In a democracy, a free press is the oxygen that enables it to breathe. A free press keeps citizens informed and provides a forum for debate. It is important that News be fair and accurate, and free from outside influence.
While there are many definitions of News, most share the following elements:
Timeliness – Oftentimes, a story is newsworthy because it is new. Large media sources tend to focus on timely events because they know their audiences are interested in current stories.
Impact – A news item may be significant to a large number of people or have a high emotional impact on them. It is also possible that a story is significant because it is controversial or causes public debate.
Proximity – A news item may be of interest to people because it is close to home. This is especially true when a local issue affects the economy or involves people from the community. It is also important to consider the distance of the event to determine how it will be perceived by readers.
Currency – A story is a news item if it is currently being discussed by people in the community or at work. It is also interesting if a famous person has an opinion on the subject. It is the job of the writer to provide a factual background for the news item, but not to infuse it with their own opinions. Using quotations from a source is often an effective way to achieve this.
People – People are interested in the day-to-day lives of others. They are intrigued by stories of romance, weddings and divorces, births and deaths. They also like to read about the achievements of sports stars and other celebrities.
Money – It is interesting to read about people who have made fortunes or lost them, and even more so when they are involved in charitable activities. It is also possible for stories about school fees, taxes, food prices, wages and compensation claims to make the news.
Entertainment – Stories about music, dance, theatre and cinema are of interest to people. They like to keep abreast of developments in these areas and who is doing what and where.
A good news article is brief so that the reader will read it, clear so that they can understand it and picturesquely presented so that they will remember it. It is a difficult art to master, but if accomplished, it can help society in its quest for truth. This is why the news is called the oxygen of a democracy. Without it, democracy cannot survive.
