News is a report on recent events. It can be in print or on the radio. These days, people turn to social media platforms to keep abreast of news.
Various factors influence the quality of news. Some of these include location, time, and content. In the past, news had to be typed and transmitted over wire services. The digital age has given rise to citizen journalists.
Several models have been developed to explain the different elements of news. However, these are not meant to be the final word on what constitutes good or bad news.
One of the most important news values is the “immediacy” factor. As with most things, a story becomes news only when it happens. This can be true of breaking news on the radio and television, but it is especially true for mobile devices.
Another is the “magnification” effect. A bigger number or personality involved in the event has more news value.
An example is the witty headlines on entertainment stories. Stories may include sex, animals, or entertaining photographs.
The “best news” is the most interesting to readers. However, a bad story is just as enticing. Often, a story is replaced by another one when a story falls through at the last minute.
Some of the most interesting news stories are those involving controversial issues. People like to read about controversies. For instance, when the United Nations launched an operation in Somalia, few Americans knew that Germans were also participating in the conflict.