We have all been exposed to plenty of news items and much of this news has been hard to stomach. We have become so used to hearing about wars, natural disasters, weather forecasts that we take it for granted. News may be the worst invention since sliced bread! Yet, in some small way, it is a necessary part of our lives. Without news we would be doomed to an existence of perpetual conflict and chaos.
In fact, the purpose of the news is so that we can make news stories about anything and everything. It is a great way to provide some illumination and hope to those who are affected by emergencies and natural disasters. Some news items are more interesting than others and they bring about much more debate than others. Some of these events make news because of their unusualness, while others make news due to their zeitgeist.
The first known printed news service was in 1639 with the printing of the London Gazette. This early news service relied on wool couriers to deliver news items to royal courts and other prominent persons. As time went on, newspapers changed their emphasis from delivery services to simply printing news and advertisements. The development of the press association and the establishment of the first national newspaper in the USA to mark the beginning of the news media’s global expansion.
As globalization continued to expand the boundaries of global awareness, news values changed to include content analysis as well. Today, journalists work collaboratively with content researchers and with data and other tools designed to enhance the value of the news. Data analysis and research conducted on topics of current interest to provide insights that readers find helpful. This information-gathering process in turn helps journalists make effective decisions about where to focus their resources and which stories are of highest importance. A newsworthy event can require a detailed analysis to determine if the public will be interested and this process is often carried out by newsroom staff in conjunction with other members of the newsroom.
Since many newspapers today rely on databases to collect newsworthy material, news agencies must also develop ways to ensure the accuracy of the data they publish. News organizations must have an accurate data base so they can make good news items for their readers. They need to know if a story contains factual statements and if other people will be attracted to the story based on its veracity. The challenge faced by newsrooms today is how to make news items interesting while still providing the correct information.
Public radio stations and television news media have long operated on the premise that listeners want to hear about current events that interest them. News broadcasts on such stations are deliberately designed to appeal to listeners. News broadcasts include music and local color. A newsroom can use visual aids to attract viewers. For example, a newsroom might feature a video report that illustrated how someone else’s actions or decisions may have an impact on the environment. All of these efforts help to make news media interesting to viewers.
