News is current information about events that is communicated in a timely manner. It can be delivered through many channels including social media, radio, television and newspapers. News can include topics ranging from politics, economics, sports and even weather. The main purpose of a news story is to inform and entertain the audience.
The most important aspect of a news article is the headline. The headline must catch the reader’s attention by being emotional or interesting and make them want to read further. The next aspect is the body of the story. The body should have all the relevant facts and be written in a formal tone. It should also not contain the writer’s opinions. Lastly, it is important to include relevant and interesting quotes from people involved in the topic.
As a journalist, it is your job to find out the most important facts about the topic and put them at the top of the article. This is called the inverted pyramid format. This way the most important details are seen first, and the reader will continue to read because they want to know more.
In one study, participants were interviewed about their perceptions of news and how it satisfies certain needs. Their responses aligned with the uses and gratifications theory as they explained that they choose the information they consume to meet their needs for surveillance, entertainment/diversion, ego enhancement, maintaining and building their personal identities, evoking emotions, and keeping up with friends and family.