News is information that carries a message. It is usually a report of an event or an unusual situation.
The content of news is influenced by the social and political situations of the time. Its influence on the public can be positive or negative. In the 21st century, the internet has become an important medium for news.
There are several models of news making. These models help us to understand the nature of the news, its influences, and its effects. Nevertheless, these models can only give us a partial explanation of what news actually is.
One model, the Organizational Model, describes how governments influence media. In this model, news values favor powerful elites.
Another model, the Mirror Model, says that news should reflect reality. Despite their differences, both models are consistent in stating that newsworthiness should be evaluated by how it affects the audience.
Another model, the Organizational Model, outlines how journalists apply pressure to government processes. This model is also known as the Bargaining Model.
Another model, the Mirror Model, states that news should be impartial and balanced. However, it doesn’t explain how journalists decide what news to write.
Most news in the world is broadcast by Associated Press in the United States, Reuters in Great Britain, and Agence France-Presse in France. During the twentieth century, radio became a major means of transmitting news.
Journalism, in general, has evolved since the 1500s. Today, the boundaries between professionals and amateurs have blurred.