News is information about current events. It can be spread through word of mouth, printing, postal systems, broadcasting or electronic communication. National news refers to events and developments that have a significant impact on the entire nation, such as political scandals or major disasters. It also includes the work of local journalists reporting on national issues and covering their community’s impact on those issues.
In modern times, national and international news can be distributed through newspapers, television, radio and online media. The rise of social media has increased the speed and impact of breaking national and international news. In addition, advances in telecommunications allow the dissemination of national and international news in more languages and regions than ever before.
The selection of stories for the news is based on a range of criteria including the Five Ws (who, what, when, where, and why) and impact. The news value of a story can be increased by the use of sensationalism, which is aimed at entertaining and grabbing attention. A story may also be boosted by its proximity to the reader (for example, a local scandal or a natural disaster) or its timeliness.
A number of national news agencies exist to provide hard news reports for publication by newspaper and radio and television broadcasters. They typically prepare the articles with little or no modification and then distribute them electronically by wire services, such as Reuters, AP and Wolff (now DPA). The agencies may also provide information to corporations, analysts and intelligence agencies.
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