News is information about current events. It may be transmitted verbally, through printed material such as newspapers and magazines, or by radio, television, internet and other electronic communication devices. It may also be reported by observers and witnesses, or derived from official sources. Some of the most trusted and comprehensive news sources are The New York Times, CNN, BBC, Reuters, and the Wall Street Journal. Other important international news outlets include the state-owned RT and Iran’s Press TV, as well as the American Fox News and the conservative website the Huffington Post.
The most interesting news stories have a combination of the following characteristics: Magnitude: How significant is the event? This can be in terms of the number of people involved or the magnitude of the impact. In other words, does the story affect a large number of people or is it a significant development in an area that is of interest to the audience?
What’s in it for me?
The most interesting news is about things that affect the reader personally. These might be economic, political or social changes, personal achievements, natural disasters or celebrity gossip. Crime is always a major interest – for example road traffic accidents, burglaries, murders and other violent crimes; but even less serious offences are of interest such as corruption, forgery, tax evasion or money laundering. Stories about food and drink, housing, the weather, crop diseases and harvest sizes also attract attention. Stories about money and finance – fortunes made or lost, salary increases or cuts in the Budget – are also of interest as are philanthropy (for example, a millionaire’s gift of a painting to a museum) and charity (such as a little girl giving her ten cents to help a fellow student).