News is information about events that happen in the world, locally and internationally. It serves a number of purposes, including informing the public and keeping them informed about current issues. It also provides a way for people to understand complex topics and ideas. However, it is important to remember that news is not objective – all sources of news have some bias. Some are more obvious than others, but all can influence the way a story is written and told. It is for this reason that it is important to get your news from a variety of sources and not to rely on one particular source.
The main job of the news media – newspapers, radio and television – is to inform their audiences. However, they can also provide entertainment. This can be in the form of music and drama programs on TV or crosswords in newspapers.
When deciding what to include in the news they consider what will be interesting and important to their audience. They try to catch their audience’s attention and keep it by telling them about events that have not been widely reported before, or by reporting on events that are happening right now. They often use the phrases ‘breaking news’ and
They also look at how important an event is and how likely it is to affect a large number of people. A news item about 20 people killed on a road will get more coverage than an article about how a new drug is being developed to treat malaria, even though the latter may have a greater impact on a larger number of people.
Another thing to remember when reporting on news is that it can have different meanings in different societies. A farm wall collapsing and killing a cow will be a big news item in some countries but not in others, depending on how much importance is attached to cows in each society.
The final decision of what makes the cut and gets published in a newspaper, broadcast on TV or posted on a news internet site is made by people who work for the organization – they are called editors or news directors, and they take recommendations from reporters, assistant editors and other personnel within the organisation. They are also known as gatekeepers, as they decide what gets through to the readers or viewers. They can be influenced by political and economic pressures, but they also make judgments based upon their own experiences and opinions. News is not always accurate, but it is usually the most up-to-date information available. It is also often biased in favour of the most important and dramatic news items. They aim to entertain, educate and inspire their audience and to promote certain values. They also want to stimulate debate and encourage the participation of their audience in their activities and in the democracy of their country. In the past, trained journalists and other news personnel were the major suppliers and gatekeepers of news and information. But now it is possible for almost anyone to become a supplier or gatekeeper of news.
