The Concept of ‘News’: A Reconsideration

Abstract

Abstract: In the media world, ‘news’ is a most exciting term as every media house virtually lies and survives on news. John T Delane said ‘Press lives by disclosures’1. What’s the disclosure? The answer is News and news materials. What do we mean by news? In brief, the news (NEWS) is something new, but, one event (a general term of incidents, issues, themes, happenings, even gossips or rumor, etc.) is to be considered news on the basis of its newness and newsworthiness. However, a report or account of one event is not considered news until it is communicated through any form or any channel of media. Another point, however, very important is that an item is to be news on how that particular item is presented. How we present any news is also very important. Every news item is unique from the other. Its appearance, placement and coverage give the readers a clear idea that defining news under a bracket is really a difficult task. Subeditors (copyeditors) of a news desk need an eye and insight to understand events to convert them into news. Those days have already gone on what once we traditionally understood as news. Somebody now can say that an old event in a new bottle can also be news. How that new bottle of news is presented and who is presenting give the idea of something called news. The context and perspective or newer technique and technology, time, space and thinking, demand and outlook of the consumers also determine the character of news. Therefore, the focus of this article is to understand and explore the insight and changing pattern of news using a variety of definitions first followed by a formula, and then to pinpoint its character in the process of its usage and practicality.