News is a form of information that tells us what is happening in the world. It can be in the form of written words or pictures, and it is presented by newspapers, radio, television and the Internet.
What Makes News?
Most news is about people, but it can also be about non-human sources such as a cyclone, bush fire, drought, volcanic eruption or earthquake. These stories are important because they show what is happening in the world and how it affects the lives of people.
Crime: Any crime can be news – but crimes that are unusual or serious are more likely to make big headlines. This is because we are always interested in what happens when someone does something – or fails to do something – that we would not normally expect to happen, for example, breaking and entering, stealing, rape or murder.
Money: These are important news stories because they tell us what is happening to people’s fortunes – such as school fees, taxes, the Budget, food prices, wage rises and compensation claims. It is also interesting to know about the riches of people, such as a family’s fortune or a business’ profits.
Drama: Events that have dramatic effects are more likely to become news, as they usually involve good and bad characters or situations. This is because they are not things that happen in everyday life and may have a big impact on the way that we think about the world.
Weather: The weather affects our daily routine and can be of interest when it behaves in an unusual way, such as with high or low temperatures or extreme rainfall. This is especially true of extreme weather conditions, such as floods and droughts.
Health: Health issues can make great news, such as disease outbreaks, AIDS, heart attacks, accidents and natural disasters. These can be very interesting and often make the front page of newspapers, because they often change people’s lives for the better.
Entertainment: Keeping up with the latest music, dance, theatre, cinema and carving is important to keep us informed of what is happening in our world. This can be particularly important in times of economic crisis, because it can help us to understand why some things are more popular than others, and can even lead to social change.
A great way to learn more about how different media message types are presented is to watch a variety of news channels and listen to several different kinds of audio. This will give you a greater understanding of how different types of messages are presented, which can make you a more informed person and an open-minded citizen.