News is the information that reaches us from the outside world – via newspapers, magazines, television and radio. It may also be found on the Internet. The purpose of the news is to inform, not entertain. Entertainment should come from other areas – music and drama on the radio, for example; or crosswords and cartoons in a newspaper. News should be current and should cover a wide variety of topics, though some types of news are more popular than others.

For example, if it is raining heavily in a country where people live in small houses without roofs, this is a story that will interest people because it may affect their daily lives. On the other hand, if a man wakes up, goes to work and catches the bus every day, this is not newsworthy because it is commonplace in most societies. However, if a man’s wife is ill or he wins the lottery, these are stories that are likely to capture the public’s imagination.

Other things that make news include controversies and events of emotional impact. People love controversies because they create interest and debate. Emotional events, like a celebrity’s death or an accident that is very serious, are newsworthy because they generate empathy. Prominence is also a reason something becomes news.

When writing a news article, it is important to remember that a good piece of news needs to be credible, objective and fair. This is why journalists always double check the facts before publishing. A quick glance at an online fact checking website will reveal if a journalist has been accurate or not. It is also a good idea to have your article read by someone else, before submission for publication. This can help to eliminate spelling and grammatical errors, as well as simplify awkward sentences.