The goal of a news update is to give readers a quick, timely account of something newsworthy. It’s often a follow-up to a previous story and may also include some background information that will help place the current event or development in context. Typically, it follows the inverted pyramid format, with the most important details at the beginning of the article and less-important information towards the end. When writing about a person, use first and last name or both initials; using just the middle initial can jar readers.
It’s important to keep up with what’s going on in the news and jump at the opportunity to write an update when one presents itself. If a celebrity has died, for example, that can provide an instant peg. Also, look ahead to upcoming holidays or anniversaries to see what potential news items you might be able to cover as follow-ups.