News is current information about events, usually involving people, places or things. It may be provided in a variety of ways, including word of mouth, printing, postal systems, broadcasting or electronic communication. It can be both factual and fictional.

The most important aspect of writing a news article is choosing the right subject. It should be something that is new, interesting and significant. It is also important to choose an audience for the article. The more general the readership, the broader the range of interest will be. However, if the audience is a small community, then there will be a greater focus on local events and news.

It is also important to consider the time period of the news event. Events that take place only a short time ago will be of more interest than events that happened many years previously. The importance of a news event may also be influenced by whether the event is perceived to be positive or negative.

Once a subject has been selected, the next step is researching the topic to find out all that can be learned about it. Interviewing primary sources is a great way to gather this information, as it will allow the writer to get first-hand knowledge about what has taken place. This can help the writer to write an interesting and accurate article.

After research has been completed, the outline of the article can be drawn up. This should follow the inverted pyramid format, with the most important points being presented at the beginning of the story. This allows readers to get an overview of the subject, and then decide if they want to read further.

The lead of the article is often the most important part as it can help to grab and hold the attention of the reader. It should be written concisely, and use Associated Press style guidelines unless your publication specifies something different. The lead should also include your byline so that readers know who wrote the article.

Once the lead has grabbed the attention of the reader, it should be followed by a paragraph that provides background about the subject. This is particularly important if the news event is unfamiliar to the reader, and it will help them understand the significance of the event.

The remainder of the article can then be presented in order of increasing importance, with the details of the event being followed by more detail. This will provide a sense of completeness to the story, and it will also ensure that all pertinent information is included in the article. This is particularly important if the news article is to be published in a newspaper, where space is limited.