News is an important part of the way we learn and understand about the world. It influences us in both positive and negative ways, and we often choose certain sources of information over others.
What Makes a Story News?
To determine whether a story is news, there are several factors that should be considered. They include the time of the event, its importance, and the impact it has had on people.
Timeliness
In general, the best news stories are those that are current and have not already been reported on by another source. This is because news is like a perishable commodity, with a short shelf life. It is very hard for a newspaper to publish stories that are too old, even if they are very significant.
Timeliness is also a key factor in whether or not news is able to influence the public’s opinion on an issue. This is especially true in cases of government crackdowns and revolutions where the media may have limited gatekeeping control over what is being transmitted.
Content
As a general rule, all news articles should be attributed to the source where they were obtained. This can be done by including direct quotes or paraphrasing from the original source, as well as a note identifying where the information came from.
Facts and Opinions
In addition to providing facts, most news outlets also offer a balance of opinions. This helps readers to understand the issue and make their own judgments on it.
This is especially true in cases where the issue involves a controversial topic or an emotionally charged debate. A balanced perspective is critical for a good news article, as it will help to prevent the reader from becoming polarized or overwhelmed by all of the different sides.
Characteristics of Good News
A good news article will feature a range of positive overtones, such as rescues, cures, and opportunities for people to overcome obstacles or difficulties. This will keep the article interesting and help it to stand out from other stories on the same subject.
Characteristics of Bad News
A bad news article will include a range of negative overtones, such as conflict, tragedy, and violence. This will help the article to stand out from other stories on the same topic and will be more likely to sway public opinion.
Other characteristics of good news will include stories that are entertaining and witty, as well as those that feature human interest or animals. These will encourage readers to empathize with the story, which can have a powerful effect on their emotions and behavior.
Besides being fun to read, news articles can also be educational and informative. This is because they often have columns about upcoming events, educational and job opportunities, and more.
In addition to these features, news can be made up of other elements as well, such as drama and comedy. Depending on the topic and its audience, these types of news can be both funny and enlightening to the reader.