News is information about events in the world, compiled and published for distribution. It can be found in many forms including newspapers, magazines, radio, television and the internet. News is often a mixture of facts and opinion, but should always be well researched and factually correct. News is often aimed at a general audience, but specialised sectors of society will also be interested in specific topics. For example, a report on a new medical breakthrough might be of interest to scientists and doctors, but will not be read by the average person.
News articles should be concise and avoid long tangents. People have limited time to consume news and may not be able to keep up with lengthy news stories. The use of adjectives should be avoided where possible, as they can detract from the overall tone of the story. However, specific words can convey a clearer message than vague ones. For instance, ‘gold glitters’ is more descriptive than ‘bright and sparkly’.
Almost all societies are interested in some aspect of public life, and there is a perpetual demand for news that will inform them about it. This has led to the development of a huge number of news outlets, from local papers and community radio stations to international newspapers and TV channels such as CNN and Fox.
It is often assumed that a large part of what makes the news is of a political nature, but this is not always the case. Human interest stories make great news, as do unusual or sensational events. The news is often based on the activities of people, but events such as natural disasters, scientific discoveries and technological advances can also be of interest.
The content of news differs from society to society, but the criteria for what is considered to be important or significant will be the same in all cultures. This is why a famous saying such as “Dog bites man is not news, but man bites dog is news” is so universally recognised.
The importance of a particular piece of news will vary between different audiences, and what is considered interesting or significant in one place might not be in another. This is why it is so difficult to predict what will be newsworthy, and why so many people watch news programmes or read newspapers and magazines.
