News is information about events occurring in the world and which people would like to be informed about. It is generally provided through the mass media of printing, postal systems, broadcasting or electronic communication, but can also be spread by word-of-mouth. News may be about political or social events, crime or disasters, science and technology, fashion or entertainment. Traditionally, the delivery of news has been via printed newspapers and radio but with the development of the Internet it is now possible to deliver news on-demand.
One of the most important functions of news is to inform people about what is happening in their localities, countries or across the globe. It is important for citizens to keep themselves updated about the various issues and developments taking place around them so that they can participate in a more meaningful way in national or international affairs.
Another role of news is to act as a watchdog, exposing abuses of power and wrongdoing. This is an important function which helps to maintain a healthy and functional society.
In addition, news provides a form of entertainment and leisure. This is usually done by providing a variety of lifestyle segments and cultural coverage in news programmes or in the pages of newspapers. News can also be a source of humour. This is often achieved through the use of cartoons or crossword puzzles in newspaper columns.
A news story is usually considered to be worthy of being reported if it meets all five criteria – it must be new, unusual, interesting, significant and about people. Having all of these qualities does not necessarily guarantee that a story will be interesting or exciting but it does mean that the story is likely to have some sort of impact on the audience.
It is important to remember that the nature of what constitutes news will differ from country to country. The same events can be newsworthy in different societies in a very different way. This is because of the influence that certain social, religious and philosophical beliefs have on what is deemed to be important or not.
While the majority of news stories are centred on human activity, it is important to note that there are also a number of natural events that can be newsworthy. These include things such as earthquakes, hurricanes and floods. These are newsworthy because they can affect the lives and livelihoods of people.
The amount of news that is available to us is ever-increasing as technological and communication advances are made. This can be a good thing but it is important not to become overwhelmed by the amount of information that is being shared with us. It is important to keep in mind that news should be presented clearly and concisely. If a news story is lengthy and contains many tangents, it can cause readers to become disinterested. This can be a problem for both print and online media as they compete with each other for the attention of their audiences.