News is an item of current interest, often a report on a particular event or development. It has been defined as something that “catches the public fancy, is new and interesting, and provides a first rough draft of history.”
In order for a story to be deemed newsworthy it must have a number of qualities: it should be unusual, interesting, significant, or of public importance. It should also be a subject that people care about, and one which is likely to generate controversy or emotion. It should be documented, preferably using primary sources, so that it is possible for others to verify the facts of the story.
It is also important for a piece of news to be interesting and to have a strong visual element. This is because the human brain processes information in pictures more than words, so a photo of a breaking news story can help readers understand and absorb the details of the event. This is why images are used so frequently in the media.
Another key aspect of a news article is the way in which it is written. It is important for the writer to keep their audience in mind, as this will dictate the voice and tone of the article. It is also important to use the inverted pyramid structure when writing a news story, as this will ensure that all of the most important information is at the top of the article. This will encourage readers to continue reading, rather than tuning out halfway through the article.
Lastly, a good news story should be well-written and concise. Having too much information can cause the reader to become confused or bored, so it is important that the story contains only the essential details. A well-written news article will also contain a clear timeline of events so that the reader has a complete picture of what happened.
It is also important to note that there are a number of different theories on what makes a story newsworthy. These theories include the Mirror Model which states that a story should reflect reality, and the Political Model which focuses on political pressures and lobbying. Other theories of what makes a news story are the Entertainment Model, which focuses on celebrity gossip, sex and showbusiness; the Science Model, which focuses on research; and the Social Model which focuses on issues that affect society as a whole. All of these models have their merits and are worth considering when analyzing the news.
