News is information about events in the world that are considered important to the general public. It can be current or historical, about people or things. It can be good or bad, funny or serious, but it must always be true and impartial. It should also be interesting and accessible to a wide audience, so that people will want to read it and share it.

News can be found on many platforms, from newspaper articles to social media posts. It’s a good idea to get students to think about the source of their news, and how they can make sure it is accurate.

To be newsworthy, an event must meet five criteria: newness, interest, significance, magnitude and relevance. For example, a coup in your neighbouring country is likely to be a big story. But a coup in the next town may not be.

It is a common misconception that all news must be negative, but this is not true. Good news, such as the discovery of a cure for disease or a sporting victory, can be newsworthy too. In fact, it can be more interesting to read than a disaster or death. Generally, good news is more likely to be shared on social media than bad news. This is because people are naturally more interested in other people’s successes than their own. This is called the ’empathy bias’.