News are events or stories about things that happen in the world around us. They can be reported in newspapers, magazines, radio and TV or on the Internet. News can be both serious and funny. News can help people understand the world in which they live and the actions of their government, employers or neighbours. It can also inform them about the weather, train timetables or new products.
Most of the information we read in newspapers and magazines, watch on TV or listen to on the radio is news. Events that are dramatic or that have clearly identifiable good and bad characters usually make news. For example, a robbery at a store makes news because it is a crime and because there are good and bad characters involved. The story also tells us about the consequences of the robbery.
The main characteristics of a News article are timeliness and relevance. Timeliness refers to the fact that News articles must be current, not historical. It does not do a newspaper any good to report on an event that happened 10 years ago, unless it is the anniversary of something significant.
Relevance refers to the fact that the readership of a News article must be interested in the topic. This is why it is important to know the audience for a News article: how many people are likely to read or watch it? What is the range of age and background of those who will read it? This helps you to decide what to include in your article.