News is information about current events that is reported by a variety of media outlets. This includes newspapers, magazines, radio, television and the Internet. It is used to inform and educate people about the world around them, as well as provide entertainment.

In the past, most news was transmitted through print media – in newspapers, magazines and on the radio. Today, however, the majority of news is broadcast on television and the Internet. Many newspapers also have websites where people can read the latest edition online.

There are a number of factors that determine whether something is newsworthy. Some of the most important include impact, proximity and controversy. Impact refers to how much the event affects the lives of those involved. Proximity refers to how close to home the story is, while controversy involves how much disagreement or conflict there is about the event.

It is also important to consider the intended audience of a news article. This is because most news stories are geared toward a particular demographic. For example, if you are writing about a fire in a local area, your audience will probably be mostly residents of that community.

Once you have determined who your audience is, you must find out what type of information they want or need to know. You can do this by asking them or conducting a survey. The information you gather can then be used to develop a news story. Once the story is written, it should be proofread to ensure that it is factual and unbiased.

When writing a news article, it is important not to insert your own opinion into the piece. This can lead to bias and misinformation, which is not good for the reader. Instead, try to let the subjects of the news speak for themselves. For example, if you are covering a fire in your town, interview the firefighters or the owner of the building. This will allow them to explain what happened and how it affected them.

It is also important to cite your sources. This will show your readers where you got your information and help them verify its accuracy. When citing, be sure to use the full name of the person or organization and give their title. You should also include the date and location where the information was gathered. If you are unsure about whether or not to use a particular source, check the credibility of that site by looking at its About page. This will tell you the organization’s mission statement and ethics, as well as give you a clue about its tone and style. If a website’s About page seems overly dramatic or melodramatic, it may not be reliable. This is especially true of news websites.