A news story is a report on a recent event. It may be a positive or negative one. Some events have more newsworthiness than others.
The news value of an event depends on the journalistic selection process. Newspapers have a particular agenda, and the stories that fit that agenda will be chosen. This selection process can be more important than the actual event itself.
A journalist checks for objectivity and credibility. They also check for the balance of the story. Sometimes, a planned story is not published, and a different story is chosen instead.
There is also a distinction between “hard” and “soft” news. Hard news is undisputed orthodox news values, while soft news is more open to contestation.
News is considered to be valuable because it provides people with information on current events. It helps readers become more knowledgeable. It also carries a message, and can influence the public in a number of ways.
Typically, good news is balanced and has positive overtones. But some issues are newsworthy because they have unexpected or extreme characteristics. These are sometimes referred to as “surprise” stories.
On the other hand, bad news is considered to have negative overtones. For example, violent crimes and extreme behavior.
Throughout history, news has been used to spread communalism, and to preach nationalism. Since ancient times, government proclamations have been considered news.
During the 20th century, television and radio became key channels for transmitting news. Today, internet and mobile devices have changed the role of traditional news organizations.