1. Informing the Public
One of the main functions of news is to keep people informed about what is happening in their local communities, countries and internationally. This helps people make more informed decisions about their lives.
2. Educating and Explaining
News can educate and explain complex topics to the general population. It can help to develop a deeper understanding of political issues, science, economics, culture and history.
3. Providing Entertainment and Leisure
News also serves as a source of entertainment and leisure. It keeps people updated about sports events, music, movies and theatre productions. It can also provide a platform for debate and discussion.
4. Acting as a Watchdog
One of the important roles of news is to monitor and expose corruption and wrongdoing by those in power. This is often referred to as investigative journalism. 5. Providing a Variety
News provides a variety of different types of information to suit the interests of different audiences. It can be hard news, features or even humour. The key to writing good news is knowing your audience and tailoring the news to their needs.
The best way to judge whether a story is newsworthy is by examining its impact, interest, significance and timeliness. It is often said that ‘if it bleeds, it leads’, so stories with conflict are more likely to attract attention. However, what is significant to one society may not be significant to another. For example, a bug killing two cows may not be significant in a farming community, but it would be of concern to a city dweller.