The Definition of News
News is a critical part of democracy and a free press is the lifeblood of a free society. The role of journalists is to provide accurate and timely information while remaining independent of political or other influences. In this series, we explore the different definitions of news and how it is developed. We discuss different factors such as impact, proximity, controversy, currency, prominence, and accuracy.
The definition of news varies between different media. Media such as print and online media produce news, but their content is different from the content of broadcast media. The relevance of news differs according to the medium, and this can influence the quality of the news. For example, a news story may have a political or social context that reflects the values of the media outlet, or it could be a controversial topic.
While news is a critical part of our lives, it’s important to remember that it’s only the first layer of information. Many people are attracted to controversies. Therefore, anything related to a controversial issue will likely be reported. Similarly, news will be more relevant when it’s related to celebrities. Moreover, the news story itself should be timely.
News is interesting. It is fresh, uncommon, and unusual, so it appeals to a larger audience. Moreover, it’s also factual. Objectivity refers to reporting facts in their truest form. Adding comment to the news is the responsibility of a columnist or an editorial writer.