News is information about significant events. It can be about the world, society, the economy, politics, sports, culture or entertainment. It can also be about people – their personal stories, political aspirations or achievements. People have always been able to transport new information from one place to another, but only recently, through the development of print, newspapers and radio, has it become possible for mass distribution of the news to occur.
News has traditionally been defined as “that which gets printed or broadcast and catches the public’s attention.” Market research aims to help journalists determine what should be included in news, but Edgerly and Vraga argue that this definition is problematic. It essentially gives the audience the power to decide what is newsworthy, and thus who defines news.
Journalists perform a vital service for their readers. By producing and presenting truthful information in honest and straight-forward articles, they help citizens understand the world around them. They may gather information in a variety of ways, including interviewing sources, searching government documents and researching old articles. In addition, they may gather information through their own observation of events or by reading other forms of media such as books, comics, film and television.
In this era of 24-hour news stations and information overload, it is important to keep in mind that most people have a limited amount of time to consume news. If a news story is overly long or full of tangents, readers may lose interest or tune out altogether. As a result, it is important to be concise in news writing and remove any unnecessary information that does not contribute to the overall outcome of the article.
It is also important to consider the readership when writing news. Unless the news is being reported for a national or international audience, it is likely that it will be targeted at a particular demographic. This can be determined by examining the target market of a specific newspaper, magazine or website. For example, if a local news site covers city government, the audience will be residents of that city.
Some of the most common subjects for news are weather, food and drink, fashion and entertainment. The weather affects daily life, so stories about it generate interest. Similarly, shortages and gluts in food or drink provide dramatic and interesting material for the news. The latest fashions and trends in clothing and a celebrity’s new hairstyle are also often reported. Entertainment news includes developments in music, dance, theatre and cinema. News about art exhibits, the opening of a new museum or the launch of a new film are all examples of this type of news. News about religion is also a regular feature in many newspaper and magazine publications. This is because religious beliefs and teachings are considered to be a cornerstone of many cultures around the world.