News is information about events which are important or interesting to a wide audience. It is published in newspapers, magazines and on radio and television. It can also be found on the Internet. It can be factual or emotional and may include commentaries. News articles should be clear and concise and be written in a style which is appropriate to the topic and intended readership. They should be edited to remove errors in spelling and grammar, to ensure that the main points are clearly communicated and that there is no duplication of information.

The most important news stories are those which involve people and that affect their daily lives. These include crime, health, weather, money, sport and entertainment. News is also interesting when it involves famous or well-known people, especially if they become involved in controversy. The news media is often concerned with exposing corruption and dishonesty and can be a force for change in government policies, laws and ethics.

An essential point to remember when writing a news article is that it should be objective and impartial. It should not be used to attack a person or organisation, and it should not be influenced by the personal biases of the writer or editor. This does not mean that the news should not contain opinion, but it should be clearly distinguished from factual information.

A good way to start a news story is with an exciting lede (in journalism jargon) which will draw in the readers and tell them what they are going to read about. A good title is also important, as is the byline of the author if there is one. This will give the reader a sense of what the article is about and allow them to decide whether to continue reading.

The most interesting and important facts should be placed at the top of the news story. This is called ‘above the fold’ in newspaper terminology and ‘above the scroll’ on a website. This is because the reader sees only this section of the paper or web page before they have to scroll down to see more.

The purpose of the news media is to inform and educate its readers, listeners or viewers. This does not necessarily mean that it must entertain them, but it is helpful if it does so in some way – through music and drama on radio, cartoons and crosswords in newspapers, etc. It is also useful to have some light-hearted or amusing news items dotted through the more serious ones.