News is information about events that have recently happened, are happening or are likely to happen. News is reported in newspapers, magazines, television and radio and on the Internet. It is important to keep up with the news because it affects the way we live our lives. It can influence government policies and decisions which may affect you. It is also interesting to learn about the world in which you live, even though you may not live in that place yourself.
There are many different kinds of news stories, and what constitutes ‘news’ varies according to the culture of a society. In general, however, news is about something which is unusual or surprising. It can be about people, animals, things which are new or which have just happened, or it may be about issues which are of concern to a group or to the nation as a whole.
In some societies, for example, the deaths of famous men or women, the fortunes made or lost by prominent persons, and scandal are important items of news. Other societies are interested in medical advances, hospitals and clinics, diet, exercise, drugs and sex. It is usually only when the subject matter reaches a certain level of sensationalism that it becomes newsworthy.
The length of a news item also influences its status as ‘news’. Some news stories are only short articles, such as an incident report or a piece about a politician’s political party. Other pieces, such as interviews or investigative reports, are often longer. Many television news programmes now feature special documentary films which are sometimes as long as ten minutes.
All news articles must give a credit to the source from which the information was obtained. This is important so that other journalists can follow up a lead and find out more about an incident. It is also important for readers to know from whom they are getting their news so that they can judge its accuracy and reliability.
Some sources of news have been criticized for not being as accurate and reliable as others. This is partly because the people who write and present news are human, and they have their own biases. However, some sources of news have a reputation for being trustworthy, and they can be a valuable resource for staying up to date with current events.
It is important to find a strategy for staying informed about the news, particularly as it becomes more difficult to distinguish between legitimate and dubious sources. The best approach is to read a wide range of sources, and not just one newspaper or website. In addition, it is helpful to have a good understanding of the criteria that are used to judge the strength of a story: Newness: The event or development must be new. Unusual: The event or development must be unusual. Interest: The event or development must be of interest to the reader. Magnitude: The event or development must be of significant importance, either in terms of the number of people involved or its potential impact on them.
