Doing your homework and doing some preparations are the keys to write effective news articles.

1. Look for the best stories of the day. Go out there and learn what’s going on around you. There are a lot of stories that you can cover in a day but I recommend that you focus your attention on those that are very interesting to your readers. If you’re writing for broadsheets, I suggest that you focus on hard-hitting news. Write the latest news in the world of business or latest news about the economy and government. If you’re writing for tabloids, you can focus on not-so serious stories like police reports and entertainment.

2. Research your chosen stories. Before you start writing, make sure that you research your chosen stories thoroughly. Unlike when you’re writing articles for the web, you will need to interview people who have witnessed or who are directly involve in the situation. Get as much information as possible and make sure that you do not leave any stone unturned.

3. Verify your data. As a journalist, it’s very important for you to make sure that everything you put on your news articles is based on facts. Cross reference all your resources before you start writing.

4. Create an outline. Figure out how you can present your data in such a way that you’ll be able to get your audience to want to read them. Create a skeleton that contain every piece of information that you need to include in your articles. Ensure that you present the best, juiciest information at the start.