News is a type of information that is delivered to a large number of people. It gives information about recent events and the latest developments in the world. There are many types of news. They range from positive to negative. Among the types are entertainment stories, celebrity stories, and conflict stories.
Several models have been formulated to define and analyze the way news is made. These include the Organizational Model, the Mirror Model, and the Bargaining Model. All these models deal with the process of making news, but each model accounts for different aspects of the media.
The Organizational Model, also known as the Bargaining Model, focuses on applying pressure to governmental processes. In contrast, the Mirror Model aims to bring out the reality of a situation. Typically, a story is produced by a professional journalist who knows how to put an event together for a specific audience. Often, a crisis is created to generate interest. For example, the use of weapons of mass destruction by Saddam Hussein is a good example of a conflict story.
A conflict story, however, has negative overtones. Some of these include war, extreme behaviour, or crime. Other factors that affect a story are the impact of the situation and the reader’s reaction.
An entertainment story is typically a story that is lighter in tone. Such news can be a witty headline, a humorous treatment of a story, or a light human interest story. Entertainment news may be about sex, showbusiness, animals, or a mix of these. However, it can also be a story about a celebrity or a person of importance.
A news story that is of high significance is usually regarded as “magnitude”. This could mean an extremely rare event, such as a terrorist attack, or it can be a story about a high loss of life. Generally, the more that is lost in a conflict, the higher its impact on the readers.
Another news value is exclusivity. Stories with a higher degree of exclusivity are more likely to be picked for publication. For example, stories about famous people and those who are considered to be powerful will be chosen over other stories. Similarly, a story about an entertainment event, such as a concert or a sporting event, will be more likely to be picked.
Many news outlets have a reputation for exclusivity. Examples are the Washington Post and the New York Times. Moreover, the competition for exclusives is often influenced by advertisers, proprietors, and other influential individuals.
Nevertheless, it is important to remember that the values of news are still subject to debate. Subjective influences, such as the belief systems of journalists, the environment in which a journalist works, and the social hierarchy in a workplace, can influence how news is selected. Despite these issues, news selection is important because it can have a large effect on the public.
When making a decision on whether to report something as news, a journalist should consider the validity of the facts, the objectivity of the story, and the relevance of the story to the audience. He should also access both sides of the story.