A news update does exactly what it says on the tin – updates readers with new information about an event. Breaking news, stories that are of massive importance or relevance to your audience and reports from the field all fall under this category. News updates are often paired with follow-up articles that further explain or detail the story or provide expert opinions.
To write a news update, you must first gather the facts and research your topic thoroughly. Then, write an outline of what you want to include in your article and create a list of all the key points that need to be covered. This can help you avoid leaving out any important details or introducing too much jargon. It is also helpful to have a second pair of eyes read your article for notes and to ensure that it is clear and concise.
The lead should clearly state the newsworthy aspects of your story and contain all the essential details – the Who, What, Where, When and Why (5Ws and 1H). The body of the news update provides additional details, expert quotes and statistics. Remember to always cite your sources to maintain journalistic integrity.
Your target audience should be a large part of your thought process when writing a news update. The story should be geared toward the people who are most interested in it. For example, if you’re writing a news update on a local issue such as zoning laws in a commercial area, your audience will likely be realtors and business owners.