News is that part of communication that keeps us informed of the changing world outside. It can be interesting, exciting or even entertaining, but its foremost value is to empower the informed.
The definition of news is not universal, and the content of the news may vary from society to society. If a farmer’s wall collapsed killing a cow and a pig, then this would not be news in one society, while it could be considered a great event in another.
It is important that the story you write is about people. This is because the things that people do to change their world are the most newsworthy events in the world.
However, news can also come from non-human sources, such as a cyclone, a bush fire, a drought or an earthquake. These are not necessarily of interest to the general public, but may be of particular interest to specialists.
Identifying the News
Once you have gathered your facts and interview quotes, you need to decide what your point of view on the topic is. This will help you to organize your information and present it in a way that is concise, clear, and understandable.
Start the Article with a Lead
The first sentence in your article should be an attention-getter that clearly states the most important information about the story. In journalism jargon, this is called a lede. After your lead, follow it with a well-written story that contains the facts from your research and the quotes from your interviewees.