Generally speaking, the news is a very important part of our lives. It’s something we rely on to keep up with the world, and to understand how our world is changing. Here’s a look at some of the ways news is delivered.
Hard news
‘Hard’ news is a term used by scholars to describe certain topics that are timely, important, and consequential. It can include topics such as politics, the economy, international conflicts, and natural calamities.
Soft news is a term used by scholars to describe other topics that are not time-sensitive. Topics such as lifestyle, entertainment, and social issues are usually associated with soft news.
Soft news also includes news about celebrities and sports. Unlike hard news, soft news has no perceived urgency. A soft news story usually appeals to emotions. Some journalists choose to editorialize soft news stories.
Familiar and local
Several affluent locales across the globe have made it their goal to provide local news coverage in spades. Indeed, it’s a well-known fact that France’s public television network broadcasts the most local news in the country. The good old fashioned television news ain’t all that bad, right? The most savvy newshounds can’t resist the lure of freeform TV. The best bet is to subscribe to a local cable or satellite TV provider. Or, you can go old school and subscribe to the local newspaper, or two. It’s a great way to get the local news you want, when you want it.
Timely
Generally, “timely news” refers to events that are happening right now. This can be in the last thirty days or in the last hour. The “timeliness” of a story depends on the publication cycle of the news medium. For example, a report on a British burning of Washington would be “recent” if it was published in the next week or so. But, a report on a fire that happened in an isolated part of the country would be “recent” if it happened in the next few days.
Another type of story is “feature” news, which gives detailed information about an event. This type of story may investigate the personality of an individual or a group that is involved with the event. Often, the audience becomes involved because they see the event develop as it unfolds. This type of story has strong news value on 24-hour news channels and social media sites.
