on television, radio and mobile phones. It is the speed at which information travels that has led to news becoming more of a real-time event. It is possible for current events to be viewed worldwide within hours of them taking place, and this can influence what makes the news.
It is important to note that not all news events are equal and what is considered a big story may be different from one society to another. For example, a wall collapsing and killing a cow or a pig will be of interest to farmers but less so to others. In order for an event to be deemed newsworthy it has to be significant or unusual. The impact it has on people will also affect whether it is newsworthy, with effects such as terrorism and disasters being given greater importance than everyday activities such as a person going to work or having a meal.
There are certain things that have always been considered newsworthy, such as government proclamations, royal ceremonies, laws, taxes and public health issues. Events which are related to war and peace, sports, fashion, entertainment and food are also newsworthy and these are the kind of stories that will get people talking and sharing them online.
The key to writing good news stories is to think about your audience and what interests them. People will connect better with a story that is relevant to them and this has been a long-standing belief in the media industry. For example, if a farmer says that an insect that has never been seen before has been found eating their crops then it will be newsworthy because it will have a direct impact on their lives. The same goes for people in high positions, if an archbishop says that the Roman Catholic Church should ordain women priests then this will be seen as a significant change and therefore worthy of being reported.
The first part of a news article is the headline, it must be catchy and interesting to attract attention. The main news article then follows, usually written from bottom to top with the most important information at the top of the page and each paragraph giving less and less details. This allows the reader to read the story at their own pace and it also prevents them from being distracted by other headlines on other websites.