Despite the growth of digital media, the printed press remains a powerful and important medium. In the 21st century, social developments have shaped the content of news.
There are a number of models used to explain the influence of news on society. The Political Model outlines that news represents various political pressures, and the Mirror Model states that news should reflect reality. The Organizational Model, also known as the Bargaining Model, focuses on applying pressure to governmental processes.
The ‘news’ of an event is something that is not known previously. For instance, the death of Mao Tse-tung was news. However, it was not released to the world for several days.
Other events might be equally significant, but not considered news. A dog eating a man would not be news, but an insect threat would.
In the United States, there are a number of models that explain how news is made. The ‘news’ of a ‘coup d’etat’ in one’s own country is the most important story ever. However, the news of an event occurring in a different country may not be of much interest.
‘Money stories’ are also worth discussing. These include food prices, tax rises, and compensation claims. These are stories that affect people of all economic classes.
Other types of news include health and entertainment stories. These stories may be about medical research, health problems, hospitals, or show business. They can also have a comical aspect to them.
A news story might also include violence or scandal. It may also be related to something important, such as an announcement at a family gathering. It could also be a story about a famous person or a scandal involving a famous person.
