The goal of a news article is to clearly inform the reader about a noteworthy event or development. The information must be organized in a way that’s easy to understand, even for readers who may be skimming the paper or website and don’t have time to read a long story. In addition, an effective news article is factual and objective. Unlike fiction, which allows writers to explore creativity, or essays, which dig deep into analysis, news articles are meant to convey direct facts without expressing the writer’s opinions.
Begin your breaking news article with a strong lead that answers the six essential questions: Who, What, When, Where and Why. Then order the rest of your information in descending importance. This format is known as the “inverted pyramid” and was developed to help readers digest important events quickly.
When writing about a breaking news event, never make assumptions. This is the most common mistake made by reporters. It’s important to get the facts first, which means interviewing witnesses, searching for police reports, checking government documents and looking at other newspaper stories on the topic. Always double-check your facts and cite where you got them.
When writing international breaking news, it’s important to be unbiased and not express your own opinions on the subject. Use global newspaper articles on the topic as a reference and be sure to cite them properly so that your readers know where you got your information.