News is information about events, people or things that are happening. It can be about current affairs, sports, politics, business or the environment. The content of news is largely determined by the media that decides what to cover and how. Its objectiveness is a myth and journalists are influenced by many factors when they make decisions about what to report and how. Journalists have to choose what to include and exclude, who is cited and whom to speak with, where to obtain data, how the story is presented and which photos to accompany it. There are different models of news making but in all cases the choices journalists make will affect the way the information is received by readers.

A news article must be interesting, informative and credible. It should also have a sense of urgency as readers will want to know the latest developments. Whether written for an online or print publication, a news article should be structured to grab attention and maintain it. To do this, it is helpful to have a clear idea of what the article will be about and who the target audience is.

The most compelling news stories have a human element. People are interested in what other people are doing and how they live their lives. This is why celebrity gossip is so popular. A celebrity who is involved in a scandal or is making headlines for a positive reason is likely to generate more interest than one who is simply doing their day-to-day activities.

Timeliness is another key factor in deciding what makes the news. It is important for large media sources to focus on current events because their audiences will want to read about what is going on right now. This is especially true for the news that has a global impact. For example, a coup in the country next door can have more significance to a larger audience than a similar event that occurs far away from home.

When writing a news article, the first paragraph should include what is known as the 5 Ws: who, what, when, where and why. It is also helpful to use quotes from people who are directly involved in the story. Including these details in the lead will help to attract attention and keep it until the end of the piece.

To make your news article more credible, it is a good idea to include some background information and explore the bigger picture. This can be done by using statistics, figures and facts. These will add credibility to your news article and will allow readers to make a more informed decision about the issue at hand. It is a good idea to check the authenticity of these facts, however, as not all sources are created equal. Always cite your sources correctly to avoid accusations of falsehood or misinformation. If you are unsure which facts are most important, ask someone who is knowledgeable about the subject to help you decide.