4.

News: Meaning, De nition and Nature

De nition:

News is the accurate and timely reporting of facts or events that are of interest or
signi cance to the public. It informs, educates, and sometimes entertains readers
or viewers.

Etymology:
• Derived from the word “new.”

• Sometimes interpreted as an acronym for “North, East, West, South” —

indicating coverage from all directions.

Key Characteristics of News:

1. Factual – Based on veri able truth.

2. Timely – Recent or ongoing.

3. Signi cant – Impacting a large number of people.

4. Relevant – Concerning public interest or current discourse.

5. Objective – Free from personal bias.

6. Balanced – Presents multiple perspectives if applicable.

Nature of News:
• It is a perishable commodity — yesterday’s news loses relevance.

• It re ects the society’s issues, values, and priorities.

• It can be serious (politics, economy) or light (entertainment, lifestyle).

• Can appear in multiple formats: print, digital, audio-visual, social media.

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5. Elements of News and News Values

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 Elements of a News Story:
1. Headline – Summarizes the story in a catchy, brief manner.

2. Lead (Lede) – First paragraph that answers the 5Ws and 1H: Who, What,
When, Where, Why, and How.

3. Body – Expands on the lead with additional facts, context, and quotations.

4. Byline – Names the reporter or journalist who wrote the story.

5. Dateline – Location and date where the story originates.

6. Attribution – Crediting sources for the information provided.

7. Quotations – Direct or indirect speech from sources.

News Values (What Makes a Story Newsworthy):

1. Timeliness – Recent events matter more.

2. Proximity – Events happening nearby are more relevant.

3. Impact – Number of people affected.

4. Prominence – Involves well-known individuals/institutions.

5. Con ict – Disputes, clashes, or controversies draw attention.

6. Human Interest – Emotional, personal, or heart-warming stories.

7. Novelty/Oddity – Strange or surprising events.

8. Currency – Ongoing relevance to current issues.

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6. Types of News: Hard and Soft

Hard News:
• Covers serious, timely topics.

• Typically involves politics, crime, disasters, international relations.

• Style: Straightforward, factual, objective.

• Requires immediate publication.

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• Example: Budget announcements, natural disasters, election results.

Soft News:
• Focuses on entertainment, lifestyle, or human interest.

• Style: Narrative, often emotional or descriptive.

• Not urgent; can be evergreen.

• Example: Travel articles, celebrity interviews, food reviews.

Comparison Table:
Feature Hard News Soft News
Tone Factual, formal Narrative, casual
Timeliness Very important Less important
Subject Serious issues Human-interest, entertainment
Structure Inverted pyramid Feature style, storytelling

7. Differences between News, Features, Articles, and

Backgrounders
Format Purpose Content Style Timeliness
News Report current eventsObjective, concise Immediate
Feature Explore human or social themes Narrative, creative Flexible
Article Inform, persuade, or analyze Varies (can be opinionated)Depends on type
Backgrounder Provide in-depth context Analytical, informativeEvergreen or current

Explanation:
• News: Straight reporting of current events.

• Feature: Longer, storytelling format often involving emotion or description.

• Article: Umbrella term; can be a column, editorial, report, etc.

• Backgrounder: Explains the “why” and “how” of an event by providing historical

or contextual information.
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8. News Sources: Attribution and Its Types; Credibility and
Quotations

News Sources:

Sources are where journalists get their information. They can be:

1. Primary Sources – Eyewitnesses, of cial reports, interviews.

2. Secondary Sources – Books, documentaries, second-hand reports.

3. Anonymous Sources – Identity concealed to protect the informant.

4. Press Releases – Of cial communication by organizations or governments.

5. Social Media – Needs veri cation.

Attribution:

Stating who provided the information.

Types of Attribution:

• On the Record: Source is named and quoted directly.

• Off the Record: Information cannot be published.

• On Background: Info can be used, but source not named.

• Deep Background: Info used with no trace of its origin.

Credibility of Sources:
• Must be trustworthy, knowledgeable, and unbiased.

• Journalists must verify facts with multiple sources.

Quotations:
• Direct quotes: Exact words of the source, within quotation marks.

• Indirect quotes: Paraphrased statements.

• Quotes add authenticity, voice, and reliability.

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9. Byline, Credit Line, and Embargo

Byline:
• The name of the journalist who wrote the story.

• Usually placed beneath the headline.

• Re ects ownership, responsibility, and credibility.

Credit Line:
• Acknowledges the creator of non-written content (photos, infographics).

• Found below images or graphics.

Embargo:
• A request or agreement that certain information not be published before a
speci ed time/date.

• Common in scienti c research, government announcements, or product

launches.

Purpose of Embargoes:
• Gives all media equal preparation time.

• Ensures informed reporting.

Ethical Guidelines:
• Journalists must honor embargoes.

• Violations may lead to loss of access or credibility.

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