Whether a person wants to listen to news on the radio, watch a television program or read an article, they want to be informed about what’s happening in the world. News is a report on events that are recent, exciting or important. The information can come from various media, such as newspapers, television, radio and the Internet. News can have a positive or negative impact. It can be a good thing, such as a cure for a disease or a bad thing, such as a terrorist attack.
A news story can be either “hard” or “soft.” A hard news story is an immediate story that is short and matter-of-fact. A soft news story is a story that is longer, generally about a person or an event that is happening. Most soft news stories are about trends or interesting people. In addition, a soft news story may have an element of surprise, such as the first sight of a celebrity in a news story.
The value of news has changed throughout history. During the early modern period, newspapers and other media emerged to report on important events. In the 20th century, television and radio became important news transmission mediums. Today, there is an increased role of social media platforms. These platforms can be used to spread news, and users can make their own news content. This has increased the role of audiences, who can recommend news stories to others. They can also vote on news stories, which can determine the news agenda of a news organisation.
According to Galtung and Ruge (1965), news values are defined by a variety of factors. Some of these factors are arbitrary. Some news values are explained by external influences, such as the belief systems of journalists. Other factors are determined by the news organisation itself. For example, a newspaper might select news stories that are consistent with their agenda, whether it be political, commercial or ideological.
Other factors that influence news values are the journalistic routines and resources that are available. For example, news may be provided through the testimony of witnesses. News articles may provide information about current events, educating readers about their environment. It may also be entertaining. Stories can include a witty headline, an exciting photograph or a humorous treatment. It can also include an extreme occurrence, such as a sex story, or a surprising event. Some stories may fall into both categories, with some stories being hard news and others soft.
The news values of a story may be determined by the journalistic selection process, as some journalists may choose to emphasise certain facts over others. This is a controversial topic, since it is thought that news may be chosen based on market research. It is also thought that a planned story can fall through at the last minute. It is also thought that stories are chosen for their shareability, because people are more likely to interact with them on social media platforms.