News is information about current events or things that have recently happened. It is important to stay informed of the world around you, as current events may affect your life in ways that you might not be aware of. However, it is also important to be able to assess your information sources and find reliable ones. This can be challenging, as a barrage of breaking news is constantly coming at you and both legitimate and dubious websites proliferate online. However, there are several strategies you can employ to stay on top of all the latest news.
First, consider whether the story is new. It has to be something that is happening right now, not something that happened a week ago or even last year. This is a crucial point, as it does not do the reader much good to read about something that has already happened.
Next, consider whether the story is unusual or interesting. This will vary between societies, but it is usually true that if an event is atypical or uncommon for your society, then it has news value. For example, if it is common practice for a man to wake up, eat breakfast and catch the bus to work every day then this is not likely to be newsworthy, but if he is the oldest person in your country to do so, that would definitely be.
Finally, consider whether the story has significance. This will again vary between societies, but it is often the case that if an event has a large impact on people’s lives then it has news value. This is why stories about wars, natural disasters and famines often have high news value.
If you are unsure whether an article has news value, try opening up a second tab on your browser and using it to look up claims, author credentials and organizations mentioned in the article. This will help you sift out the facts from the hype.
Ultimately, the best strategy for staying on top of the news is to follow multiple sources and to always be skeptical. A good place to start is with a site that specializes in reporting the facts, such as AP or the BBC. These organizations are generally non-profit, do not accept corporate advertising, have a low crowd-sourced bias rating and have a history of providing well researched and verifiable information. These sites can provide a balance to the sensational and partisan media.