News is information about a recent event, often in the form of an article in a newspaper or on the radio. It is usually presented as a factual account of an event, but can also have a personal or subjective angle. News is a very important source of information about the world in which we live. It can tell us about political events and the people who are involved in them. It can also inform us about economic trends and developments. It can also be a vehicle for advertising and promotion.
The classic definition of news is that it should be new, unusual, interesting and significant. This is a difficult definition to apply, though, since what is newsworthy will vary from society to society. For example, in a society where dogs are eaten, the fact that a man bites one will not be newsworthy; but in a society where they are not (or only rarely) eaten, this will be.
Traditionally, hard news has been the focus of the media. This includes political events, wars, crime, business and natural disasters. It is usually placed on the front page of a newspaper or at the top of a news broadcast. Soft news, or feature, is more human-focussed and can include articles about art, music, theatre, cinema and sport. It can also cover lifestyles, food and fashion.
A well-written news article will explain who, what, when and where, with the most important information at the start. This is known as ‘above the fold’ in newspapers and ‘below the fold’ on the internet, meaning that the most important information is visible without having to scroll down the page or screen.