What Is News?
News is information about events that affect a community. It can be broadcast on television or radio, published in newspapers and magazines or posted online. News may be about local or world events, or it could be about people who are making a difference in their community. News is generally considered to be important and worthy of sharing with others.
Traditionally, the main source of news has been print and broadcast media. Until recently, most news was printed on newspaper pages and then broadcast on the radio or TV. Then, as internet technology developed, news became available almost instantaneously. Today, most news is accessed on the internet and transmitted over wireless technologies.
In the fourteenth century, the word news came from a Latin root meaning “new things.” Since then, it has become a term that describes any sort of new or significant information that might be shared with the public. News can be heard or read on the radio or viewed on TV, but it can also be written in books or posted on the internet. It is a broad category of information that encompasses many different things, from political events to weather forecasts to the latest sports scores.
The content of news is determined by the audience, which in turn influences how a story should be told. Usually, the most important or interesting facts are reported first, ideally in a way that grabs attention from readers. This is sometimes called the “lead” and is a key element in news writing. It could be a dramatic anecdote, a surprising fact or an important breaking news update.
When it comes to the format of the news, the best choice is an easy-to-read, concise style. The paragraphs should be short for punchiness and clarity. The style should be in the third person, with only a few exceptions for clarity and tone. It is important to include a name with every reference, especially the first one. If a person’s full name is not known, at least her initials should be used to avoid jarring the reader.
As the economic model that supports professional journalism crumbles, it’s becoming increasingly unclear who will gather and report news about our communities. Increasingly, local newspapers are shrinking and being replaced by a web of blogs, social networking sites and specialty news outlets.
A recent study found that most Americans get their news from a handful of sources. Among the largest cities, the top five included local news websites and aggregators, TV and cable outlets and newspapers. However, new media and specialized outlets could continue to grow in the future, as they fill in the gaps left by traditional news sources. As these new outlets develop, it’s essential to know who your audience is and what their interests are. Then you can create compelling and accurate news that people will want to read and share. Creating news that is both interesting and informative can be challenging, but it’s worth the effort.