News is the report of a current event, usually given through a variety of media. These can include word of mouth, printing, postal systems, broadcasting, and electronic communication, or through the testimony of witnesses.
Objectivity, fairness and credibility are the three qualities of good news. This means that journalists cross check their stories before they are published, and ensure that they are not influenced by personal or political bias.
Topicality, relevance and impact are factors that affect the selection of stories. These criteria can be contested by a range of factors including, for example, the availability of resources, the work environment, and the influence of external influences such as the news organisation’s own agenda (whether ideological or commercial).
Exclusivity, surprise and audio-visuals are also factors that contribute to the value of news. These include, for example, stories that have arresting photographs, video or audio, or which can be illustrated with infographics and shared via social media.
Conflict, controversies and arguments are other factors that can contribute to the value of news. These include, again for example, stories that involve riots, protests, strikes, fights and insurrections, as well as those that concern war and politics.
Storyline, quotations and quoting sources are also important aspects of news writing. Quoting sources helps your readers to understand the events and people you are discussing more fully.
Ultimately, it is up to the journalist to decide which facts are most important for the audience, and which ones to omit. Generally speaking, news articles and stories are geared toward a specific demographic; this is often determined based on location.