News coverage is the dissemination of information in the form of newspaper articles, radio or television broadcasts, and online news media. News can be about current events, government policy, or just about anything that is new or interesting to the public.
The most well-known aspects of news are air plane crashes, murders, armed conflict, natural disasters, and major public policy debates. However, it is often argued that the media places too much emphasis on drama and conflict rather than on positive or stable economic developments. In this way, the media may create a sense of unease that does not necessarily correspond to real economic trends.
Moreover, people often take the media to be a trustworthy source of information and are influenced by what they see on TV or hear in the news. This can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts – for instance, studies have shown that people are more likely to suffer from mental health issues after hearing negative news stories. This effect is heightened in BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, who are more frequently targets of violence and hate crimes.
The men and women who present the news, like everyone else, are human. They may be swayed by anger, jealousy, anxiety, ambition, or impatience. They also belong to complex organizations that may have different, sometimes competing, goals and needs. When a reporter in Washington wants all the facts behind a story, while a publisher in Denver is interested in something less, compromises will have to be made.