News is information about current events that affects a broad audience. It may be published in newspapers, magazines, radio or television. It can also be distributed on the Internet. The main goal of news is to educate and entertain. Entertainment can be provided in many ways, including music and drama programs on the radio; cartoons, crossword puzzles and horoscopes in newspapers and magazines; or sports, fashion and other entertainment on television. In addition, there is often political commentary and opinion in the form of editorials or letters to the editor.

A story can be considered newsworthy if it is new, unusual, interesting, significant or about people. It must also be accessible and relevant to the reader. News values vary considerably, from a coup d’etat in a distant country to the discovery of a new insect that can eat bush grass or rice. It is difficult to determine what does and doesn’t constitute news, but some criteria have been suggested. These include:

The first step in writing a news article is to find out the facts. This involves researching the topic extensively. Interviews are usually a key part of this research. It is important to get quotes from the people involved in an event as well as those who are knowledgeable about it. It is also important to avoid introducing the writer’s own opinions into an article. This is called objectivity and is an essential aspect of good journalism.

Once the journalist has gathered all the facts they need to write their news article. They should start with a lead, which is a short, intriguing statement about the subject of the article. Then they should include the most important details of the story – the what, when, where and who. They should also include some background information – how and why the subject matter became newsworthy.

The next step is to decide what angle the article should take on the subject matter. This can be done by asking the person who commissioned the article what they want to be read about. It is also possible to choose a subject yourself, for example by observing the world around you and seeing what is happening that you think could be newsworthy.