News is an event or piece of information that has been reported in the media and is of interest to readers. The key elements of a news story are: who, what, where, when and why.
To qualify as news, an event must be significant. It should also be new or unusual and interesting. A coup in the country next door is much more newsworthy than a local insect that has just discovered a plant to live on which it did not previously inhabit.
Drama is another important element of news. A story of someone attempting something difficult, and possibly failing, is always interesting. It is even more dramatic if the attempt is made with great difficulty, for example by an Olympic athlete trying to win a gold medal.
Education is a part of news as well. People often read and listen to the news in order to learn about what is happening around them. Weather forecasts and train timings are examples of useful information that the public would want to know. News also teaches people about different issues and helps them make better decisions in their daily lives.
Most people agree that the job of news media – newspapers, radio and television – is to inform and educate. However, it is also possible for them to entertain as well. This can be done through music and drama programs on TV or radio; crosswords, cartoons and other features in newspapers.