News is information about current events that is reported in newspapers, radio and television. It can also be found on websites and social media. News is meant to inform readers, listeners and viewers – it’s not there to entertain them. Entertainment comes from other areas – music and drama on radio; crossword puzzles and cartoons in newspapers.
The information in a news story is gathered, checked and verified. It is then analyzed and judged by journalists to determine its importance and which facts should be highlighted. This process is often referred to as market research. It is argued that it is important for journalists to know their audience in order to provide them with the kind of information they demand, but critics argue that marketing does not dictate what is considered newsworthy and which facts are emphasized.
To be newsworthy, a story must have one or more of the following qualities: It must be new, unusual, interesting and significant. It must affect the lives of people in a meaningful way, either by changing their lifestyles or by influencing them. It should involve people of interest and be a human-interest story.
It should be well-sourced, and it must answer the five Ws (who, what, where, when and why). It’s important to be unbiased and avoid promoting a particular political viewpoint. A well-sourced story is also accurate and has a clear timeline. It should include a variety of sources, including government officials, interest groups and the media.