Here are ten definitions of news from different scholars, highlighting various aspects of the concept:
1. "News is a report of recent events." - Walter Lippmann (1922): A simple and fundamental definition, emphasizing the focus on current events.
2. "News is what someone, somewhere, wants to suppress." - Carl Bernstein (1977): This provocative definition emphasizes the role of power and control in shaping news.
3. "News is what we decide to tell you about." - William Safire (2005): This definition highlights the subjective nature of news selection and the power of journalists in shaping public perception.
4. "News is what interests people, what is important, what is new and unusual, and what people want to know." - Edward R. Murrow (1958): This definition emphasizes the audience's interests and needs as drivers of news selection.
5. "News is the communication of information about recent events that are of public interest." - American Society of Newspaper Editors (1922): This definition combines the elements of recency, public interest, and communication in defining news.
6. "News is the first rough draft of history." - Philip Graham (1960): This definition emphasizes the historical significance of news as a record of events.
7. "News is the process of gathering, analyzing, and reporting information that is important to a specific audience." - Joseph Pulitzer (1904): This definition highlights the active role of journalists in gathering and interpreting information.
8. "News is what is interesting to the audience, what is important to the community, and what is new and unusual." - David Brinkley (1960): This definition emphasizes the importance of both audience and community in determining what constitutes news.
9. "News is the raw material of democracy." - Arthur Hays Sulzberger (1950): This definition highlights the vital role of news in informing the public and fostering democratic participation.
10. "News is what is relevant to the public and what they need to know to make informed decisions." - John S. Knight (1960): This definition underscores the importance of news in providing information for public decision-making.
These definitions demonstrate the multifaceted nature of news, encompassing elements of recency, public interest, communication, power dynamics, audience needs, historical significance, journalistic process, and democratic values. Ultimately, the meaning of news is constantly evolving and shaped by the changing societal context and the choices made by journalists and news organizations.