News is any information that has happened, is happening or will happen in the near future. It is important to keep the public up to date with any relevant news and events that may affect them in a positive or negative way. News can be anything from a murder, robbery or car crash to a new product launch, political scandal or natural disaster.

Traditionally, people have passed on new information to others by word of mouth but technological advances have greatly reduced the time it takes for news to be circulated. Newspapers, radio, television and the internet now provide the opportunity to broadcast news worldwide instantaneously. This has also led to an increase in citizen journalists who are able to report on events as they unfold.

The main criteria for a news story is that it must be new, unusual, interesting and significant. However, the same event occurring in two different countries can have quite different news values. For example, a coup d’etat in your own country would be big news but not so much if it took place in the neighbouring country.

It is important to use facts in a news article, not personal opinions. Therefore, it is best to avoid using first person pronouns such as ‘I’ or ‘you’ and instead stick with third person pronouns like ‘he’,’she’ or ‘it’. Also, it is important to cite where you obtained your information as this will help build credibility.

Another important element of a news article is the headline. It must be catchy, emotion evoking or simply enticing to make the reader want to read on. A good headline will often create curiosity and intrigue, as well as a sense of urgency. The inverted pyramid structure of a news article is usually used; that means the most important information is at the top of the article, with less important details added as the reader goes down the page.

The use and gratification theory of news suggests that audiences choose their news sources to meet their needs, including social connection, entertainment/diversion, evoking emotions, surveillance and the desire for self-actualisation. In addition, the use of news can also help satisfy a sense of identity and community by allowing audiences to be informed on what is going on around them.

Generally, the most popular types of news are live, local, immediate and impactful. A recent study showed that audiences prefer live news as it provides them with a sense of control over their own lives by making them feel they are in the know. This is especially true when it comes to local news as it enables audiences to maintain a sense of connection and belonging with their community.

The most commonly reported topics in news are war, crime, weather, politics and economics, health, education and sport. Other common topics include celebrity, religion and business. News also covers cultural events such as art, music, theatre and cinema. Stories about food and drink, such as the price of bread or a new brewery, are of interest, as are the fortunes made and lost in the stock market.