News is a form of information that can be found in newspapers and magazines, TV and radio programs and on the Internet. It can be informative, entertaining or persuasive.
The LAMPLit is a guide to what news is, where it can be found and how it has changed over time. It also helps you to understand what news should be like and how to make good choices.
It is important to remember that not all stories that appear on TV, in the newspaper or on the Internet will be deemed to be newsworthy. That is because traditional gatekeeping control over what is deemed to be news is becoming harder and harder to maintain.
There are five factors that gatekeepers take into consideration when deciding what to include as news: drama, controversies, prominence, currency and oddity.
Typically, events that have dramatic elements will become news stories, such as robbery at a convenience store with clear good and bad characters. Alternatively, something that affects a large number of people will become news.
Controversy: Anything that is connected with conflicts, arguments, charges and counter-charges, fights and tension becomes news because people are interested in the outcome.
Prominence: If a famous person is involved in an event it is likely to be news because people are curious about what they have to say or do.
Currency: If something has recently changed or gained significance it will be news.
Oddity: If something is unusual or extraordinary it will be of interest to people because they can empathise with it or are curious about what makes it unique.