News is information about events that have occurred and that may impact people in some way. Often, the news media reports on issues that affect many people, such as natural disasters or political scandals. Other times, the news focuses on a famous person or event. News is a vital part of any democracy because it informs citizens about important current events and helps them decide how to respond to those events. This LAMPLit provides a basic understanding of news and how it is produced in different media, such as TV, newspapers and the Internet. It also discusses how to become more literate about the news, and suggests readings that offer further exploration of the topic.
What makes a story newsworthy? A story is considered newsworthy if it has a dramatic element and if it clearly distinguishes between good and bad people or situations. For example, a robbery at a convenience store would be reported on the news because it is a drama that involves a clear conflict between good and bad people. The news is also usually objective and doesn’t report on opinions or speculation.
In order to be a true journalist and not just a writer, it is important to have a strong understanding of how the news process works. This means knowing the difference between news, opinion pieces and propaganda. It is also helpful to have a knowledge of the history of the news and how it has changed over time. This can help a writer decide what to include in their story and how to present it.
When writing a news story it is important to keep in mind the audience that the article is geared toward. This can be based on location, such as a local newspaper covering Kansas City, or it may be more specific, such as a news site discussing commercial zoning laws in a particular neighborhood. The audience can also influence the type of content that is reported on, for example, a celebrity gossip column will focus on well-known celebrities and their personal lives, while a business-related story will likely be more focused on economic trends and how they impact businesses.
A major challenge for the news media is to strike a balance between serving their public and earning advertising profits. Often, this results in the news being simplified and sensationalized to make it more interesting and exciting. The resulting news often fails to reflect reality and can cause people to react emotionally rather than rationally.
The best way to get a complete understanding of news is to read as much as possible from a variety of sources. This can be done by using news aggregators, such as Google News, or by reading different newspapers and magazines. It is also beneficial to listen to a variety of radio and television shows, including those on public stations like NPR. This will give you a broader perspective and help you avoid becoming too narrow-minded about the types of stories that are important to your community.
