News is information about current events, which can be communicated verbally, in print or via broadcasting. It is usually objective and factual, although some news may have a bias based on the interests of the author or the audience. The purpose of news is to inform the public about what is happening in their world and why it is important.
People are interested in stories that they think will impact their lives. The weather, crop failures and harvest sizes are of interest to most people, as is the cost of food and drink, drug shortages or new treatments for disease. Stories about celebrities, the rich and famous, and scandals grab attention as well. In some societies, stories about sex and animals are of interest, as is the plight of those who are homeless or ill.
When choosing a news source, look for outlets that provide nuance and context to their coverage. Online news aggregation sites such as Google News share articles from multiple sources and often have settings to tweak your viewing preferences. Also, consider turning to international news channels such as Al Jazeera or state-owned Russia Today, which tend to offer more diversity in viewpoints than a domestic US outlet.
Avoid sharing news articles on social media unless you are certain of their accuracy and neutrality. You may be unintentionally clogging others’ feeds with sensational or partisan news, and you could be misguiding your followers. It is best to stick with a few quality news sources that you trust.