News is a form of reporting that is brief, often occurring moments after an event takes place. Unlike scholarly articles, news is not written to be long-form. It can include Reports of unusual events, Stories that are relevant to the audience, or topics that are timely and familiar. In this article, we’ll discuss the characteristics of news as it pertains to the Information Lifecycle.
Reports on unusual events
The Kansas Department of Agriculture has an online form to report unusual events at a site. These incidents include unexpected spillway flows, an increase in the volume of seepage, or the plugging of a primary spillway pipe. These events should be reported no later than the next workday. Other types of unusual events, such as communicable diseases, are reported on a Report of Exposure to Communicable Diseases (RECD). The reporting process includes verbal communication, completion of an online form, and appropriate documentation.
Reports on unusual events are a vital component of infectious disease surveillance and control. The report can be made on a daily or twice-weekly basis. The report can also include a “disease outbreak” or an increase in the number of cases of a specific disease.
Stories that affect people
Stories that affect people in the news often focus on individuals or groups. They may focus on a new cure for a disease, or on the hopes of a family. A human interest story can also be about the struggles of a local community or neighborhood. These stories can be very emotional, and can make readers relate to the story.
Stories that are familiar
Readers tend to remember news stories that are familiar to them. This is because they are familiar with the subject and may be more likely to understand it. A scandal or a violent event can also make a story attention-grabbing. But familiarity does not automatically mean that all news stories are accurate. It’s important to remember that different stories are often written by different people. It’s best to check a source’s reputation before trusting what they have to say.
In the third study, journalists from the Netherlands and Belgium were interviewed about their perspectives on storytelling. They worked for different newsrooms and in various media. Six of them were print journalists, five worked for broadcast media, and two worked for multimedia news sites. These journalists were asked to reconstruct specific news stories. However, these interviews were more properly categorized as “expert interviews” than “news stories.”
Stories that are timely
Timely stories are those that are happening right now or within the next few days. These include breaking news stories and feature stories. While breaking news stories are immediately current, feature stories are often much more in-depth and offer more details. These stories can explore the people and personalities behind the events. For the purpose of making news, timely stories are essential.
Stories that are timely appeal to audiences because they are relevant to their world. A California earthquake, for instance, will be more relevant to a West Coast audience than an earthquake in Calcutta. In today’s 24-hour news cycle, timing is crucial. Stories that are recent and can easily be summarized are more likely to be lead stories, while stories that are predictable gain news value as they draw nearer.
Stories that are interpreted as good or bad
Traditionally, stories have been passed down through oral traditions. The act of telling a story can help people learn about themselves or other people, or it can help people interpret situations in a new way. According to folklore scholar Elaine Lawless, storytelling has many benefits, such as opening up new avenues of understanding for those who hear them. Storytelling carries a variety of elements, including plot, characters, and the point of view.