What Is News?
News is a term used to describe information which people are interested in. It may be good or bad and can influence people on a positive or negative basis.
Usefulness: It can help people to be aware of things happening around them, like weather forecasts and train timings or information about government policies. It also helps people to learn about new events and activities which are important or interesting, for example, the launch of a new brand of beer or the opening of a new stadium.
Educational Values: It can also be helpful in making people aware of different education options and career choices. For instance, in most newspapers, there are columns which highlight educational and job opportunities for students.
Famous People: The lives and careers of prominent men and women are often in the public eye and therefore make news. They are especially in the news if they fall from power, lose their money or are involved in scandal.
Health: Stories about medical research, disease, hospitals and clinics, drugs, diet and exercise are of interest to many people. Sex: All societies are interested in the way that people behave when they are sexually active and this is a topic of news.
Entertainment: It is common for stories about showbusiness, sport, lighter human interests, animals and an unfolding drama to be of interest to people. They are often accompanied by humorous treatment, witty headlines or entertaining photographs.
Drama: It is possible to find stories involving escapes, accidents, searches, sieges, rescues or battles in news. It is also possible to find stories about court cases or political issues.
Magnitude: It is important to ensure that your news story has a degree of impact on the reader. Whether this is in the number of people involved or the potential impact on society, this is a factor that is taken into account when choosing what to cover.
Relevance: It is also a consideration that news stories should be relevant to the readers, for example, in relation to the audience’s culture, lifestyle or background. They are also important for their relevance to the time period and place of publication.
Follow-up: It is important to keep in mind that the news values of stories can change, especially since they are influenced by the media in which they are published. These changes include broadcasting, rolling news and digital media, as well as the types of audience for whom journalists are producing them.
In order to determine the news value of a story, it is best to conduct an analysis of published outputs. This will allow a more detailed and accurate assessment of what makes a story news and how this news value is manifested in the media.
It is a good idea to write your story in an inverted pyramid, presenting the most important details first and then expanding on those. This will not only make the news article easier to read, but also give your readers the best possible overview of the story.