News has been a key source of information since ancient times. It may include government proclamations, concerning royal ceremonies, laws, taxes, public health and criminals, as well as technological and social developments.
Newspapers, radio and television are all important forms of transmitting news, as are other media such as word of mouth, printing and postal systems. In addition to the written word, other methods include the testimony of witnesses and the audio and visual recording of events.
Gatekeepers
Decisions about what becomes a news story are made by editors, reporters and assistant editors within news organizations. These people take recommendations from other staff and decide what will make it into a newspaper, onto the TV news line-up or posted on a news Internet site.
They also have a responsibility to produce news that is true and fair. This is often a challenge, especially with news organizations that are owned or financed by corporations, interest groups, governments and wealthy individuals.
In order to ensure that their stories are accurate and reliable, they cross check with other news sources on the topic. They also try to avoid personal biases and political pressures that could influence their decisions.
While newspapers, magazines and news outlets can be biased, there are many sources of news that are not influenced by their owners or sponsors. In addition, they do not rely on advertising to cover their costs and thus can report on more neutral subjects. There are also watchdog groups that criticize media bias, such as Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR).