News is the information that tells us what is happening in the world around us. It may be current affairs or events such as war, politics, crime or natural disasters. News stories may also be about people, places and things of interest or celebrity.
What makes something newsworthy depends on many factors which are different in every society. For example, in some societies, if a man wakes up, eats breakfast and takes the bus to work it is not news; however, if this same man takes a bullet in the neck and dies, then that is certainly news.
Hard News: This is what goes on the front page of a newspaper, web page or at the beginning of a news broadcast and concerns important issues of the day such as politics, war, crime, business and natural disasters. These types of stories usually carry more weight than other news stories.
Soft News: This type of news concerns entertainment, show business, sport and lighter human interest subjects or has the potential for humorous treatment, a witty headline or lists. These stories are often the result of research, letters or interviews and may have a high degree of exclusivity.
In-depth News: These are longer and more detailed news stories that take a particular subject and carry out heavy research on it. Often this will involve interviewing people or visiting locations and taking lots of photographs. The use of the “5 W’s” again is a good idea here; who, what, where, when and why are all key questions to ask yourself when writing this type of news story.