News is a type of information or announcement about something that has happened recently or is happening at the moment. It is usually reported by journalists in print or on radio and television and can also be transmitted online. News can be about a range of topics, including war, government, politics, education, health, the economy, business, sport and entertainment. It can also be about celebrities or about people who are well-known in their field.
What is considered to be newsworthy varies from one society to another. For example, an event involving a murder may be of greater interest to some than to others. Also, a cow being killed by a wolf might be more newsworthy in some societies than in others, depending upon the relative importance of these animals in that culture.
The news media is generally interested in events that are dramatic and have clearly identifiable good and bad characters. For example, a story about a convenience store robbery will highlight who was robbed (the good guys) and who did the robbing (the bad guys).
Other factors which influence what is considered to be newsworthy include: impact, proximity, controversy and celebrity. The importance of a story may also depend on whether it is exclusive to the news media, and how much of a potential audience this represents. Lastly, news stories can be interesting and/or entertaining, and the reaction of the audience to the story can help to determine its value.