How to Write a Good News Update

News update is a piece of news reporting that is designed to inform readers about recent events. The article may also include a bit of history regarding the topic or a prediction for future developments. The purpose of a news update is to give readers the information they need in order to form their own opinions about an issue. Unlike opinion pieces, news updates should avoid stating the writer’s personal viewpoints on the subject matter.

A good news update will have a clear lead sentence that completely explains the topic of the piece. It should state what happened, where it took place, who was involved and why it is important to the reader. If the writer wants to add his or her own opinion, it should be in a separate section at the end of the article.

It’s important to cite all sources correctly in news writing. When referencing people, use their full first name or both initials, and don’t jar the reader with sudden switches between first and second person. News writing is generally in third person, unless there’s a compelling reason to use the first or second person.

If you have a lot of facts to share about your subject, consider creating a timeline or infographic that puts the data into context. This will make the information easier to digest for readers and can be a visually appealing alternative to text. Finally, always let someone else read your news article before submitting it for publication. An extra set of eyes can ensure that you haven’t missed any crucial details or made a mistake in your fact checking.