News is a report on current events like legislative changes, politics, local announcements, weather and scientific research. It can also cover entertainment, fashion, sports and the arts. News articles vary in scope depending on where they are published, but all must remain understandable for a wide audience and convey information clearly and concisely.

News reaches readers by radio, television, newspapers and the Internet. Websites that feature aggregation of multiple sources are called ‘news aggregators,’ and can include Google news, Yahoo news and Newser. A news source might be a newspaper or magazine, or it may be an individual person who has a significant insight into the story. The news article might focus on a particular aspect of the topic and present an array of perspectives, from the general public to experts in the field.

A good news article will begin with a captivating hook to grab the reader’s attention. This might be a dramatic anecdote or a surprising fact. It should then quickly place the news in context by describing what the event means for readers, why it’s important and how it compares to other similar incidents. This part of the article is known as the “nut graph.”

Timeliness: Whether the information is about an event that happened recently or one that took place long ago, timeliness is often a driving factor in people’s interest in a story. This is why large media sources often highlight current events; the newness of a development makes it more likely to capture the audience’s attention.

Importance: People are interested in stories that are perceived to be relevant to their lives or society. For example, if an insect is threatening crops, it becomes important to the farmers and worthy of news coverage. Similarly, if a prominent person loses their fortune or is accused of wrongdoing, it is newsworthy.

Magnitude: Stories about large numbers of people or events are interesting to the audience because they tend to be more measurable than smaller, more localized events. This is why big sporting events, wars and natural disasters often make headlines.

Authenticity: People are also interested in news stories that appear authentic and credible. This is why many readers will only trust news outlets that use a professional, journalistic style, rather than opinion blogs or social media posts.

To keep up with news in a variety of formats, try signing up for enewsletters or podcasts that provide a tailored overview of the day’s most important developments. If you’re more visual, check out a video news show such as Vice or The Skimm, or follow outlets that offer explainer articles (Vice, Vox and Flare are some examples). Finally, consider getting your news from multiple sources to ensure that it is accurate and has all sides of the story. This way, you’ll avoid clogging your news feed with false or misleading information.