How to Write a News Article

News

A News article is an account of a current, interesting or significant event or development. It is generally written in the third person and often focuses on an individual or organization involved in the event being reported. When writing a News article it is important to know who your audience is; this will dictate the voice and tone of the piece as well as what information you should include. It is also important to fact check your article carefully; a single error can ruin the credibility of an entire piece.

To begin with, you need to select an event or development that is newsworthy. This is often done by analyzing what is currently being discussed in the media, or by asking yourself “what would be interesting to my readers?”

Once you have decided on your topic, it is important to research your subject thoroughly. When you have a firm grasp on the facts of your story it is time to start writing. It is crucial to remember that a good News article will answer all of the Five Ws: who, what, when, where and why. In order to do this it is important to provide as much information as possible in the first paragraph. This will help to grab the reader’s attention and hold it until the end of the article.

The next step is to write the headline and lead. It is important to use the Associated Press style guidelines for the headline, unless your publication specifies otherwise. It is also important to place a byline at the top of your article. This will let your readers know who wrote the article and will allow them to contact you if they have any questions or comments.

When writing a News article it is also important to use the active voice and short sentences. This will make the article more readable and concise. It is also helpful to use a professional tone when writing a News article, as this will give the reader a sense of authority and trust. In order to do this it is a good idea to read other News articles or watch news stations and shows to get a feel for how the pros do it.

It is important to keep in mind that News is meant to inform and educate your audience, not to entertain them. Entertainment should come from other areas, such as music and drama programs on the radio or cartoons and crosswords in newspapers. It is also a good idea to try and add an element of humour to your News articles, as this can be quite entertaining.

It is also important to keep in mind that a good News article should be as up to date as possible. It does not do your audience any justice to report on events that have already happened. This can be especially true for online News articles, as people will likely move on to other stories if they see that you have covered an old story.