News is any item of information that relates to current events. It is published to keep people informed about what is going on in their community, country or the world. It has been a popular means of transporting information since ancient times, and it is now available in various media formats including television, radio, newspapers and the Internet.
Historically, news was conveyed by word of mouth but modern communications technologies have facilitated the rapid spread of news items. The news is reported by journalists and often written in a style that is attractive to readers. The journalist may be guided by a set of ethical guidelines or by market research. The journalist should always strive to be accurate and truthful in reporting the news.
A news article typically starts with the headline which is a brief, catchy, and informative description of the story. The headline should be written following Associated Press (AP) style guidelines unless the publication specifies something else. It should also include the writer’s byline – their name – and be punctuated according to the AP format.
The news article should then list the main facts of the story – who, what, where, when and why. The writer should also include any additional information that will help the reader understand the news story such as quotes from sources, background information, scholarly articles, and so on. The writer should also check the facts of their news story against reputable fact checking sites such as AllSides or PolitiFact.
