News is information about events in the world or in a community that are significant and worth sharing. It can include news about people, places and things — such as weather, war, disease, scandal, or economic developments. It can also include events that are important to a specific group, such as the birth or death of someone famous or the results of a sporting event.
News can be serious or trivial, but it should always be accurate. It should also be interesting. People are more interested in information that relates to their lives, teaches something new, incorporates violence or scandal, or is local. People are also more interested in information that comes from people they consider authoritative. They may not agree with that information, but they respect the fact that it came from someone who is recognized as having knowledge about a subject.
One way to judge the strength of a news story is by asking “who, what, when, where and why?” — the answers to these questions should be clear and concise. A good news article starts with an attention-grabbing anecdote or surprising fact, then tells the reader what happened and why it’s significant. This section is called the lede or lead.
Most people believe that the purpose of the news media — newspapers, magazines and radio — is to inform and educate their readers, listeners and viewers. Some people believe that it is also important to entertain, but entertainment should come from other sources — music and drama on television or in theatre and cinema, cartoons and crossword puzzles in newspapers and magazines.