What is News?
News is what happens in the world around us. It can be about people, events or even natural phenomena. It can be interesting, surprising, tragic or exciting. It can be about celebrity, politics or sport. Generally it should be current and of interest to readers, listeners or viewers.
Historically news was only published in newspapers. However, with the advancement of technology and the Internet, news is now available on radio, television and online. It is also available on specialised news websites and even apps. You can also subscribe to various news services and have a daily digest sent to your email inbox. You can set up Google alerts for specific topics to make sure you are always informed on the latest developments.
In general, news is reported as soon as it occurs. The first news article about an event will usually be the most important, and is often referred to as ‘above the fold’ (referring to the crease in a newspaper). The top stories are usually the ones that have the most impact on people, such as political events, major disasters or accidents.
The news is then analysed and distilled into a story that will be suitable for publication. This is done by journalists who follow certain guidelines to ensure that the information is accurate and fair. They will then present the news in a way that is engaging and will have a high readership.
One of the main objectives is to provide a balance in the news, so that both good and bad news are reported. This is achieved by having a number of sources and including opinions from different people. This will also allow the reader or listener to form their own opinion on the news, which can sometimes conflict with yours.
A common misconception is that the purpose of news is to entertain. This is only partly true – newspapers, radio and TV can entertain but their main function is to inform and educate. Entertainment can come from other areas of the media, such as music and drama on radio or crosswords and cartoons in newspapers.
The most important thing is that the news is accurate and factual. This will be more important to readers than any opinion that may be expressed. It is also important to report the facts unbiasedly, which can be difficult when you are emotionally involved in a subject.
It is important to remember that the job of news is not to change the world but to reflect it. A free press is a vital part of our society but it must be used responsibly and with integrity. The key is to present the facts fairly and if you do this, truth will take care of itself. This is why it is so important to have access to many different sources of information and opinions, from both the mainstream and the alternative press. Then we can all make the best decisions for ourselves based on the facts.