News is a report of current events, often written for mass consumption in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. Its purpose is to inform and educate, not entertain. The latter role is better served by other media – music and drama programs on radio, cartoons in newspapers and crosswords on TV. However, that doesn’t mean that news should be boring. In fact, the best news articles are often those which have an element of humour.

The most important thing about writing news is deciding what information to include. This is based on what you think will interest your audience, but it also takes into account what other media is covering the same story. You want to avoid overlapping and duplicating coverage. For example, if a newspaper has already covered a story that you are writing about, try to find a new angle or spin on the original piece.

A good news article begins with a compelling headline that grabs attention. This may be a question, an emotion, or something else that will make the reader curious about what is to follow. The headline should also give a general overview of what is to come in the news item.

While any crime can be newsworthy, more serious crimes – burglary, robbery, murder, forgery or fraud – are likely to attract greater reader interest. In addition, any type of criminal activity that is unique or unusual can be of particular interest to readers.

Money matters are also a frequent focus of news stories. Fortunes made and lost, the state of the economy, food prices, school fees, taxes, wage rises or compensation claims are all potential topics for news stories. It is not always large sums of money that are newsworthy, however – the little girl who donates only ten cents to a fund-raising appeal can still be more interesting than the businessman who gives millions.

Many people have both conscious and unconscious biases which influence what they choose to read, watch or listen to. This can affect how comprehensive or neutral a news story is. In the United States, for example, most newspapers and broadcast news programmes are expected to be neutral and not to provide biased opinions or commentaries.

A good way to test the impartiality of a news source is to ask people you respect where they get their information. You can also try looking at the website of a newspaper or news app you use regularly and see how they present their news. It’s also a good idea to ask friends and colleagues where they get their information from – it can give you an indication of what you might be missing!