News is information that arouses interest. The term is used to describe all kinds of stories, from the smallest details to the most sweeping developments.
A story can be about a person, event or thing that is happening now and has immediate impact on people’s lives. It can be about a person’s death, a natural disaster, or a change in an important law.
It can also be about a person’s success, failure or accomplishment. A story about a person’s marriage or a birth may have greater impact than one that is about a cyclone, bush fire, drought, earthquake or volcanic eruption.
The value of a story depends on the way it is presented and its content. This is why it is important to choose the right type of news.
Proximity: The more near a news is, the more likely it is to be of interest to readers. For example, the wedding of Imran Khan in London has more news value than that of a marriage in a rural area in the U.K.
Controversy: The news relating to conflicts, arguments, charges and counter-charges, fights and tension is of great interest. This is especially true for people who live in regions with a high rate of crime and violence.
Prominence: The news involving prominent personalities is of great interest to the public. This is because they have a special place in the public’s imagination and are seen as influential.
Currency: The news relating to something that is current in people’s lives is of high interest. For example, a drought or an increase in crop diseases or a hike in the price of food are all of high news value.
