A news analysis offers an interpretation of a recent event, such as a natural disaster, a change in government policy, or a business merger. For example, questions about the striking rise in the price of fuel over the past decade have been the subject of numerous news analyses. Other news analyses have focused on topics such as campaign finance reform, government efforts to deter terrorism, and proposed changes in immigration law.

News analyses are written for readers who seek a fuller understanding of the origins or implications of an event. Style and design tend to reflect the standards of the publication in which the news analysis appears—usually, but not always, a newspaper, a magazine, or a Web site. Most writers adopt a balanced tone, even when their analysis strongly reflects a particular set of values or beliefs, and they often use illustrations, such as photographs and charts, to persuade readers that their interpretations are reasonable and well founded. Writers of news analyses usually acknowledge their sources of information, although they don’t necessarily use a formal citation system.