News is what happens in the world that affects or interests people. It could be something as simple as a celebrity getting divorced or as complex as an earthquake. News is usually reported in newspapers, radio and television but is also available on the internet. The goal of news is to inform and educate. It is not primarily to entertain although it may provide some entertainment value through jokes or humorous stories. Entertainment comes from other parts of the media, such as music and drama programmes on the radio or cartoons and crosswords in newspapers.
Traditionally, most news is about people. This is because people are involved in most of the world’s activities and therefore have the greatest influence over it. However, non-human events also make the news – such as natural disasters, wars and political upheaval.
A major feature of news is its timeliness – it must be reported as soon as possible after an event occurs in order to be useful. It must also be concise because news articles are usually read quickly. The best news articles are short and snappy and give an overview of the most important information without wasting time or confusing readers. They contain the basic five Ws – who, what, when, where and why – which are the most important facts to include in a news story.
Veteran reporters listen for telling snippets of conversation and dialogue, watch for images, details and actions that add to the story, and use all their senses to take in the atmosphere of a scene. They know that description for its own sake can clutter and obscure the news so they avoid writing it unless it enhances the article’s meaning.
Jargon is an essential element of news because it allows those working in a particular industry or organisation to communicate with one another efficiently and effectively. But it can also act as a barrier to those outside the group because it creates a secret language that excludes those who do not understand it. It is therefore important to assume that no matter how technical or specialist an article about a new medical breakthrough might seem, it will not be read solely by doctors and scientists.
Authenticity is an important quality in news because it gives credibility to the report and can help readers decide whether to believe what they are reading. Facts, figures and statistics are all good sources of information for news reports but it is important to check that they are accurate. Using incorrect statistics can lead to an inaccurate or biased story which will be less likely to be believed.
It is not always easy for journalists to produce high-quality news articles quickly and accurately. They must develop skills to identify the key elements of a news story, gather information quickly and effectively, place it in a meaningful context and write concisely, sometimes at breath-taking speed. The articles that students read and evaluate in this course introduce them to the fundamentals of this challenging task.