News is information about a recent event or something that has recently happened. It can also refer to current affairs or the politics of a country or region. News is often reported by newspapers, magazines and radio but can also be found online. News is usually presented objectively, but not always completely without bias. Every person and news outlet has a certain level of bias that affects what they decide is newsworthy and how comprehensive their coverage is.

A good news article begins with a headline that grabs attention by being dramatic, emotion evoking or creating curiosity. It then continues with a “nut graph” that explains what the story is about and why readers should care. This section is a crucial part of the story and should answer all five of the “W” questions: who, what, where, when and why.

If a piece of news is not fact checked or run through by an extra pair of eyes before submission, it can easily have incorrect information or be missing important details. This can lead to mistrust of the news that is being read, especially if it comes from a source with a history of erroneous reporting. Checking an organization’s website for the name of the company, members of leadership and its mission and ethics statement can help determine if the news you are reading is reliable. You can also look for articles that list the sources used in a news article to confirm its accuracy.