News is something which happens in the world and is worth telling. It may be something unusual, exciting or entertaining. It is often a mixture of all three and can be seen in the news items on television, radio and in newspapers and magazines.
People like to read about famous people, their lives and activities; they also like scandal. Events which are not of general interest tend to be ignored, for example an insect living on a plant which it has never lived on before is unlikely to make the front page of a newspaper. People are interested in health and food; stories about traditional remedies, medical research, hospitals, doctors and diets are of interest to most readers. The weather is of great interest to all and the way it behaves, especially in extreme conditions, is newsworthy. Crime, whether road traffic offences, burglaries or murders is newsworthy, as are claims for compensation or lottery wins. People are also interested in money; fortunes made and lost, school fees, tax bills, interest rates, the Budget and compensation pay-outs all qualify as news.
The way a story is presented and the order in which it appears also makes a difference to its newsworthiness. It is important to know your audience. Asking the “5 W’s” – Who are you writing for, where are they located, what is their age, what do they want to hear about and why – will help you decide how to present the news.