News is information that is relevant to the general public and should be reported. News articles and papers should be written in a way that is easily understood by the average reader. They should also be accurate and include sources in a works cited page.
What makes a story newsworthy is largely subjective, and it is up to journalists to dictate what events are considered important enough for them to report. Some of the factors that are used to determine newsworthiness include:
The first factor is proximity; it is often considered newsworthy if an event is close in time or place to its audience. For example, if a murder happens in a neighbouring town it is more likely to be reported than a murder that occurs in a distant city.
Another factor is if an event is unusual, interesting or significant. It is not unusual for the deaths of famous people to make the news, but it is often less newsworthy if someone famous loses their money or suffers an accident. Unusual weather is also often a newsworthy subject, especially when it affects travel or farming.
Whether the article is to be published in print or online, it should start with a catchy headline that sums up the main point of the story. Then there should be the lead, which is usually a short paragraph that includes the five Ws: who, what, when, where and why. It is important to write the lead well to attract attention and hold it, because it can make or break a news story.