News is information about current events and affairs that affect the public. It can be found in newspapers, radio and television and on the internet. News is meant to inform and educate people about these issues, but it can also entertain. This is done through music and drama on the radio and in movies and theatre and through crosswords, cartoons and other features in newspapers and magazines.
Journalists are the ones who gather and report news. They make judgement calls on what is important and what is not. They have to be able to see the bigger picture, evaluate what is going on and find out how it affects people. It isn’t easy to do, but it is what they are paid for.
There are many different theories of what makes news. One theory is that the news should reflect reality. Another is that the news should influence people and encourage certain views and attitudes. Some believe that the news should be entertaining, while others think it should inform and educate.
Newspapers usually start with a leading story, which is often called the lede. This is something that will grab people’s attention, such as a dramatic anecdote or a surprising fact. It is usually followed by the nut graph, which is the main part of the news article and which answers the five Ws – who, what, when, where and why. The lead and the nut graph should be clearly linked to each other, so that readers are fully informed.
Larger media sources will focus on larger scale and more international events, as well as local issues that have a wider impact. They will cover global crises, wars and sporting events such as the Olympics. They need to appeal to a larger audience, so they will focus on stories that are of interest to the majority of the population.
Smaller scale and local news will be more concerned with community issues and how they are affected. They will look at how local businesses are doing and will interview local residents to see what effect an event has had on them. They will also focus on local sporting events and community celebrations.
Despite the claim by some that the news is unbiased, it is very difficult to find news that is completely impartial. All journalists have a point of view and will choose the stories they cover based on their beliefs and values. However, there are some news sites that strive to be impartial and can be a good source of information.
Whenever possible, seek out multiple sources of news to get different viewpoints on an issue. Also try to avoid sharing news on social media unless you have fully researched it and can back up any claims. This will help you to spot inaccurate and biased information. Ultimately, the best way to stay informed is to find what news you trust and read it regularly. Having a wide variety of news sources will also help to prevent you from being brainwashed by one particular viewpoint.