News is a written account of current events or noteworthy information. It can be a simple recap of a recent local function, a breaking news story or an in-depth report on the background to an event. News articles are usually written to appeal to a particular demographic. This may be obvious based on the location of a publication or can be more subtle – for example, an article about the latest scientific breakthrough will be more geared toward scientists than those in the general public. Similarly, an article about the zoning laws in a commercial area will be most suited for realtors and business owners.
The main purpose of News is to inform and educate your audience. Although it is possible to write news that is entertaining, this should be secondary to the more important role of informing and educating. There are many ways to do this, including using quotations from people who are close to or affected by the topic of the article. This can add credibility and support to your writing.
While it is important to remember that a good news article should not be biased, there are always personal opinions and prejudices involved in the decision of what makes newsworthy. The most successful journalists are those who recognise this and use their knowledge of the market to guide them as they write, rather than allowing these prejudices to control the content of the article. It is also important to avoid the overuse of adjectives, especially those that suggest a positive or negative sentiment.