News is information about events that are important to people in a community. It can be about the government, business or personal life. It can also be about culture or music. It is usually about something that has happened recently or that is of particular interest at the time. It may be controversial or upsetting.

It is thought that news should be impartial and not bias the reader towards one side or another. It should be a factual account of an event or development, though it may also include the opinion of experts on the subject.

If it is not obvious whether an article is fake or true, readers can check its authenticity with websites such as PolitiFact, FactCheck and Snopes. These are incredibly reputable fact-checking sites that cover various issues and topics, not just politics.

In addition to the main news outlets, there are many blogs, online magazines and opinions sections of newspapers that provide a wide range of views on a subject. These can help to broaden understanding of a topic and keep it interesting.

News is often about people – famous people, the lives they lead and the scandals they get involved in make for good news. It can also be about things that are of general interest, such as health, hospitals and clinics, traditional remedies and research into diseases. Sex is always of interest, even in societies that don’t openly discuss it. The classic definition of news is “dog bites man”, but what is interesting and significant in one society may not be so in another.