When most people think of news update, they picture the black-and-white journalism found in major newspapers or the nightly news on television. But an update can also be a piece of news about a local company, for example when a business announces a new CEO or plans to expand its facilities. Similarly, some businesses create regular news pieces to highlight the accomplishments of their employees and promote team morale.
When creating a news update, start by finding out the key facts of the story. Use the five ‘W’ questions to help you with this: who, what, where, when and why. Once you have a list of all the important details, you can begin writing. The most important information should be placed at the beginning of the article, referred to as the lede. This helps readers who only skim a newspaper or website get the most important information first. The nut graph is then used to support the lead and provide more details about the story.
Some journalists write using a format known as the inverted pyramid, where the most important information is listed at the top of the piece and then followed by less relevant information. This is useful for ensuring that the most important details are seen by the largest number of readers, while at the same time making it easier to cut an article down to size if necessary.
Many news articles include quotes from experts, witnesses or victims of an event. These quotes can add drama, color and depth to the story, but it is important to be sure that a quote is accurate before publishing it. Ideally, the writer should always read through their work after it is written and have someone else take a look at it as well to double check for accuracy.