Often, we see news as an event happening in real time, but news can also be transmitted over radio, TV, and Internet. News can also be based on scholarly or aggregator sources. However, not all stories are newsworthy. In order to be deemed a news story, it must be fresh, significant, and unique. These are the three factors that determine the value of a story.
For instance, the assassination of Mrs Gandhi is a news story, even though the event happened several decades ago. Similarly, the death of Mao Tse-tung is a news story, even though the death of the Chinese leader took several days to become public. However, the news value of the event may vary depending on where it happened.
Some of the more interesting stories include the assassination of a political figure, a scandal involving a prominent person, or a major crime. In these cases, the news value of the event is greater. Also, the significance of the event is greater. Moreover, the impact of the news on readers and viewers may be greater.
On the other hand, a crime is not a news story if it only affects a few people. For instance, the death of a dog-eating society may not be a news story, even though it affects many people. However, the death of a ninety-year-old man on a bus may be news, since a ninety-year-old would not be expected to take a bus.
The news is also important because it gives us insight into prevailing attitudes and opinions around the time of an event. This can help us make sense of the event and its implications. For example, the fact that alcohol manufacturers continue to encourage drinking despite its negative health impacts may be newsworthy, as it can be a cause for concern.
In addition, news is important because it is a new type of knowledge. In fact, the term “news” was first used by Robert E. Park in 1940, when he published an article in the American Journal of Sociology titled “News as a Form of Knowledge.”
The news is also important because it is the fastest and cheapest way to get a message out to policy makers, funders, and other key stakeholders. For instance, if a government cracks down on a group of people, the Internet can be a major propagation channel.
News is also important because it can provide insights that can be difficult to find in scholarly sources. For example, the news value of the assassination of a politician may be higher than the news value of the assassination by a robber.
The news may also be a coincidence. For example, the same event that affects cows may also affect pigs. However, the coincidence is still interesting. Similarly, the news value of an insect threatening people’s lives may not be high, but the news value of an insect threat may be high.
As a rule, news is important because it is fresh and interesting to a wide audience. However, news value is influenced by the place of origin and the audience’s reaction to the story. Therefore, it is important to consider the place of origin when selecting a story for publication.