News is information about current events, people and places. It is usually reported by journalists, but may also be written or published by ordinary people. In the past, the main source of news was newspapers, but now there are many different types of media sources, including television, radio, internet and mobile phone services.
There are no rules for what makes a good news story, and each country has its own traditions and ways of interpreting the world around it. Some of the most popular news stories involve violence and scandal, but others include social conflict – arguments, splits, fights or insurrections – as well as natural disasters, environmental issues and politics.
Some theories of news values are useful for guiding reporters, but they don’t explain everything. For example, what might be newsworthy in one society is not necessarily newsworthy in another: a dog bites man is no longer news if dogs are eaten in that culture.
A major factor in the selection of a news article is its exclusivity. A story is more likely to be selected if it is generated by or first available to the news organisation, for instance, through interviews, letters, surveys and investigations. Other factors which can help to determine the worth of a news item are its magnitude (whether it involves large numbers of people), its unusualness, its worth and its relevance. In addition, there is a strong argument for adding a sixth factor: shareability.