News is information about current events. It is delivered by a number of means including word of mouth, printing, postal systems, broadcasting and electronic communication. News is a very powerful tool that can be used for both positive and negative purposes. It can spread communalism and preach nationalism, but it is also a useful tool for development.
In order to be newsworthy a story must meet certain criteria. It must be new, unusual, interesting, significant and about people. In addition the story must be about something that will affect the reader or listener in some way. For example, if an insect is eating a crop then this will be a very important issue to the people involved in that crop. This will be a big story that needs to be told.
The story must be true and have a degree of credibility. For this reason it is a good idea to use primary sources. This can include interviews with experts or people who have direct knowledge of the story such as a police officer. It is also a good idea to get quotes from those who have a strong opinion about the story such as political leaders or church officials. The writer should always disclose their status as a reporter when interviewing sources.
Once a story meets the criteria for being newsworthy it must be time sensitive. This means that it must happen now or in the near future. It is not a good idea to cover an event that happened weeks ago unless it can be reported in a unique way. For example, if a journalist has obtained information about an assassination that is new to the world then this can be newsworthy.
Ultimately it is up to the reader or listener to decide what is newsworthy. If they are interested in a particular topic then they will be willing to read or listen to the news. If they are not interested then the news will be ignored.
While it is important to stay informed about the world around us, it is equally important to strike a balance between reading the news and maintaining mental health. Too much news can cause stress, anxiety and fatigue. If you burn yourself out then you will not have any energy left to take action or function in society.
Many people believe that newspapers are the best way to learn about what is happening in the world. However, others believe that it is possible to find out the news better through other media. What do you think?