News is information which has become known to the public by one of several methods. These include newspapers, radio, television and the internet. It can be about war, government, politics, education, health, the environment, sport and business or it could be about something unusual or quirky.
New stories make good news because they are interesting, significant and about people. They may be about a crime which has not been reported before, or an event which has happened a long time ago, but which has recently come to light. An example might be a report that an insect has been discovered which lives on a plant which it did not previously inhabit. This might not be news if it had previously been found living on bush grass, but if it was discovered living on rice it would merit considerable coverage in a specialist magazine.
Most news stories are about people, and it is important to make this clear when reporting. A story about a young girl going to university, a man marrying a girl, a car killing a chicken or pig or a child is more interesting and significant than a news story about a coup d’etat in a small country in another continent.
The main purpose of journalism is to provide truthful information to the public. This is achieved by using a range of techniques such as interviews, checking government documents, and researching old articles.
News Value
The value of a story depends on a number of factors, including its timeliness and proximity to the reader. A story which takes place in the local area is more likely to be news than a story that takes place far away, as the reader will be more interested in what is happening in their community.
It is also important to note that the value of a story depends on its prominence. A celebrity who is in the public eye will have a greater news value than an ordinary citizen, although a politician or an expert in a particular field might have more to say about a topic.
In addition, the value of a story may also be determined by its impact. A large sum of money raised in a fund-raising campaign will be more newsworthy than a little girl who gives her only ten cents.
A story about a crime which has not been reported is also likely to be more newsworthy than a story about a crime which has been reported before, even though it is more serious or unusual. The same is true of events which have not been reported for a long time, such as an assassination.
News values can change as the result of social and technological developments, which affect the way people share news. The Internet, for example, can be used to transmit and share information at a speed faster than traditional means of communication.
Whether a story is news or not should be decided by the readers of a newspaper, broadcaster or TV station and will depend on the interests and needs of the readership. It is also important to consider the age and background of your audience, as they will have a different point of view.