News is an event or happening that people are interested in and want to read about. It is usually something significant that has occurred or will affect people in some way, or it may be about a person or group who is famous. News articles are often written for a variety of publications, including newspapers, magazines and radio and television programmes. A well written news article should have all of the important facts and details relating to the topic in a clear, concise and interesting manner. It should also avoid opinions or bias.

The headline should catch the reader’s attention and be short and clear. This should be followed by a byline, which is the writer’s name. In print media, the title and byline are generally set apart from the main body of the text in a format called columns. Online news articles often do not use this format.

Having a good lead is essential to the success of any news story. It should give a preview of the full story and include the most relevant information, allowing the reader to decide whether or not they are interested in reading it. The lead should also clearly indicate the type of information which will be contained in the article, and the date and time when it happened or is expected to happen.

If an article does not have a strong and engaging lead, it is unlikely to attract a large readership. It is vital that any news item has a relevance to the readers, and this can be achieved by researching the story thoroughly. In many societies, people are interested in celebrities and the lives they lead; this includes their relationships, children, houses and jobs. In addition, people are interested in health matters such as traditional remedies, medical research, hospitals and clinics, and diseases. People are also interested in money stories, such as fortunes made and lost, and money matters which affect the general public such as taxes, the Budget, food prices and compensation claims.

People are also interested in the political situation in their country and the world. News items can be about government decisions, changes in policy, wars and peace, and the performance of politicians. They can also be about sports events, music performances and other entertainment. In some societies, the status of women is also a source of interest for news items.

A major factor in determining whether or not something is newsworthy is its timeliness. If something has already happened, it cannot be news, unless it is exceptionally unusual. For example, a man waking up and going to work on the bus is not particularly interesting, as it happens every day, but if someone is assassinated on that route, then that would be newsworthy. Similarly, a man who is dying of cancer can only be newsworthy if it has not been reported before. This is why large news sources often focus on current affairs and major events.