News is the reporting of current events usually by local, regional or mass media in the form of newspapers, television and radio programs, or sites on the World Wide Web. News reporting is a type of journalism, typically written or broadcast in news style. Most news is investigated and presented by journalists (or reporters) and often distributed via news agencies. If the content of news is significant enough, it eventually becomes history.

To be considered news, an event usually must have broad interest due to one or more news values:

  • Impact (how many people were, are or will be affected?)
  • Timeliness (did the event occur very recently?)
  • Revelation (is there significant new information, previously unknown?)
  • Proximity (was the event nearby geographically?)
  • Entertainment (does it make for a fun story?)
  • Oddity (was the highly unusual?)
  • Celebrity (was anyone famous involved?)

News coverage often includes the "five W's and the H" -- who, what, where, when, why, and how.

News organizations usually try to report the news objectively (neutrally); reporters cover both sides in a controversy and try to eliminate personal bias. Other journalists, such as columnists, commentators, editorial writers and editorial cartoonists, may comment on the news.

To be covered:

  • History of news
  • Propaganda and censorship
  • Freedom of the press and importance thereof to political movements
  • How news is disseminated\n