The term “news” refers to any form of information that informs another. This can be given through various mediums: print, radio, television, postal services, wire services, or by the personal testimony of witnesses and observers to significant events. News is often described as “hard news” to separate it from soft news. This term is usually used in a colloquial sense, to mean something that is not necessarily true, but is being disseminated for the purpose of news. Examples of hard news are the results of major tragedies such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and others.
A. In everyday use, the term “news” refers to any form of information that informs an individual about an event that has taken place or has been happening. News is not only about current events; news is also widely used in referring to historical events and current affairs. For example, news regarding a natural disaster like a tornado or flood is news. The same applies for any news events taking place anywhere around the world.
B. There are several distinctions that need to be made in the application of the term “news”. First, there is the question of what is included in the term. News can take many forms, but essentially it refers to any information that informs and helps us to make a decision or provide a solution to a problem. This includes reports about specific events (like elections, terrorist events, and natural disasters), local, national, and international events, and even fictional (fiction) news. Television news and radio news are two particular sources of newsworthy information that typically receive this classification.
C. The manner in which news is disseminated has some distinct differences. First, traditional news media tends to publish news and information as it occurs. This means that the media has to rely on the third party confirmation that an event took place before publishing an article or story. Second, the internet has made news dissemination much faster and more efficient than in previous decades, allowing news to be shared throughout the world within a matter of seconds.
D. The ability to communicate news quickly and easily is another important factor. Online news organizations have developed ways to bring news to the public via the internet, including blogs. News organizations are now able to reach a much larger audience through the use of the internet as a delivery system than they could ever have had in previous decades. E. Lastly, newspapers are becoming increasingly less relevant as a news source. Many people are turning to web sources for their news instead.
As you can see, there is quite a bit going on when it comes to news. In order to make sense out of the mess, it is helpful to break news down into its various categories. News is an ever-changing entity that can change in a moment’s notice. Keeping yourself informed will help you make better decisions.