News is information about current events which can be communicated to the public through various media. These may include word of mouth, print, broadcasting or electronic communication. News articles often focus on the human element of an event, and may also be accompanied by pictures or illustrations.

It is generally considered that people are the main source of news, as it is the actions of human beings which change the world and make it interesting or significant. However, news can also come from non-human sources and the occurrence of natural events such as cyclones, bush fires, drought, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes can also be considered newsworthy.

While it is important for a news article to be factually correct, it should still be interesting and entertaining to read. This is especially true if the news is local. A good way to achieve this is by writing a snappy headline which conveys the main news points clearly and concisely. A catchy headline can grab the attention of the reader and inspire them to continue reading. It is also important to write a well-structured news article. The inverted pyramid format is a useful way to structure an article by putting the most important details at the beginning of the story and then providing more detail as the article progresses. A clear and concise tone is also important in a news article, and it should be free of personal opinions. The writer should also cite their sources if they are used in the news article.

A wide range of topics can be newsworthy, but common subjects include war, government, politics, education, health, the environment, business, entertainment, fashion, and sport. Government proclamations concerning royal ceremonies, laws, taxes and compensation claims are also considered newsworthy. Crime, particularly violent crime and unsolved murders, are also common subjects for news reports.

The classic definition of news is “Dog bites man – this is news”; but what is interesting or significant in one society may not be in another. For example, a girl going to university is newsworthy in most societies but a man marrying his second wife might not be.

Similarly, an insect living on a new plant might be newsworthy in a scientific journal but not in a general news broadcast or newspaper. What makes an event newsworthy is often a combination of factors such as: impact, violence or scandal, familiarity, proximity and timeliness. These factors are the basis for what is reported on in the media and how much impact it has.