News can be found in a variety of formats including print and online articles, TV shows, podcasts, videos and even interactive graphics. The use of multiple formats provides students with the opportunity to experience and learn the same content in different ways, which can help fine-tune their understanding of a topic. This flexibility can also be beneficial to learners with diverse learning styles, as each of these formats provides a different method of receiving information that may work better for them.
News is all about people and what they do that affects the world around them. But it can also be about things that happen naturally without human involvement, such as a storm, fire or natural disaster. Generally, it is the human impact that makes the story interesting or significant.
Whether it is politics, war, crime, business or something natural, hard news is what gets the attention of readers. It is often what appears on the front page of a newspaper or at the top of a broadcast. It is usually controversial and has a wide impact.
Other elements of news that can be engaging for audiences include celebrity or prominence, a controversy (people like to read about disagreements, rivalries, arguments) and emotion (people are empathetic and want to connect with stories that make them feel). Another key is clarity. News should be written in clear, simple language that excludes jargon. This is particularly important if the story has a local flavor because it can be difficult for readers to understand unfamiliar terms and acronyms that are specific to an industry or region.