What Makes News?
News is information that is published in newspapers and broadcast on radio and television about recent events in a country or world. It is interesting and important at the time it happens, and it is something that people want to hear about on the radio and in the newspaper.
What Makes News?
A good news story will be new, unusual, interesting, significant and about people. It will also have a strong impact on the reader, will incorporate violence and scandal, will be familiar and local, and will be timely.
Unusual: A story which is unusual, but not surprising or which is unlikely to be of much interest to many people, may not be news. For example, a scientist might discover that an insect has been living on a plant it did not previously inhabit, but this could be of no interest to the general public, so the news is only likely to be significant in the eyes of a specialist or enthusiast.
Interesting: An interesting story will usually have some significance to the reader, for example if it shows how something works, or tells of a new technique that is being used by scientists. It will probably also be of a good length and will have some interesting pictures or captions.
It is also of interest to the reader if it is about an issue, group or nation that is perceived to be relevant to them, for example stories about crime, politics, sports, the economy, health, entertainment, or the environment. It will also be of interest if it has a positive overtone, such as rescues and cures.
Magnitude: A story that is a considerable event will be of interest, for example a disaster, war or conflict. It will also be of interest if the event has caused a large number of deaths or if it has had a major impact on society, such as the death of Mao Tse-tung or the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Prominent: A story about a person who is famous and has a lot of money or power will be of interest to many people. It is especially newsworthy if the person falls from power or is involved in scandal.
Human Interest: A story about people is of interest to most readers, as they are often able to relate to the characters in the story. This includes celebrities, social figures, sportsmen and women, politicians, and other people in the public eye.
Animals: A story about an animal is also of interest, as animals can affect the lives of people in a wide range of ways. This is because animals can be useful for farming, hunting, or for protecting crops.
Weather: A story about the weather can be of interest to the reader, as it can affect their daily routine and cause them problems. This might include weather conditions which are unusual, such as very high or low temperatures or extremely heavy or light rainfall.
News is a very powerful tool, but it can be used in negative or positive ways. It can spread communalism, it can preach nationalism and it can even be an instrument for development. It is up to humans whether or not they use it to their advantage, but the media has an important role to play in a free society.