What Exactly is News?

Most people have a good idea of what news is; its the filler in the newspapers, the stuff the news casters rant about in a professional way. In today's world, you would have to be living under a rock to not have even the faintest idea of what is happening in the world; and even there, it's likely a newspaper would find its way under with you.

However, even if people have a basic understanding of it, there exists some deviation in what exactly people consider worthy of being called news. Personally, it seems that pretty much anything that could help to inform people or hold relevance in their lives could be considered worthy of the title; from the smallest story about a farmer who lost his dog, to coverage of the presidential race. Even if you personally could care less about a certain story, someone, somewhere was touched, or intrigued, or informed by the story, and that is what journalism boils down to; with all of the seasonings of writing ability and a plethora of knowledge, the fact is, that if you, or I, or any journalist influenced the life of someone else, or even the World, we have done our job.