Concept of News
News refers to information about current events or recently occurring developments, especially those reported by the media. It is a form of communication that informs people about what is happening in the world around them. News can cover a wide range of topics, including politics, economics, science, technology, entertainment, sports, and more.
Key characteristics of news include:
- Timeliness: News is typically about recent events, providing information that is current and relevant to the audience.
- Relevance: News stories are selected based on their importance and significance to the public. They often address issues that impact people’s lives or society as a whole.
- Objectivity: While complete objectivity is challenging, journalistic principles aim for fair and unbiased reporting. News should present facts and multiple perspectives to allow the audience to form their own opinions.
- Accuracy: News should be factual and reliable. Journalists strive to verify information before reporting it to ensure accuracy.
- Impact: News stories often focus on events that have a significant impact on individuals, communities, or the world. This impact can be social, economic, political, or cultural.
- Currency: News is continually evolving as new information becomes available. Updates and follow-ups are common as events unfold or new details emerge.
News can be disseminated through various media channels, including newspapers, television, radio, online platforms, and social media. The purpose of news is to keep the public informed, foster awareness, and facilitate an understanding of the world and its dynamic changes.
2 Main Types of News
Basic types of News
Hard News:
- Definition: Hard news refers to timely and factual reporting of recent events or developments that are considered important, impactful, and relevant to a wide audience.
- Characteristics: It focuses on the “who, what, when, where, why, and how” aspects of a story, providing essential information without embellishment. Hard news often covers topics such as politics, crime, disasters, and major international events.
- Purpose: The primary goal of hard news is to inform the public about significant occurrences and help them stay abreast of current affairs.
Soft News:
- Definition: Soft news, also known as feature or human-interest news, is less time-sensitive and emphasizes storytelling, human experiences, and entertainment.
- Characteristics: It often includes personal anecdotes, profiles, lifestyle pieces, and cultural or artistic subjects. Soft news aims to engage and entertain readers while providing a more subjective and in-depth perspective on events or people.
- Purpose: The purpose of soft news is to entertain, humanize, and add context to the news, offering a more personalized and emotional connection to the audience.
These two types of news serve different purposes within the media landscape, with hard news focusing on the dissemination of crucial information and soft news providing a more nuanced and relatable exploration of various topics.