News Blog

There are many ways that people get news today -- on the radio, through magazine subscriptions, or even on social media. There are various types of news distribution too, but one of the most popular ways that people get their news is through online news outlets.

It's super easy to Google any current events or stories that are happening for the day and find online media to read about the topic. It's gotten easier and easier to get the latest information online because most people have their phones on them at all times. A news blog is a fast way for people to stay on top of current events. News blogs tend to be updated more frequently than more traditional methods of getting the news like television or radio.

News Blog Definition

A news blog will often create a summary of a news event based on what other news outlets have reported. It's less common to have first-hand sources for this type of article because it's not usually the actual reporter or journalist making the post. These posts will also have a little more opinion and casual language than a typical news article would, which helps with readability. This can be both a good and a bad thing.

Someone may create a platform like this for multiple reasons, but one reason is to make news more palatable. It can be easier to digest news that has a conversational tone.

Fig. 1 - News blogs can feature responses to current events.

News blogs | Credibility, Ethics, and Journalism

Some news blogs have a reputation for not being the most credible sources. It's easy to associate news blogs with tabloids or celebrity gossip blogs, as sometimes that's how news blogs start out to get more traffic to their page.

Some news blogs may also insert the writer's personal opinions or biases, so if you're looking for more credible news blog sources, there are some things to look out for. If you want to know you're reading a credible source, look for the following five things:

• Currency. How recent is this news story?

• Relevance. Is it related to a topic you're researching?
• Authority. Where was the original story from? Is the author trustworthy or reputable?
• Accuracy. Is there actual evidence to support this article?
• Purpose. What is the motivation behind the article?

Why People Create News Blogs

People create news blogs because they tend to be a little more interactive than a traditional news article or radio broadcast. People can comment their feedback on the content, helping the writer understand what other topics readers may be interested in.

Fig. 2 - A news blog gets straight to the reader.

Comparing News vs. Blog Posts

Is there a difference between a regular blog post and a news blog post?

Blog Characteristics

Blogs are known for containing opinions and social commentary and are written by one or several authors to create the voice of the site. A blog aims for reader engagement and conversation. It's common for readers to comment and give their input. Blogs can be about any number of topics, but a news blog is usually limited to talking about current events.

News Blog Characteristics

The tone of a news blog may sound less casual than a personal blog post, but more casual than other news broadcasting sources.

Other blogs don't necessarily need to provide facts, whereas a news blog should include factual information. Someone writing for a news blog doesn't necessarily need to be an expert in the subject though. Original news articles are usually some of the first sources of information, whereas a news blog will have collected information from those news articles and provide a summary.

Fig. 3 - News blogs should be factual but they may also be biased.

While news blogs should be filled with facts and honest information, it's easy to miss some clues that news blogs aren't exactly the same as direct news sources. A lifelong science journalist reporting on something that needs a lot of clear, well-researched, and unbiased information is different than typical news blogs. Information can seem dry coming from those news sources, whereas news blogs have more flexibility in how they word things. Some news blogs can show clear biases, and have emotional or click-bait headlines.

Below is how news blogs have more freedom regarding how information is presented. Articles may at times have more emotion and drama than others. Sometimes that's what people are looking for because it's entertaining. Here's how a humorous news blog might read:

This reads with a little more humor than a typical news reporter might report. Both can report on the incident, but the tone of voice may be noticeably different.

Company News Blog

Some sources of news aren't meant for such a broad audience. This is true for some businesses and educational environments where the target audience is smaller. They would write posts catered specifically to students, people who work there, or customers who use a company's products.

News Just Within the Company

A company might want to create a news page for their employees or clients so they can announce specific updates that will help their business grow. It can be beneficial for businesses to have news blogs because it keeps customers and employees in the loop and engaged on their webpage.

Some examples of things a business might include in their news blog:

• announcing new job postings

• announcing awards given to the company

• announcing company success stories

• product launches

This could also be a resource for the company to share relevant stories related to their industry. This can serve as a purpose to educate their clients on why they might need their products.

News Blog Post Structure and Content

A news blog isn't always just written content. Sometimes they branch out and share other content like videos, quizzes, surveys, and polls. Some news blogs create polls to understand what types of material their audience is looking for. This can help with getting more views on future posts.

Fig. 4 - Polls on a news blog are very popular during voting season.

Tools that Help Drive Traffic

Most blogs use online tools to help bring traffic, which holds true for news blogs. It can help reach a larger audience and helps you learn what types of stories people are reading most.

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)

This is used on almost every blog. SEO for news blogs is extremely important because you are fighting against other news blogs and sometimes even news outlets for views.

SEO for your news blogs helps visibility, and keywords are a big part of that. Include words that your audience will be searching for, like "important news today," "breaking news," or if you are a local news blog, including the name of the city you are covering, like "important Boston news today" in your articles and on your website.

You can also try to get your blog on Google News.

Fig. 5 - SEO can help a blog's visibility.

News Blog Example

Huffpost

This site is very popular for people to peruse over a broad list of news genres. They report on everything from celebrity news to global events.

Buzzfeed

You may recognize this one because they are popular with the quizzes they share. It's a fairly interactive site that people find entertaining.

TechCrunch

This focuses on hot topics related to technology, computers, and internet culture.

There are hundreds and hundreds of news blog sites. These are just some of the most popular ones, so don't stop looking for the right kind of news blog for you and your needs!