News is a type of media message we think of as non-fictional and informative, as opposed to fictional or entertaining, like television sitcoms or dramas. It can also be persuasive, as in advertising.
What Is News?
The word “news” comes from the Greek words for “new,” and “information.” It can mean any new information that is reported or conveyed through various media: newspapers, radio, television, the Internet, and word of mouth.
What Makes a Story News?
The events that make news are things that people do not normally do, but which have a significance beyond their own lives. For example, a man walking to school to take care of his baby tiger is not an everyday event, but it would be news for a lot of people because it has a wider significance.
Timeliness
The way that gatekeepers decide what to include in the news is influenced by timeliness, which means how soon it will happen. For example, if a scientist reports that an insect has just been found living on a plant it did not previously inhabit, this is not likely to interest the general public.
Drama and Consequence
Most of the news we read, watch or listen to in newspapers, magazines, TV, and the Internet is dramatic because it has clear good and bad characters or situations. For example, if a guy robs a convenience store it is a drama and has consequences for those involved.
When you’re reading news articles, keep a dictionary close by to help you understand unfamiliar words. This will help you to progress your skills and speed up the amount of time it takes for you to read an article.