News is information about an event, activity or change that is of interest to the public. It is usually reported by the media in order to inform and entertain its readers. News can be found in a wide range of print and broadcast media including newspapers, radio, television, internet and magazine.

What makes a story newsworthy depends on the circumstances and the context in which it takes place. It can be influenced by the cultural, political and social values of the society in which it is happening. This can also affect how it is interpreted and how the events are reported. For example, a news item that involves the death of a prominent person will be of greater interest to the general population than an item about the death of a lesser-known person.

The determining factors of what is considered newsworthy are often referred to as the “news value”. It refers to the perceived importance and impact of an event, or how significant it is to the people of a community. The news value of an event can also be affected by how unusual, interesting or sensational it is. The news value of an event may also depend on how easily it can be verified.

While all of these elements can make a story newsworthy, it is important to note that the weight given to each element will differ between different societies. For example, a farm wall collapsing killing both a cow and a pig will be of less concern in one society than in another where cattle are not as widely reared.

Once the headline is written (which, in most cases, is not the writer’s responsibility but a member of the publication staff) the research should be undertaken to find out more about the topic. This should be done by looking at a variety of sources – some will be primary, others secondary. The sources should be cited and the citations should be placed in the “outline” or pyramid of the article, so that the reader can see who the source is.

After the research is complete, the writer can start writing the news article. The first paragraph, known as the lead, is usually a short summary of the main points in the article. The lead is usually written in a snappy way and should be informative and catchy. It is important that the reader can identify with the topic as quickly as possible.

The rest of the news article should be developed in a manner that is factual and objective. It should not contain any opinions of the author, but should present the facts and the background to the event in a clear and concise manner. The final paragraph of a news article is often a restatement of the leading statement or a prediction of potential future developments on the subject of the news article.

After the news article is completed, it is laid out on dummy pages and then edited by the publication’s chief editor. When the editorial process is complete, the news article is printed and published.