News is information about events that affect a lot of people. These events can be political, economic or a natural disaster. If these events make the news, they can be reported in newspapers or magazines, on TV, radio or on the Internet.
Usefulness: A lot of people are very interested in news, especially the latest developments and happenings around them. They are curious about what is happening, how the weather is, when train timings are and what government policies are. They also look for education and job opportunities.
Educational Value: Many newspapers provide columns which help people to know more about educational courses, career options and higher studies. They also help people to learn more about history and their own culture.
Drama: Most of the stories we read in newspapers or magazines, watch on TV, listen to on the radio and find on the Internet have a dramatic element. A story about a robbery at a convenience store, for example, will often show the good guy and bad guy.
Oddity: Extraordinary and unexpected things can make the news. These are events that have an impact on a lot of people and might be very unusual.
Emotion: Stories that evoke emotion, such as stories of recovery or cure, will usually be newsworthy.
Research has been done to identify factors that determine what becomes news. One of the most widely cited examples was Galtung and Ruge’s influential 1965 taxonomy of news values. A 2001 update by Harcup and O’Neill re-examined the idea in light of the changes brought about by technology.