A news update is a brief, timely account of an interesting or significant development or event. It is often part of a larger story, but it can stand alone as well. A news update should grab and hold a reader’s attention, provide background information and answer the “who, what, when, where, why and how” questions of a subject. A news update should be written using a structure known as the “inverted pyramid”–the most important content goes first, followed by more details and quotes that provide context and a fuller picture of the subject.
When writing a news update, it is important to track the current conversation and jump on new developments when they come up. Whether it’s the death of a celebrity or the latest drama on a reality show, there are always things that readers want to hear about, and that are fresh pegs for news stories. Whenever possible, link a new update to something that’s already dominating the headlines.