News is information about events that happen and that affect people. It is reported on by journalists in newspapers, magazines and online. It is usually about current affairs, but can also be about sport, fashion or entertainment. It can be good or bad news, and is often reported with some bias. News articles are written for a specific audience and need to be clear and accurate.
There are several theories about what makes news, but the most important factor is who it affects. The effect may be a direct result of the news itself, or it could be caused by the way it is presented, for example, whether or not it contains an element of shock value. People are interested in news about themselves, their family and their friends. They are also interested in stories about people who have been affected by crime or disasters. They want to know what their local government is doing and how it will affect them.
A good news article will contain all the important facts, including where and when the event happened, who was involved and why it is newsworthy. It will include quotes from the people involved and, if possible, provide photographs of the scene. It will also include a byline, which is the name of the person who wrote the article. This is important because, although it is not the writer’s job to express an opinion, readers will expect the writer to have some sort of informed view about the news.
Traditionally, most news has been passed down from generation to generation orally and written down on paper. This process was accelerated by the invention of printing and the development of radio, television and the internet. This increased the speed at which news was transmitted and influenced what it was about.
News is an essential part of any society and it has been a vital tool in the evolution of democracy. It provides citizens with a means of holding their governments accountable and allows them to participate in public debate. However, the nature of what is deemed newsworthy differs between societies. This is because there are cultural differences in what makes people happy or sad, and this has an impact on the kind of news that will be selected.
A lot of what is considered to be newsworthy is related to people, for example, the weather, their finances or their personal achievements. Other things that make news are natural disasters, war, famine or political crises. It is important to remember that, even if something happens far away from us, it could have an impact on our lives. It is also important to understand that news is not objective, and that everyone has conscious or unconscious biases about what they consider to be newsworthy. Having this awareness can help us to distinguish between factual news and propaganda. It can also help us to be critical of the media, and to think for ourselves about what is really happening in the world.