Thanks to 24-hour news stations and the internet, people are bombarded with information. It’s important to be well informed, but too much can burn you out, leaving you with a bad mental state – which isn’t good for your health or that of others.

It is the things that affect people that make news, so the majority of news stories are about people. The death of a prominent figure is always big news, but so are things like robbery, forgery, rape and car accidents. Crimes that occur in places where there is a lot of interest or influence, such as the country next door, also make good headlines. Money is another topic that makes news. Whether it’s fortunes made or lost, school fees, taxes, the budget or compensation claims – people are interested in how their hard earned cash is being spent.

When writing a news story, it’s important to be accurate. This can be achieved by making sure that all sources are credited and ensuring that any statements or opinions are backed up by fact. It’s also important to be clear about the purpose of the story and how it is being presented.

Once a reporter has collated the appropriate material for their piece, they usually lay it out on dummy pages. These are then edited by a copy-editor (in the U.S.) or sub-editor (in Europe). Finally, once the chief editor has approved it, the news article is published – with the reporter’s name listed alongside it.