The Importance of News
Examples of news are columns, editorials, reports of world events (especially of current years), front-page news stories, Op-eds and daily news magazines. They can also be known as daily news flash or global news. Often, news items will first appear online then in a local print edition before appearing on television or radio. But they can also be made into news bites through the use of video or audio streams.
One method that has become popular for making news stories into media is to create an unusual but true story using real facts or data, or combining two or more pieces of data into a timely report that many people can relate to. Examples include investigations of missing children, natural disasters, or even the missing aircraft. Although many people are familiar with some of these examples, it is not unusual for a newscast to include information that most people find unbelievable such as the first details on the space shuttle landing or the first details on the missing Malaysian flight.
Making up news stories takes skill and imagination and sometimes an incentive to put pen to paper or a camera to film something rather than simply rely on a camera or a clock to tell the rest of us. However, there are times when this type of innovation can actually make news worthy. For example, the invention of the Panic Button or “One Touch System” makes newsworthy the same way that the first black and white photograph could make it to the front page of most newspapers and make it available to the general public. The Panic Button is actually a button that is pressed repeatedly in order to send a personal message to a friend, family member or loved one and it can also be used to remotely activate emergency equipment. Although this technology was originally developed for emergency personnel and first responders, it is now being used by ordinary people who like to feel a bit more prepared.
Another example of a story that makes news is the birth of a new baby. Most of us only care about the news that is reported by major networks and channels and the big stories that push the envelope in terms of ratings and commercial interest are generally not news at all. Therefore, many people tend to miss interesting or unique stories because they are not broadcasted by major media outlets. In the past, an interested party could make an effort to contact the media in order to request a news report on their unique situation. While it is still possible to contact a media organization for a story, most people prefer to stay in the comfort of their own homes and read online or otherwise get the news from personal friends and neighbors.
There are several different ways that this news is made available to many people. Many people read blogs instead of newspapers, which often make their news stories more interesting in their own right. Social networking websites such as Facebook allow people to share short news stories or even entire stories with their friends and loved ones. Many people also enjoy reading eBooks rather than newspapers or other printed news sources because there are no deadlines involved. Of course, some news stories are only reported by certain media outlets because they are newsworthy, such as breaking news regarding the earthquake in Haiti or terrorist attacks in London. However, many people enjoy reading blogs rather than watching live coverage of the events because the blogger doesn’t have the initial news flash that often accompanies a live report.
There is a news value to everything, whether it is sports entertainment, politics, music or anything else. It is up to each individual reader to determine what news interest him or her. Readers who enjoy reading a wide variety of topics and writing about different cultures may enjoy reading a blog rather than simply hearing about politics from one publication. In fact, many people find that it is hard to tell the difference between a typical blog post and an actual news story because the internet allows for a wide variety of formats.