News is the information that people get from a variety of sources, such as newspapers, magazines, TV and radio. It can also be accessed on the Internet. People are influenced by what they see and hear in the media, which is why it is important to understand how the news is presented so that you can make informed choices about which stories to read and watch.
Much of the news that is published has an element of drama. Events that happen are more likely to be newsworthy if they involve good or bad characters and have clear good or bad outcomes. For example, if someone is robbed at a store it is more likely to become newsworthy if the story makes clear who is the good guy and who is the bad guy.
Some events are not about people, but they still have the potential to be newsworthy. The most obvious examples are weather events, such as cyclones, bush fires and droughts, or natural disasters like floods and volcanic eruptions. But even non-human events can be newsworthy if they affect a large number of people, such as an earthquake that kills thousands of people.
People can be newsworthy for many reasons, including what they do, what they look like or what they say. They can also be newsworthy if they fall from grace, lose their wealth or get caught up in scandal. People in the public eye – such as celebrities, politicians and sports stars – are often newsworthy because of their status or achievements. They can also be newsworthy if their personal lives are interesting or if they suffer from an illness.
A lot of the news that is published is about the economy, war, politics and natural disasters. These issues are of interest to most people because they affect all of us in one way or another. However, some of the news that is published is only of interest to a small number of people. For example, a coup d’etat in the country next door may not be of interest to most people, but if it is to a journalist it could be a big story.
The information that is published in the media is shaped by culturally-shared values and has a motive to sell itself. It is therefore important to tune in to a range of different news sources so that you can gain a fuller understanding of how the world works. This will help you to be more open-minded about what is important in the world and how it is shaped by the media. It will also help you to challenge the media when they are not being fair and independent. Informed and critical audiences can keep the media honest and accountable. This is especially important in the current climate where technology means that anyone can be a publisher and broadcaster. This can challenge traditional ideas about who should be supplying and controlling the news.