News is information about an event or happening, gathered and published by journalists for their audiences. It can be delivered in a variety of ways, such as through newspapers and radio or television. It can also be shared through social media or other online outlets. The purpose of news is to inform and educate, rather than to entertain. However, some journalists strive to make the stories they write entertaining and amusing as well.
There are a number of models for what makes a good news story. One approach is the timeliness model, which considers how recently the event took place. The more recent the event, the more likely it is to be newsworthy. Another factor is the magnitude of the event, which can be measured in terms of the impact it has or the number of people involved. Finally, the relevance of the event to the audience can be considered, as it can affect them directly.
A good news story is a combination of all of these factors. For example, a crime story will be interesting if it is a high profile or unusual crime. It will also be more interesting if it has an element of conflict or shock. Other criteria include whether the news is local, significant or involves a celebrity.
The most important thing to remember when deciding what to share is to strike a balance between the need for accuracy and the need to be informative. Too much inaccurate or sensational news can lead to stress, fatigue and sleep loss, which can be very detrimental to your health. You should also be careful about sharing news articles that are likely to elicit a strong reaction from your audience, as this can lead to polarization and social conflict.
It’s also important to keep in mind that, with the rise of 24-hour news stations and social media, people are exposed to a lot more information than they used to be. Because of this, they often tune out news stories that are long or repetitive. Keep this in mind when drafting a news article, and aim for concise writing with clear sentences and paragraphs. Also, keep in mind the inverted pyramid format, where you place the most critical information at the top of the article and then follow up with supporting information.
Lastly, try to find outlets that offer explanatory journalism instead of pure breaking news. These types of articles tend to take a step back and carefully explain all sides of an issue, which will give them more nuance, context and accuracy than simple reactions to events. Examples of this include VOX, Refinery29, The Skimm and Flare’s Explainer series.