News is the information that people are informed about by newspapers, magazines, TV and radio. It is often about events that are important to society, such as wars, crime, political changes, weather and natural disasters. News can also be about sports, celebrities and fashion.
The amount of news that is available to us can be overwhelming. It is not necessary to keep up with every detail of the latest breaking story, but it can be beneficial to know enough about what’s happening so we are able to make informed decisions about our lives.
How does a newspaper decide what is newsworthy? There are various models that help determine what will be read and listened to. These include the Mirror Model, which aims to reflect real life; the Economic Model, which focuses on money; and the Political Model, which influences political pressures.
A major factor that affects what is newsworthy is public interest. This is influenced by demographics, such as age and social status, and by cultural attitudes, including morality and ethics. For example, a story about the death of a famous person will be of much greater interest than one about a minor road traffic accident.
Other factors that can impact what is newsworthy are novelty, exclusivity and the level of impact or shock involved. Novelty refers to something that is new and different, such as an unusual discovery or an occurrence of a rare event. Exclusivity refers to stories that are based on information which is first provided by, or available to, the news organisation (such as interviews, letters, investigations and surveys). Impact can be a key factor in determining what is newsworthy, as well as the way an incident is presented (eg how it happened and who was involved).
The level of impact and shock may influence whether an event is considered to be of significance and should therefore be reported. However, even significant events can fail to capture people’s attention if they are not communicated in an interesting or attractive way.
A news story that is deemed to be of high importance may be given prominence on the front page of a newspaper, or will feature in a television or radio broadcast. This is especially the case if it is a story about a significant event, such as an election, a royal wedding or a major sporting event.
In addition to reading newspapers and watching TV, there are a number of online resources which provide a range of perspectives on current events. These include sites that provide news from around the world, such as Al Jazeera and China Central Television; and those which offer a more centrist or cerebral perspective, such as The New York Times and The Washington Post. These types of websites can be a great resource for students, as they are more likely to provide facts and analysis rather than sensational headlines. However, it is important to note that even these news sources can have a bias and it is vital for students to balance their intake of different viewpoints.
